Sponge Crab (Pseudodromia Latens)
Also Known As: Sponge Crab, Hairy Sponge Crab
Compatibility and Behavior
Here's a crab that makes its own hat. The Sponge Crab (Pseudodromia latens) carries a live sponge around on its back like a cloak, holding it in place with fine hairs covering its body and adjusting it as needed for camouflage, which is about as charming a party trick as the invert world offers. Underneath the disguise it's a chunky, armored-looking little animal of 1 to 2 inches, with thick claws and short powerful legs, mottled in tan, cream, and brown that blends right into live rock and rubble. It's a nocturnal, secretive sort, tucking into crevices or under its sponge by day and coming out to scavenge after dark, and it's generally peaceful toward fish and most mobile inverts. File it under reef safe with caution, though: as it shuffles around adjusting that sponge cloak, it can nudge small frags or disturb delicate sessile inverts, so it's best kept away from prized ornamental sponges or fragile coral placements it might jostle.
Aquarium Requirements
This is an undemanding invert as long as it has cover. A single 1 to 2 inch crab does fine across a wide range of tank sizes in a mature reef or FOWLR setup, provided there's stable water and plenty of live rock, caves, and shaded crevices to shelter in during the day. Moderate, indirect flow keeps detritus moving and suspended for it to find. Since it's a slow but determined mover that can shift small pieces of rock or frags while maneuvering its sponge, it pays to build on a sturdy, well-anchored aquascape and secure any loose coral plugs. Regular feedings of small meaty foods like finely chopped seafood, frozen preparations, or sinking pellets keep it well fed and less inclined to rearrange your rockwork.
Specifications
Approximate Size: 1–2"
Diet: Omnivorous scavenger; leftover food, detritus, and small meaty items
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Care Level: Moderate
Reef Safe: With caution
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
Special Considerations: May nudge small frags or disturb delicate sessile inverts while adjusting its sponge, so avoid keeping with prized ornamental sponges or fragile coral placements; nocturnal and reclusive, best kept singly as a novelty display invert
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.