Debelius Reef Lobster

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 5"
• Diet: Omnivore   • Aquarium Level: Substrate & Rocks   • Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
 • Reef Compatible: Yes, With caution   • Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
• Supplements: Calcium, Magnesium, Strontium, Iodine, Trace Elements   • Coloration: Orange, White, Lavender, Purple
• Origin: Indo-Pacific • Family: Nephropidae   • Species: Lobsters

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The Debelius Reef Lobster, also known as the Purple/Orange Reef Lobster, has a beautiful lavender body, with orange and dark violet spots. The elongated, flat claws, are used for threatening away predators and for defense if the initial warning is not headed. The impressive looking claws are also a dark violet with orange and white on the tips.

While the Purple/Orange Reef Lobster looks aggressive, it is happy to spend its time scavenging the aquarium for food and excavating tunnels and caves for a place to call home. While typically nocturnal in the wild, the Purple/Orange Reef Lobster will adjust to aquarium life over time and begin coming out while the lights are on, especially if there is food to be had.

An ideal aquarium environment should have a thick substrate bed to allow the Purple/Orange Reef Lobster to burrow, and rock work for hiding, as well as live rock on which to hunt. After molting, the Purple/Orange Reef Lobster will need a secure hiding place, such as its burrowed cave, while it waits for its new exoskeleton to harden.

The Purple/Orange Reef Lobster is peaceful and will ignore sleeping healthy fish within the aquarium. Caution must be taken when incorporating into a reef aquarium, as it may harm extremely small fish or invertebrates. All Reef Lobsters are very territorial and aggressive towards each other, so only one specimen, or a mated pair should be kept per tank. Like most Invertebrates the Purple/Orange Reef Lobster is sensitive to high levels of copper in the water from copper-based medications.

While this species prefers to scavenge and hunt at night, it will overtime adjust to aquarium life and come out during lights on hours during feeding time. Most of its diet will consist of food it scavenges, but supplementing with iodine-rich foods will help ensure proper molting. Proper calcium & iodine levels in the water will aid this species with proper molting and exoskeleton development.