How to Keep Red Claw Crabs

Red-clawed crabs do their best in a tank arranged just for them. A 10-gallon aquarium, half full, makes a great crab vivarium. Sandy substrate works better than gravel. The crabs should have perches above the waterline. Aquarium driftwood sticking out of the water makes a great perch. Additionally, crabs may get supplemental nutrition from eating bits of the wood. Last but not least, a tight-fitting lid is critical to keep these crabs from escaping and winding up desiccated.

These crabs come from a very wide geographic range. As such, they do well in a variety of conditions. They have a tropical distribution, and do their best at temperatures of 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Red-clawed crabs prefer a pH of 7.4 to 8.2. Despite some debate on the matter, these crabs do their best in brackish water. This means water with 1 tablespoon of salt per gallon. This should be aquarium salt or kosher salt, not table salt.

Part of the red-clawed crab's adaptation to such a huge area is their ability to eat a wide variety of foods. Red-clawed crabs will eat just about anything. This includes shredding aquarium plants and slow-moving fish. Shrimp pellets and other sinking prepared foods make a great staple food. These foods are available at most pet shops.

Red-clawed crabs require some considerations where tankmates are concerned. Avoid multiple male red-clawed crabs in the same aquarium. Males have larger claws than the females of the species. Fast-swimming fish that live in the upper levels of the water are decent tankmates. Bottom-dwelling fish, particularly slower-moving ones, run the risk of winding up as crab food. At the same time, fish large enough to eat these crabs should be avoided.