Thai Micro Crabs (Limnopilos naiyanetri)

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Pack Size: 5

5 10 20

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$37.50

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Descripción

Freshwater Crabs

Thai Micro Crab

One of the smallest freshwater crabs in the world — a fully aquatic, plant-safe filter feeder that lives permanently submerged and coexists peacefully with shrimp.

Limnopilos naiyanetri Under 1cm Carapace Width Fully Aquatic Plant Safe Shrimp Compatible Passive Filter Feeder

The Thai Micro Crab (Limnopilos naiyanetri) is one of the smallest freshwater crabs in the world and one of the most unusual invertebrates available to the planted tank hobby. Native to a single river system in Thailand, Thai Micro Crabs are fully aquatic — unlike most freshwater crabs that require land access or brackish water to complete their life cycle, these crabs live, feed, molt, and reproduce entirely submerged in freshwater. They remain under 1cm in carapace width at full size, making them genuinely nano-appropriate and invisible as a threat to any tank inhabitant larger than newly hatched fry. Their feeding strategy is equally unusual: rather than scavenging or hunting, they extend feathery, hair-covered legs and claws to passively collect fine particles, biofilm, and microorganisms suspended in the water column — a filter-feeding behavior more reminiscent of a fan shrimp than a crab. Safe with adult Neocaridina, Caridina shrimp, and all plants.

7.0–8.0 pH

8–15 GH

2–8 KH

72–82°F Temperature

What to Expect

Behavior & Appearance

Exceptionally small — carapace under 1cm at full size — Thai Micro Crabs are genuinely tiny. The carapace of a fully grown adult is smaller than a fingernail, and the total leg span of even a large individual is modest by any standard. Their size makes them easy to miss in a planted tank initially — they tend to position themselves on plant leaves, fine-branched hardscape, and moss where their coloration and scale blends naturally into the environment. Fully aquatic — no land access required — this is the characteristic that separates Thai Micro Crabs from almost every other freshwater crab in the hobby. They do not need to leave the water, do not climb, and do not require a terrestrial zone or emersed area in the tank. A standard fully submerged planted tank setup is entirely appropriate, and no tank modifications for land access are necessary or useful. Passive filter feeding using feathered legs and claws — Thai Micro Crabs do not actively hunt or scavenge in the manner of most crabs. Instead they extend their legs and specialized claws — covered in fine, feather-like setae — and hold them outstretched in the water current to passively collect fine organic particles, biofilm fragments, and microorganisms. This feeding behavior is most visible when the crab is positioned on a plant leaf or piece of driftwood with legs extended into open water, moving gently with the current. Compatible with adult Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp — Thai Micro Crabs are too small to threaten adult Neocaridina or Caridina shrimp and coexist with them peacefully in practice. They share the same parameter preferences broadly and occupy a different behavioral and foraging niche — the crabs filter-feed from elevated positions on plants and hardscape while shrimp graze substrate and leaf surfaces below. Very small shrimplets may be at marginal risk but this is rarely observed in practice in a well-planted tank. Cryptic and easily overlooked in planted tanks — Thai Micro Crabs are not an active display animal in the way CPOs or large shrimp are. Their small size, tendency to stay still for extended periods while filter feeding, and preference for positions on plant leaves and fine-branched hardscape makes them easy to miss in a densely planted tank. Keeping a group of six or more significantly improves visibility — with enough individuals in the tank, at least a few will reliably be in observable positions at any given time. Requires a tightly covered tank — escape risk is real — Thai Micro Crabs are fully aquatic but will climb filter intakes, airline tubing, and equipment cables extending to the surface, and can exit through very small gaps in tank covers. A tight-fitting lid with no meaningful gaps, covered filter intake tubes, and no external equipment that provides a climbing route to the surface are essential. Loss through escape is the most common cause of disappearance in otherwise healthy Thai Micro Crab tanks.

How to Set It Up

Getting Started

1 Secure the tank before introducing the crabs — before adding Thai Micro Crabs, inspect the tank for gaps in the lid, uncovered filter intake tubes, and any cables or equipment that run from the water to the outside. Cover filter intakes with a fine sponge or mesh sleeve, seal or redirect any equipment cables that exit through open gaps, and confirm the lid sits flush with no meaningful openings. Do this before the crabs are in the tank — finding escape routes after the fact is too late.

