Red Spotted Trapezia Crab (Trapezia rufopunctata)
Also Known As: Red-Spotted Coral Crab, Rust-Spotted Guard Crab
Compatibility and Behavior
The breathtakingly beautiful Red Spotted Trapezia Crab (Trapezia rufopunctata) is a coral bodyguard, and its whole life is bound up with a single host colony. It's a compact crab with a smooth, flattened trapezoid carapace in cream, pale pink, or light orange, densely patterned with reddish-orange to crimson spots that camouflage it beautifully among the polyps, and curved leg tips let it cling and maneuver between tightly packed branches. It forms a genuine mutualism with branching Pocilloporid corals, especially Pocillopora and Stylophora: the coral provides food and shelter, and in return the crab cleans away sediment and detritus and defends its host from certain coral predators. It's considered reef safe, though it naturally consumes some coral mucus and tissue as part of that partnership. Keep one crab per sufficiently large colony (a compatible pair can share a big one), since unrelated individuals will compete for the same host. Peaceful reef fish make suitable tankmates, while hawkfish, larger wrasses, puffers, and other crustacean predators may harass or eat it.
Aquarium Requirements
The one non-negotiable here is a coral host. This crab depends so heavily on a healthy, well-branched Pocillopora or Stylophora colony for food, shelter, and molting space that it shouldn't be kept in a coral-free tank at all. Given a good host, a mature reef of 15 to 20 gallons or larger works fine. Maintain stable reef conditions and strong coral health, avoid sudden swings and overly aggressive tankmates, and never use copper-based medications. Supplemental target feeding with tiny portions of mysis, enriched brine, zooplankton, or finely chopped marine food can help, particularly when suspended food is limited.
Specifications
Approximate Size: 0.5–1"
Diet: Omnivore; coral mucus, trapped detritus, plankton, and tiny marine organisms, supplemented with finely chopped marine foods
Origin: Indo-West Pacific
Care Level: Moderate
Reef Safe: Yes
Temperament: Territorial around its host coral; keep singly or as a compatible pair per adequately sized colony
Special Considerations: Depends on a healthy branching Pocillopora or Stylophora colony for food and shelter, so it needs a host coral and shouldn't be kept in a coral-free tank. Sensitive to copper, so never use copper-based medications.
Pairs well with
Red Spotted Trapezia Crab (Trapezia rufopunctata)
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.