Parathelphusa pantherina

[Ulli Bauer]

Text/Photos: Hans-Jürgen Günter
Translation: Ulli Bauer

Panther crab (Parathelphusa pantherina)

Scientific name: Parathelphusa pantherina

Trivial name: Panther crab

Systematics: Domain: Eucaryota, kingdom: Animalia, subkingdom: Metazoa (multiple-celled animals), Eumetazoa (true tissue), grade: Bilateria, branch: Protostomia, infrakingdom: Ecdysozoa (molting animals), phylum: Arthropoda (jointed-leg invertebrates), subphylum: Crustacea, class: Malacostraca (higher crustaceans), superorder: Eucarida, order: Decapoda (ten-legged crayfish), suborder: Pleocyemata, infraorder: Reptantia, section: Brachyura (true crabs), superfamily: Gecarcinucoidea, family: Parathelphusidae (Sri Lankan freshwater crabs), genus: Parathelphusa, species: Parathelphusa pantherina



Origin/distribution: Sulawesi, in and on Lake Matano. They also live outside the water under roots and fallen trees.

Location's water parameters: soft water, 27-30°C, PH 8

More on the location
There are at least three different kinds of plant species in the lake. This makes it quite possible that these crabs also eat plant food.

There are several areas in the lake where leaves have fallen into the water, but there are also wide areas without. However, the crabs are found everywhere. There are small trees at the shore whose dead leaves (black, about 15 to 20 cm long) then lie in the water and are used as cover by the crabs. Thus I think it's quite probable that they also feed on them.

Here we have some pics of the lake (all originating from Mimbon's website, by courtesy of Roland )











And finally, one pantherina that's a little larger:


Food: Snails, dead fish, live jumbo bloodworms, Discus granules, wafer tabs. They do not eat green plants.

Size: approx. 50-55 mm wide carapace Source

Description: Only dotted crab in the habitat. Basic color light to dark yellow, with black dots.





Life span: 4-6 years (just guessed!)

Tank set-up: Aquaterrarium with a land part and substrate allowing burrows; plants (also weeping forms), mosses, hideaways on the land parts (e.g. cork tunnels); water part well structured with diverse levels to climb, hideouts. The water area is more important than the land part. However, you should not try without land areas anyway.

Tank size: Minimum 80 x 35 x 40 for 1 male and 2 females, make sure it's really well-structured!

Reproduction: It has to be assumed that these crabs breed in fresh water. However, no one has reported them successfully reproducing so far.