
One example is Lybia hatagumoana, which has been spotted as far down as 100m (around 330ft) off the coast of Japan. Other Lybia crabs are found in a range of habitats.
Longnose hawkfish pompom crab plus#
Here, they can find corals to use as hides and foraging grounds, plus the anemones they depend on for safety and food. Their exact ranges depend on the species, but the species found in the aquarium trade occur in shallow (<65 ft) reefs. The genus Lybia is naturally found in the Pacific. It is pale yellowish and divided into blocks by red lines it seizes its prey with a viscous material, with which it can coat its claws.” Voyage pittoresque à l’Île-de-France, au cap de Bonne-Espérance et à l’Ile de Ténériffe French naturalist Pierre André Latreille was clearly fascinated with these tiny crabs: “(…) and one species which, although small, is nevertheless worthy of attention, is the checkered crab. Both have beige and orange color-blocked bodies and sport banded legs.ĭue to having evolved specifically to hold their anemones, pom pom crabs have small and underdeveloped claws.ĭid you know? Lybia tessellata was first described in 1812. Neither of these grows to more than an inch in length. Most commonly seen in the aquarium hobby are Lybia tessellata and L. There are 10 species of pom pom crabs out there, all of them quite small. According to research, it takes most of the food for itself (this is called kleptoparasitism), leaving just enough for the anemone to prevent it from growing too much, but still keep it alive. The anemone has stinging tentacles that offer protection, and the crab can use it to mop food particles off the seafloor. The arrangement works mostly for the crab, not so much the anemone. These are actually pieces of anemone, which the crab holds in its claws. It’s not difficult to see where the pom pom crab got its name: it really does look like a little cheerleader carrying two poms. Pom pom crab description & natural habitat Description

Pom pom crab, boxing crab, boxer crab, cheerleader crab, Lybia sp.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about pom pom crab care and caring for this species in your own aquarium! Name (Common, Scientific) Today, we’re putting the spotlight on one of the most wacky members of the crab department: the tiny pom pom crab of the genus Lybia. We love shrimp, we love crabs, and heck, we even love the ugly peanut worm. If you’ve been following our blog for a bit, you’ll know we love invertebrates.
