Coral Guard Crab care guide
Coral Guard Crab (Trapezia cymodoce) — minimum tank 100 L, temperature 24-26 °C, pH 8.1-8.4.
Overview
Coral Guard Crab (Trapezia cymodoce) is a coral guard crab of the family Trapeziidae, listed in the Aquairi knowledge base as an advanced-level species. Small mutualistic crab living among the branches of Pocillopora and Acropora corals, defending its host from predators (especially Crown-of-Thorns starfish).
Taxonomy
- Family: Trapeziidae
- Genus: Trapezia
- Scientific name: Trapezia cymodoce
- Common synonyms: Trapezia Crab, Coral Crab
Habitat
Trapezia guard crabs (family Trapeziidae) are small reef crabs that live obligately among the branches of pocilloporid and acroporid corals. They defend the host coral against predators such as crown-of-thorns sea stars in exchange for shelter and mucus food. In the Aquairi knowledge base this species is recorded from Indo-Pacific.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 100 L (26.4 US gal)
- Adult size: 1-2 cm
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- KH: 8-12 °dKH
- Salinity (specific gravity): 1.024-1.026
- Lifespan: 1-3 years
Diet
The species is an omnivore, taking a wide range of foods including meaty frozen foods, sinking pellets and detritus gathered from the rockwork.
Compatibility
The Aquairi knowledge base lists this species as peaceful. Suitable tank mates include Acropora, Pocillopora corals. It should be kept away from Aggressive fish. It lives obligately within a host Pocillopora or Acropora colony and is best added together with the coral.
Breeding
Breeding requires an extended planktonic larval stage in open water before the young settle, which makes captive reproduction very difficult and rarely accomplished in home aquaria. Most specimens in the hobby are wild-collected.