Description
The Ultimate Bubble Algae Destroyer
Meet the Pitho Crab, the unsung hero of the reef aquarium clean-up crew. Often mistaken for its cousin, the Emerald Crab, the Pitho Crab is a specialized herbivore with an incredible appetite for one of the most persistent nuisance algaes: Bubble Algae (Valonia and Ventricaria). With its unique, decorated carapace and methodical cleaning habits, this small but mighty crab is a must-have for any aquarist battling stubborn algae.
Sporting a fuzzy, decorated shell that helps it camouflage perfectly amongst live rock, the Pitho Crab is as interesting to watch as it is effective. It tirelessly roams the aquascape, using its precise claws to pick and consume various types of filamentous and bubble algae, reaching places that other scavengers can't. If you want a peaceful, reef-safe, and incredibly functional addition to your tank, look no further than the Pitho Crab.
Why You'll Love the Pitho Crab:
- Bubble Algae Specialist: Renowned for its ability to target and eliminate persistent bubble algae, a problem that plagues many reef tanks.
- Excellent Hair Algae Eater: Beyond bubble algae, it actively grazes on various types of unwanted hair algae, helping to keep your rockwork spotless.
- Completely Reef-Safe: A model citizen, the Pitho Crab is peaceful and will not bother corals, fish, or other desirable invertebrates.
- Unique Camouflage: A true "decorator" crab, it often allows algae and detritus to grow on its carapace, making it a fascinating and natural-looking inhabitant.
Care & Specifications
Providing the right environment is key to the health and effectiveness of your Pitho Crab. They are hardy invertebrates but, like all crustaceans, are sensitive to sudden shifts in water parameters.
Tank Requirements:
- Minimum Tank Size: 10 Gallons or larger.
- Aquascape: Requires a mature aquarium with plenty of live rock. The rockwork provides ample grazing surfaces and hiding places for the crab to feel secure.
- Stability: Best introduced into a well-established aquarium with stable water chemistry.
Water Parameters:
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Temperature: 72−78°F (22−25.5°C)
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Specific Gravity: 1.023−1.025
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pH: 8.1−8.4
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Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate: As close to 0 ppm as possible. Intolerant of poor water quality.
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Calcium: 380−450 ppm
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Magnesium: 1250−1350 ppm
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Alkalinity: 8−12 dKH
Feeding & Diet: The Pitho Crab is an herbivore and a scavenger. Its primary diet in the aquarium will be nuisance algae.
- Diet: Herbivore.
- Primary Foods: Bubble Algae, Hair Algae, and other filamentous algae.
- Supplemental Feeding: In tanks with little to no nuisance algae, its diet should be supplemented to prevent starvation. Offer dried seaweed (nori), spirulina-based pellets, or other herbivore preparations a few times a week. It will also scavenge for any leftover fish food.
Compatibility: The Pitho Crab is exceptionally peaceful and can be housed with a wide variety of fish and corals. It is a non-aggressive crab that spends its time focused on cleaning. It should not be housed with large, predatory fish known to eat crustaceans, such as Triggerfish, Pufferfish, or large Wrasses.
Acclimation: IMPORTANT: Pitho Crabs are sensitive to changes in water chemistry, especially salinity. To ensure a smooth transition and long-term health, drip acclimation is highly recommended. Please acclimate slowly over a period of at least 60 minutes.