2 Acclimate slowly and introduce into a planted tank — drip acclimate over 30–45 minutes before releasing. Thai Micro Crabs are sensitive to abrupt parameter changes and benefit from a longer, more gradual acclimation than Neocaridina. Introduce them directly into a well-established planted tank with mature biofilm on plants and hardscape — a tank with established surfaces gives them immediate access to natural food and reduces acclimation stress significantly.

3 Keep a group of at least six — Thai Micro Crabs fare better and are significantly more visible in groups. A single crab in a planted tank may rarely be seen; a group of six to ten will have individuals in observable positions throughout the day. Groups also reduce individual stress — crabs kept in isolation or very small numbers often remain hidden far more persistently than those in larger colonies.

4 Supplement filter feeding with fine powdered food — while Thai Micro Crabs collect natural particles passively, supplementing with ultra-fine powdered food ensures consistent nutrition, particularly in newer tanks with limited natural particulate matter. A small amount of fine powder added near the crabs' preferred positions — on plant leaves or elevated hardscape — disperses in the water column and passes through their extended feeding legs. Feed sparingly two to three times per week.

💡 Bonus Tip

Thai Micro Crabs are most consistently visible in the hour after lights-on and in the hour before lights-off — the transition periods when tank activity is highest and the crabs move most actively between feeding positions. If you rarely see your crabs during the main photoperiod, observe the tank during these transition windows instead. Positioning a small powerhead or filter outlet so a gentle current passes through the main plant mass also draws the crabs out to filter-feeding positions more regularly, making them significantly easier to observe and enjoy.

🦐

Browse our shrimp collection

Thai Micro Crabs pair naturally with Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp in planted nano tanks. Browse our Freshwater Shrimp collection.

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Before placing your order, please review our 📋 DOA Policy 🚚 Shipping Info

Reseñas

Policies & Disclaimers

Before you order · Crabs

Policies & Disclaimers

What to expect from your crabs, how our guarantee works, and what to do when your order arrives.

Size & representative photos

Crab size and appearance vary by species and individual. Refer to the listing and selected option for any stated purchase size. Adult or maximum sizes describe growth potential, not a guaranteed size on arrival. Product photos represent the species rather than the exact animals you will receive; color and markings may vary.

Habitat & species requirements

Check the specific crab’s habitat requirements before purchase. Thai Micro Crabs are fully aquatic and remain submerged. Do not apply land-area or brackish-water instructions for other crab species to Thai Micro Crabs. Likewise, do not assume every crab species can live permanently underwater. Follow the care information in the particular listing.

Molting & shelter

Crabs molt as they grow and are vulnerable while their new shell hardens. Provide suitable shelter and avoid handling or disturbing a freshly molted animal. A shed shell is not by itself evidence of a dead crab. If you are concerned about an animal’s condition on arrival, photograph the unopened packaging and contact us within the guarantee window.

Behavior, feeding & tankmates

Thai Micro Crabs are tiny and can be difficult to spot among plants and hiding places. Provide appropriate food and cover, and avoid tankmates that could eat or injure them. Compatibility and feeding requirements differ between crab species, so use the specific listing rather than general assumptions about freshwater crabs.

Pack contents & breeding

The selected pack quantity identifies the number ordered, not a promised breeding pair or sex ratio unless the listing explicitly states otherwise. Purchasing a group does not guarantee breeding, eggs or successful offspring.

Tiny size, hiding & visibility

Thai Micro Crabs are extremely small. Carapace width refers to the body shell, not the full spread of the legs, so measurements and photographs can give very different impressions of scale. Adult-size information is not a promised shipping measurement.

Their subdued coloration and tendency to shelter among plants can make them difficult to see. Hiding after introduction does not prove an animal was missing from the shipment. Count and document the received animals before release, following the policy, rather than trying to reconstruct the count in a planted aquarium.

Delicate legs, claws & molts

Inspect arrival condition through the unopened bag. If a crab appears to have a damaged or missing appendage, photograph the area clearly and include a wider image, the label and packaging. Do not lift it by a leg or claw or pull on an appendage to test it.

