Blue Borneo Crab
Parathelphusa pantherina
The Blue Borneo Crab (Parathelphusa pantherina) is a semi-aggressive invertebrate that's a good step up once you have a little experience. Give it a tank of at least 60 litres (16 US gallons), water held at 72-79°F, and a pH of 7-8.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Southeast Asia (Borneo)
- East & Southeast Asia
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Blue Borneo Crab Tank Setup
A tank of 60 litres (16 US gallons) or more with rock-steady water suits them best - keep it at 72-79°F with a pH around 7-8. Stable conditions matter most, as shrimp struggle to moult and breed when parameters bounce around.
What Do Blue Borneo Crabs Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Blue Borneo Crab Tank Mates
Needs land access; may prey on small tankmates The Blue Borneo Crab is semi-aggressive, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's predatory, so anything small enough to fit in its mouth will be treated as food rather than a companion. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Blue Borneo Crabs Good for Beginners?
Doable once you test water regularly and catch problems before fish look sick. If this is your first tank, pick something more forgiving and come back later.
Blue Borneo Crab - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Blue Borneo Crabs need?
Blue Borneo Crabs need a tank of at least 60 litres (16 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Blue Borneo Crabs need?
Keep them at 72-79°F with a pH of 7-8, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Blue Borneo Crabs eat?
Blue Borneo Crabs are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Blue Borneo Crabs good for beginners?
Blue Borneo Crabs are best for keepers with a little experience. They are manageable once you test water regularly and catch problems early; a complete beginner may prefer something more forgiving first.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Blue Borneo Crabs
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
