Rainbow Crab

This very colourful crab is known by various names including land crab, indigo crab, Patriot crab, or Tri-colour crab. But it is popularly known as the rainbow crab because of its striking colours.Its scientific name is Cardisoma armatum.It is caught in empty tins and collected from the wild for the hobby trade in the sand and mud flats of West Africa.Adult can reach 6-8 inches. Males are bigger and brighter coloured than females. Sex identification is easy: males have narrower and pointed flaps on the underside; females have broader and rounder flaps.

It can live in both fresh and brackish waters environments.

They need a water and land environment. If you are putting him in water, make sure there is some landing area for it to climb on and stay out of the water. Best set up is the terrarium approach with water and land.

They are great escape artiste. They can crawl up air tubes and underwater electrical wirings.

They eat almost everything. Fish meat is their favourite.

Several can be kept together although same may display territorial habits. Tanks containing this crab must be securely covered.

See Aqualog Special book on shrimps, crayfishes and crabs. Available at Petmart Pte Ltd.