▷ Orange Dwarf Crab | All information and details

Data sheet Orange Dwarf Crab

German name:
Orange dwarf crab

Scientific name:
Cambarellus patzcuarensis orange (CPO)

Origin:
Mexico

Size:
Body length 2cm – 4cm

Aquarium

Length:
Length from 60 cm width and from 50 cm width

Contents:
from 50 liters

water values

Temperature:
18°-25°C, ideally 23°-25°C

pH:
7 – 8.5

GH:
17° dH

Behave

Area:
at the Floor alive, sometimes climbing plants

Lining:
Dry food, food tablets for crabs, live food, frozen food, leaves

Behave:
needs enough hiding places and retreats, males sometimes aggressive towards each other

Number:
Single, pair or group keeping possible

Difficulty level:
Beginner

Veitw, Cambarellus patzcuarensis var. Orange, CC BY-SA 3.0

The Cambarellus patzcuarensis orange impresses with its beautiful orange color. It stays small, is easy to care for and does not eat plants. This makes a very popular and attractive resident of species or community aquariums. The small crustacean comes from Lago Patzcuaro, a lake in Mexico, in whose herb-covered shore region the wild form (the orange variant is a purely cultivated form) is still found today. The animals are about two to three years old.

Posture recommendation

In order for the smallest of the crabs living in freshwater aquariums to feel really comfortable and stay healthy, they absolutely need enough areas in which to hide, to which they can withdraw. They go to these places when they want to avoid conspecifics or when their outer shell is soft and vulnerable for a while after molting. The females also need a shelter and resting area after mating. With clay tubes that are open on both sides, stone or wood constructions, such non-visible rooms can be creatively designed. Leaves in the aquarium, such as beeches or oaks, also create small cavities, serve as food for the crabs and support their health. It is interesting to watch the crabs molting. Problems with moulting are often caused by unfavorable housing conditions or malnutrition. A group of dwarf crayfish should consist mainly of females, since males do not always get along well with each other.

breed

Breeding in the aquarium is easy. The female crabs are mated after moulting. They then retreat to a sheltered area of ​​the aquarium and each carry around 20-40 eggs in their leg area for four weeks. If there are no enemies living in the aquarium and it is large enough, the hatched, fully developed juveniles can remain there for the time being. The offspring of Cambarellus patzcuarensis orange is undemanding. For carnal food, it takes microorganisms, along with finely cut leaves or nettle leaves and food sticks. A pure species aquarium with a single pair should hold at least 30 liters. The more space the better. Although the crabs are so small and can also be kept in groups in smaller aquariums, the following applies: less is more.

socialization

Dwarf crayfish can live with a variety of small and medium-sized fish species. Larger perch or catfish, with which they share the bottom area as a habitat, can be dangerous to them. Keeping several different Cambarellus species is not recommended. Socializing with shrimp is also not advisable, because they may be eaten by the crabs.