Boxing Crab
Lybia tessellata
Also known as: carrying crab, Carrying Crab, common boxing crab
The tiny crab that arms itself with living anemones for defense and hunting.
About
The carrying crab (Lybia tessellata), also known as the boxing crab, is one of the more fascinating and unusual invertebrates you can keep in a reef tank. This small crab has developed a remarkable relationship with tiny anemones, holding one in each claw and using them both as defensive weapons and to help gather food. The anemones get transported to new feeding grounds, while the crab gains a pair of stinging pompoms it can wave at anything that gets too close. It's a genuine mutualistic partnership, and watching it in action never really gets old. Lybia tessellata is a relatively small species, well suited to nano and mid-sized reef setups, though its specialized needs and moderate sensitivity to water quality place it in the intermediate category rather than beginner territory. Sourcing it with its anemones intact is important. Crabs that arrive without them may struggle to feed effectively. A peaceful tank with plenty of live rock and hiding spots suits them well, and they generally leave corals alone. If you enjoy keeping oddball invertebrates and have some experience maintaining stable reef conditions, this is a genuinely rewarding species to observe.
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Boxing Crab
Frequently asked questions
- What water parameters does the Boxing Crab need?
- The Boxing Crab does best with a temperature of 72–82°F, a pH of 8–8.4.
- Is the Boxing Crab aggressive?
- The Boxing Crab is generally peaceful and suits a community tank with similarly calm tankmates.
- What does the Boxing Crab eat?
- The Boxing Crab is an omnivore. It does well on a varied diet of quality flake or pellet plus occasional frozen or live foods.
- Is the Boxing Crab reef safe?
- The Boxing Crab is generally considered reef safe.