Cardisoma armatum
| Cardisoma armatum | |
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| Species: | C. armatum
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| Cardisoma armatum Herklots, 1851
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Cardisoma armatum is a species of terrestrial crab. It is sometimes referred to as the (African) rainbow crab, (Nigerian) moon crab or patriot crab. Adults are sometimes labelled as soapdish crabs in the pet industry. This name derives from their aggressive nature as adults and when being shipped to pet stores, they are often packed in soap dishes to prevent them from killing each other. The names moon crab and soapdish crab are sometimes applied to other similar crab species, leading to frequent confusion with other colourful crabs such as the three remaining species of Cardisoma, Gecarcinus ruricola and G. quadratus - all except C. carnifex from the Americas. Cardisoma armatum originates from coastal regions of western Africa, but it also occurs inland along some deltas (e.g. the Volta river delta), and on islands such as Cape Verde.
When young, these crabs typically have a blueish/violet carapace, red–coloured legs, and whitish claws. This coloration usually fades as the animal grows older. They can reach a carapace size of 20 cm across, although captive individuals rarely reach this size. Their diet consists mainly of fruit, vegetation and carrion. They are known to be cannibalistic, and will consume smaller crabs, small reptiles and amphibians, molluscs, fish, and insects if they can catch them. While juvenile and adult crabs spend most of their time on dry land, the females must return to the ocean to release their eggs. The eggs hatch into microscopic larvae, and later on develop into young crabs. If the young do not make landfall by the time they are fully developed they will drown.
References
- Bright, D., & C. Hogue. 1972. A synopsis of burrowing land crabs of the World and list of their arthropod symbionts and burrow associates. Contributions in Science. No. 220. Available online (PDF)
- Matt Clarke (2005-11-14). "Rainbow crab, Cardisoma armatum". Practical Fishkeeping.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - D. Warren. "Cardisoma armatum". Retrieved 2007-07-16.
Rainbow crabs are land crabs. They should be kept in a dry land tank with sand and a large deep water bowl (with rocks so that the crab can climb out) the water bowl should take up a quarter of the land space. Cardisoma armatum is the name given to Rainbow crabs; this breed comes originally from Africa where they live on beach coasts. This information is relevant to most land crabs that need to climb out of the water to breathe. If you have hermit crabs the vivuruim information is relevant with the only change being that they need a shallow water dish so that they cannot drown. Firstly, something which is very important is that Rainbow Crabs must not under any circumstances be kept with other crabs, even other rainbow crabs - yes I know aquariams keep them together but they shouldn't. Rainbow crabs may seem to get on well together when they are young but as they reach sexual maturity they will become very aggressive to one another. This breed are very solitary and will fight (even to the death) if put with others. The only time they are seen together is during mating. The problem is that aquariams tell people that they can be kept in pairs and that their crabs have never fought. Young crabs will not fight, but within a few months they will end up fighting to the death. Avoid this situation, do not get more than one crab
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