Do you know the name?

[fisherw]

I was at Wu Hu in Tiong Bahru this afternoon. Saw some crabs in the narrow "ledge-like" tanks near the front.

They were fairly large, about 2 to 3 cm across the carapace (so, much larger than the vampires, but smaller than the Rainbow crabs). Green like the mud crabs we have in the market with some differences. The last set of legs are not paddles but "proper" legs. The claws are larger, sort of out of proportion (compared to mud crab young I have seen at Aquastar), and one is larger than the other (like fiddlers but not that vastly different in size). There seem to be right and left larger claws so not consistent. The carapace has a distinct notch. A bit difficult to describe but very noticeable if you can see it. Sorry, my mobile does not have a camera feature. Most shells are smooth curvy, this one from the eyes go curvy then there is a sharp incline then the curve continues to the "tail" end. So there is a shape line running across.

Went through Beastie's Panzerwelten but did not see it there.

Wondered if anyone else saw them and know the name or can guess from my attempts at describing.

Also, off-thread. There were quite a number of fishes I seldom see at lfs. Some look like killies. Caveat here, I am not a killie person. So, while I am prepared to be corrected, please don't blast me if you make the trip and they are not. Just that I remembered a post about looking for killies so just fyi.

[lucasjiang]

Hi, those are heterothelphusa fatum. they are easy to keep, but can be quite territorial, avoid keeping two males together. By the way, they are very cheap, $1 each.

[fisherw]

Many thanks, Lucas. I had expected that if any one knew, it would be you, joydiv or beastie.

Yes, cheap at $1 each compared to the others.

I did a quick google after your post. Very little info. Lots of sites in German (they seem to be big fans of invertebrates, especially crabs). Any info on care? Or is there a website you can point me to?

Usual newbie info at this stage. Just shallow water or a large land mass needed? You mentioned avoid two males. Can I go for 1 male and a couple of females? (Since they are a dollar each, thinking of 3 females.) Are the females also territorial? What to feed them? Easy to breed? Are they more active than vampires? The vampires I had were constantly hiding (died after molting, so something is lacking).

Any info you can provide appreciated. Will continue looking.

[fisherw]

Lucas

Spot on ID. Came across this after googling.

http://www.panzerwelten.de/forum/showthread.php?tid=116

The fourth photo shows the ridge and the different size claws. It was in Panzerwelten after all. Just not in the specie database.

Thanks again.

[lucasjiang]

Hi fisherw,

i kept a pair before. here's some info on them

Firstly, the males are the ones with the big claws, the females have equal sized claws. if u notice, almost all the crabs being sold are males.the last time i went, i saw one female at wuhu (Not sure whether u saw it), and another one at c328.

Regarding care, i kept a pair in a 1.5 ft five plan tank. they are mostly aquatic, and require just a bit of land.

For me, i use PVC pipes as hiding places, and stack up some stones on top of the pipes for them to climb out.

for food, i fed them Hikari crabby cuisine.

pH wise, i didnt measure, but a rough estimate is between 6.5-7

temperature was normal room temperature, about 28 degrees.

[fisherw]

Thanks Lucas. Was at Wu Hu today. All males. The single female you saw must have been bought. Decided not to buy any. Will wait for later shipment.

The uncle there says in shallow water. Do they drown in deep water? I was thinking of water of some depth and something for them to climb out by, wood or stones.

How about the young? Larvae or fully formed? Do you know?

[lucasjiang]

i kept them in water about 10cm deep (not including substrate). as long as there is a bit of land, they will be alright.

as far as i know, their eggs hatch into fully formed baby crabs.