Spider Crab Freshwater

Amarinus lacustris is one of the few genuinely fully aquatic freshwater crabs from Australasia, characterised by long, slender spider-like legs and a small, inconspicuous carapace. It inhabits cool freshwater streams and lake margins, picking through substrate and plant matter for organic particles and small organisms. Its unusual morphology and rarity in the hobby make it a prized specimen for collectors specialising in unusual invertebrates.

Water: 18–24°C, pH 7.0–8.0, GH 6–15, KH 3–8; cool, well-oxygenated conditions. Tank: minimum 30 L, fine gravel or sand, rocks, aquatic plants; good oxygenation. Feeding: detritus, biofilm, micro-organisms, powdered invertebrate food. Behaviour: nocturnal scavenger; fully aquatic; hides among substrate and plants. Compatibility: safe with other small invertebrates and small peaceful fish.