|
Arrow Crab Stenorhynchus seticornis
Not to be trusted with small to medium fish tank-mates (may spear with rostrum, otherwise consume). Safe with hardy native corals and anemones, larger fishes.
Description 1/2" (13 mm) wide, 2 1/4" (57 mm) long. Arrowhead-shaped. Pale grey, cream-coloured, buff, or orange with inverted, V-shaped, light-and-dark-brown or black stripes; legs reddish, bright red at joints; fingers of pincers blue, eyes maroon. Carapace triangular, smooth, widest at rear, narrowing toward eyes, extending forward as long, slender, spiny beak. Pincers twice body length, slender; legs slender, over 3 times body length, with 2–3 rows of fine spines on longest joints. Habitat On rock, shell, sand, and coral-rubble bottoms, coral reefs, jetties, and wharf pilings; from low-tide line to water 4884' (1489 m) deep. Range North Carolina to Florida and Texas; Bermuda; Bahamas; West Indies to Brazil. The Arrow Crab has eight spider-like legs and has a head that is exceptionally pointed at the tip. The legs of an Arrow Crab can be more than three times its body length. The body of an Arrow Crab is composed of many colours. The whole body is covered in a golden-brown colour, with white, brown, or gold stripes running along the crab's body. The ends of the legs are dark violet. As the Arrow Crab grows it will shed an outer layer of its skin called the exoskeleton. In the course of mating, the male Arrow Crab will hold the female Arrow Crab against his belly so that he can place a sperm packet into the female. Once the female has been fertilized she will carry her eggs underneath her abdomen until the eggs are ready to hatch. The babies that emerge are called zoea, and once they are born they swim towards the surface of the ocean and feed on small plankton. As the young Arrow Crab continues to grow it will shed its exoskeleton and will replace it with a new one. It will continue to do this until the crab has reached its maximum size.
The Arrow Crab is a nocturnal creature, meaning that it does most of its daily responsibilities at night time and will do all of its scavenging during the night time. Since the Arrow Crab is nocturnal, it is rarely seen out during the daylight hours. These crabs do not fear divers who want to come and take pictures of it, but when it comes to other animals, even its own species, the Arrow Crab can be quite territorial. Care Level: Easy. Origin: Caribbean Tank Conditions: 72-78°F; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4; dKH 8-12 Max. Size In Aquarium: Up to 6" Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes. Family: Majidae
|
