Home Marine Invertebrates Crab Species Profiles Sally Lightfoot Crab
Sally Lightfoot Crab
(Percnon gibbesi)
• Care Level: Easy • Temperament: Semi-Aggressive • Maximum Size: 4"
• Diet: Omnivore • Aquarium Level: Substrate & Rocks • Minimum Tank Size: 12 gallons
• Reef Compatible: Yes • Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
• Supplements: Calcium, Iodine, Trace elements • Coloration: Brown, Orange, Yellow, Blue
• Origin: Indo-Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean • Family: Grapsidae • Species: Crabs
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Native Habitat and Species Information
Sally Lightfoot Crab native habitat, distribution, behavior & aquarium compatibility.
The Sally Lightfoot Crab is also known as the Nimble Spray Crab , Short Crab, or Urchin Crab. It has a brown body, with rings on its legs which fade from orange to yellow. While this species is generally considered an aquatic crab, it actually belongs to a family of shore crabs; however, it is less likely than the other genera to go on land.
Its carapace is very flat. which allows it to hide in small crevices within rock work. The Sally Lightfoot Crab is a true omnivore and will eat either algae or small pieces of meaty items that it can scavenge from the substrate and rock work.
Aquarium Care
How to successfully keep Sally Lightfoot Crab in the home aquarium.
The Sally Lightfoot Crab prefers a strong currents and will generally require a large aquarium with large amounts of rock work where it can hide and scavenge for detritus. While this species makes an excellent scavenger of leftover meaty foods within the aquarium, it will also eat many types of marine algae. When large, it can become aggressive and catch and eat small invertebrates and even some small fish.
Feeding & Nutrition
How to feed and provide proper nutrition for Sally Lightfoot Crab.
If insufficient meaty scraps and algae are present, the Sally Lightfoot Crabs diet may need to be supplemented with dried seaweed or meaty items. In general scavengers; such as; the Sally Lightfoot Crab will find plenty to eat in an established marine aquarium where fish are being fed meaty foods and marine algae is present and thriving.
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