Porcelain Crab (Petrolisthes Galathinus)
Also Known As: Blue Porcelain Crab, Spotted Porcelain Crab
Compatibility and Behavior
The fun of a Porcelain Crab (Petrolisthes galathinus) is watching it eat. Instead of scavenging its way around the tank, this little invert perches on a favored spot and unfurls long, feathery appendages from around its mouth, fanning them rhythmically through the current to strain out tiny food particles, a delicate butterflying motion it'll keep up all day. It stays small at around half an inch to just over an inch, with a flat, rounded body and wide plate-like claws with fine speckling that catches reef lighting nicely. Temperament is peaceful and it's reef safe, content to sit among rock crevices, coral branches, or anemone tentacles and mind its own business, ignoring corals and fish alike. The one wrinkle is that it can get a little territorial toward other porcelain crabs in tight quarters, so keep it singly unless the tank is big enough to offer separate territories.
Aquarium Requirements
This is an easygoing invert that suits nano and large tanks alike, as long as there's stable water and plenty of rockwork with crevices, overhangs, or a coral or anemone host to perch on and feed from. The one thing to dial in is flow: aim for moderate, indirect movement, strong enough to carry suspended food past those fan appendages but not so forceful the crab struggles to hold its perch. Feeding is where these guys need a little help, since a very clean system often won't have enough plankton in the water to keep one fed, so plan on regular offerings of fine particulate foods like phytoplankton, rotifers, powdered coral foods, and tiny meaty bits. Reef-standard water quality and a peaceful fish community round things out and keep it confident enough to sit out in the open and filter-feed.
Specifications
Approximate Size: 0.5–1.25"
Diet: Omnivorous filter feeder; plankton, fine particulate foods, and tiny meaty bits from the water column
Origin: Caribbean and Western Atlantic
Care Level: Easy to moderate
Reef Safe: Yes
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
Special Considerations: Best kept singly, as it can be mildly territorial toward other porcelain crabs in close quarters
Pairs well with
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Shipping Information
- Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday. Orders will be shipped overnight on the soonest possible shipping day, unless you request to hold the order for up to one business day.
- Your order will ship same-day if placed before 12:30 PM PST on a shipping day.
- Orders placed after 12:30 PM PST will ship on the next shipping day.
- Stay tuned to our Announcement Bar (black bar at the top of every page) for important shipping announcements...we may reach our max limit of orders we can ship on Mondays.
- If it is very hot, very cold, or if you live in a rural area, ship to a UPS Access Point to save your livestock from hours of exposure to the elements. Click here to see how.
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FAQ’s
When will you ship my order?
We will ship on the soonest possible shipping day. Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday, and we ship same-day if the order is placed before 12:30 PM PST (unless announced otherwise). For example, if ordering at 1 PM on Thursday, your order will ship the following Monday.
Can you hold my order until next week?
Unfortunately not. We can hold items for up to one business day before shipping. We restock weekly, so chances are good we will receive more by next week!
When is the best time to order?
Saturdays and Sundays are the absolute best time to order, followed by Wednesday evenings. The closer you order to an inventory update, the better the available inventory.
What happens if something I ordered is unavailable?
We will email you to request a substitution. If you would like your original order, chances are good that it will be available to ship within the week (unless it is a very rare item).
Can I modify my order once it has been placed?
This is possible, but not guaranteed. Please email us if you need to modify your order or shipping address, and we will gladly make the changes for you, or let you know if it is too late.
What should I do if UPS is unreliable in my area?
We recommend shipping to a UPS Access Point, as packages get delivered there first before trucks go on residential deliveries. Click here to see how.
What salinity do you ship at?
Salinity for fish is 1.018-9. Salinity for inverts is 1.024-5.
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Contact Us
Send us an email at sales@reefbeauties.com and we will get back to you shortly.
We do not offer phone calls. We handle our inquiries with timely emails to ensure a qualified and high-quality response, to have all conversations on record, and to avoid miscommunications that can occur over the phone.
Free shipping on orders over $199!
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
When will you ship my order?
We will ship on the soonest possible shipping day. Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday, and we ship same-day if the order is placed before 12:30 PM PST (unless announced otherwise). For example, if ordering at 1 PM on Thursday, your order will ship the following Monday.
Can you hold my order until next week?
Unfortunately not. We can hold items for up to one business day before shipping. We restock weekly, so chances are good we will receive more by next week!
When is the best time to order?
Saturdays and Sundays are the absolute best time to order, followed by Wednesday evenings. The closer you order to an inventory update, the better the available inventory.
What happens if something I ordered is unavailable?
We will email you to request a substitution. If you would like your original order, chances are good that it will be available to ship within the week (unless it is a very rare item).
Can I modify my order once it has been placed?
This is possible, but not guaranteed. Please email us if you need to modify your order or shipping address, and we will gladly make the changes for you, or let you know if it is too late.
What should I do if FedEx is unreliable in my area?
We recommend shipping to a FedEx Ship Center, as packages get delivered there first before trucks go on residential deliveries. Click here to see how.
What salinity do you ship at?
Salinity for fish is 1.018-9. Salinity for inverts is 1.024-5.