Sally lightfoot crab

Care at a glance

The sally lightfoot crab is flat-bodied with long, thin legs and moves surprisingly fast across the rock, including just above the waterline. Juveniles are an inconspicuous grey-brown; adults develop colourful margins on the carapace.

It is an eager scavenger that clears algae, detritus and dead animals, but over the years it grows larger and bolder. Large specimens will occasionally take a sleeping shrimp or a weakened fish, so keep it in a spacious tank and keep an eye on its size.

Good to know

• Preys on shrimp and snails
• Active at night

Best not combined with

• Cleaner shrimpLysmata amboinensis
• Peppermint shrimpLysmata wurdemanni
• Sexy shrimpThor amboinensis

Related species

• Feather star (crinoid)Crinoidea sp.
• Tiger pistol shrimpAlpheus bellulus
• Berghia nudibranch (aiptasia eater)Berghia stephanieae
• Dwarf zebra hermit crabCalcinus laevimanus
• Electric blue hermit crabCalcinus elegans
• Pom-pom crab (boxer crab)Lybia tessellata