A shed exoskeleton can look surprisingly complete. Look carefully before treating an empty molt as a deceased crab, but report any genuine arrival concern promptly. Do not wait for another molt to resolve an injury concern or attempt to pull an animal free from its old shell.

Suitable shelter lets freshly molted crabs remain undisturbed while their shell hardens. Neither molting nor potential regeneration creates an automatic exception to, or approval under, the guarantee.

Feeding access, safe housing & compatibility

Thai Micro Crabs feed on very small food particles and material available on established surfaces. Make sure appropriate food reaches their sheltered positions rather than assuming food eaten by larger tankmates is also feeding the crabs. Avoid adding excessive food that degrades water quality.

Protect small animals from strong exposed filter intakes and check openings around equipment and the tank cover. A fully aquatic species still needs a secure, suitable aquarium.

Choose tankmates that will not eat, harass or outcompete these tiny crabs. Species-specific behavior matters: the housing and feeding advice for Thai Micro Crabs should not be treated as a universal setup for larger or semi-terrestrial crabs.

Breeding & acclimation expectations

A purchased group is a quantity selection, not a promise of paired sexes, eggs or successful reproduction. Seeing eggs does not guarantee that young will survive or that a self-sustaining colony will develop.

Prepare stable water and suitable cover before delivery and follow the species’ acclimation guidance. Complete arrival inspection and any required photographs before transfer. Avoid chasing or repeatedly handling newly introduced crabs simply to make them visible.

Bonus animals & your paid count

When inventory allows, our policy provides one bonus animal for every five ordered of the same species. Bonuses are discretionary and are not separately covered for refund or replacement. They count toward the total arriving alive when assessing whether your paid quantity was fulfilled.

For example, if you order 10 crabs and receive 12, receiving 11 alive fulfills the paid count. If fewer than 10 arrive alive, the shortfall is assessed under the guarantee. Expected bonuses that were not included are not a paid-item shortage.

Checking quantities & reporting a short count

Check the actual animals received against your paid order quantity. For a suspected short count, the full policy calls for a clear counting photo showing all animals, the empty bag and the shipping label before they are introduced into an aquarium. Follow its counting instructions and contact us if you cannot document the count clearly.

Verified miscount claims are resolved with a refund for the missing paid animals under the current policy. A count made after release can be unreliable when animals hide among plants or hardscape.

Before opening: photographs & your first report

Use the email address on the original order and include all arrival concerns in the initial message to support@superiorshrimpaquatics.com within two hours of the carrier’s recorded delivery time. Photograph the sealed bag, visible and countable animals, shipping label, box and packing materials.

If the bag is leaking or damaged, photograph the leak or damage and wet packing before opening. Keep the original photographs and packaging. For cloudy water that prevents counting, take the original cloudy-water photo first and follow the full policy’s specific additional clear-container documentation instructions.

The guarantee contains restrictions on opening bags, acclimation and transfers. Review those instructions before taking action so the evidence needed to assess the claim is preserved.

Arrival problem? Document it promptly.

Email support@superiorshrimpaquatics.com within two hours of the carrier’s recorded delivery time, using the email address on your order.

Photograph the original sealed bag with the animals visible and countable.
Include the shipping label, outer box and packing materials.
Document any bag damage or leakage before opening.
Report all arrival losses in your initial message.

Read the full guarantee for photo requirements, cloudy-water documentation and claim eligibility before opening or transferring animals. Approved claims are resolved under the options and conditions stated there.

Live Arrival Guarantee

Shipping & coverage limits

Ground shipping carries increased risk for live animals, and the policy reserves the right to refuse guarantee claims on ground shipments. Choose your shipping method carefully.

The guarantee applies to the first delivery attempt. Redirection, pickup holds and carrier delays can affect eligibility under the full policy. Any product-specific coverage restrictions stated in a listing also apply.

Shipping Information

Hitchhikers & quarantine

Live aquatic products can carry tiny hitchhikers or eggs despite inspection. Pest-free arrival is not guaranteed. We recommend quarantining new arrivals before introducing them into an established aquarium.

Returns

Return Policy

Care guidance in this tab does not create additional guarantee requirements or exclusions. Please read the full policies for complete eligibility, documentation, resolution and return requirements.

Thai Micro Crabs (Limnopilos naiyanetri)

$37.50

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Thai Micro Crabs (Limnopilos naiyanetri)