The Sally Lightfoot Crab has prolonged been used as a “tank janitor” to help clear the substrate and rocks in saltwater aquariums. As an omnivore, the Sally Lightfoot is the final phrase scavenger, consuming detritus, uneaten meals, algae and each little factor else in its path, with the well-known exception of residing corals. When this crab will get larger and further aggressive, it could actually moreover assault and eat small fish and invertebrates.
The Sally Lightfoot Crab has a brown physique, with orange to yellow rings on the legs.
Actually categorised as a shore crab, nonetheless, it is a lot much less in all probability than the alternative genera to go on land. The “true” Sally Lightfoot species is the Grapsus grapsus found inside the Galapagos Islands, which most undoubtedly won’t be the one you uncover in fish outlets. Inside the wild, this flat crab vastly prefers to remain in areas with various rocks with crevices that it might probably disguise in. In an aquarium, it moreover does best the place there could also be various keep rock with crevices and gaps that it might probably crawl into when it must cowl, which is as a rule.
The Sally Lightfoot Crab is taken into consideration to be a Reef Tank Safe Janitor as a result of it would not hassle corals nevertheless does an superior job of consuming Inexperienced Hair Algae, detritus and uneaten meals.
Table of Contents
Scientific Title:
Percnon gibbesi
Totally different Widespread Names:
Nimble Spray, Transient, or Urchin Crab.
Identification:
This crab has a very flat carapace. Its physique is brown with orange to yellow rings on the legs.
Distribution:
Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, and Indo-Pacific.
Most Measurement:
To a few”.
Reef Tank Safe:
Certain, with warning.
Meals plan & Feeding:
This crab is an omnivore, consuming detritus and algae in an aquarium. If insufficient meals is obtainable, its weight-reduction plan must be supplemented with seaweed and meaty devices. When it grows to an even bigger measurement, this crab can flip into aggressive and catch and eat small invertebrates and fish.