Arrow Crab

The Arrow Crab, which is also known as the Spider Crab due to its long legs, has a body and head that resemble an arrow. They can vary in size, with some reaching up to 6 inches and even up to 10 inches, while females can be much smaller. Different species of Arrow Crab can be found in different parts of the world. The most common type is the Stenorhynchus seticornis which comes from the Caribbean, but other species can be imported from the Indo-Pacific region, eastern Africa, and California. These crabs usually inhabit parts of the reef associated with small caves or crevices. Arrow Crabs are hardy and long-lived invertebrates that can be kept in a reef aquarium, but caution must be taken as they may attack other crustaceans such as Banded Coral Shrimp, and even small slow-moving fish. As opportunistic feeders, they may pick at mushrooms or polyps if insufficient food is present. However, Arrow Crabs can be beneficial in eating smaller Bristle Worms that are considered pests. Breeding Arrow Crabs in the aquarium is generally not successful, as the larvae are free-swimming and hatch in about two weeks. They will eat almost all types of meaty, flake, and tablet foods.