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Freshwater Pom Pom Crab (Ptychognathus barbatus) Freshwater Pom Pom Crab (Ptychognathus barbatus)
⚠️ Important Legal Note: All aquatic invertebrates are prohibited to possess in any form or sell in the state of Maine. Please check your local regulations before purchasing. We are unable to ship livestock from this listing to Maine. If you reside in Maine and try to checkout with this in your cart you will be unable to checkout and receive an error message until it is removed from the cart.
Species Description
The Pom Pom Crab is a tiny, fully aquatic crab best known for the distinctive tufts of fine setae covering portions of its claws. These fuzzy “pom-poms” give the crab its common name, but they are more than decoration. The crab uses them while feeding and foraging, collecting fine food particles and organic material as it explores its surroundings.
Pom Pom Crabs spend much of their time moving across substrate, plants, rocks, driftwood, and other surfaces in search of food. Their small size and constant activity make them especially interesting in a mature, structured aquarium where biofilm, microorganisms, and other natural foods have had time to develop. They are fully aquatic and do not require a terrestrial or above-water area.
Aquarium-trade Pom Pom Crabs have traditionally been identified as Ptychognathus barbatus. More recent taxonomic research has shown that identification within this genus is considerably more complicated than previously understood, with some populations historically identified as P. barbatus now recognized as different species. For this reason, Aquatic Arts uses Ptychognathus cf. barbatus as a more cautious identification for the aquarium-trade animals we offer unless their exact species identity can be independently confirmed.
Their natural habitat also deserves some clarification. Ptychognathus crabs are strongly associated with freshwater-influenced estuarine and brackish environments, although freshwater occurrence has also been reported. Aquatic Arts has successfully maintained the Pom Pom Crabs we receive fully submerged in freshwater, but that experience alone does not establish freshwater as the optimal environment throughout the animal\'s entire lifespan.
For aquarists seeking the more conservative long-term approach, we recommend stable, low-end brackish conditions while the long-term salinity requirements and exact identity of aquarium-trade Pom Pom Crabs remain uncertain. We would rather be transparent about that uncertainty than present these animals as strictly freshwater crabs when the available information does not justify such a definitive claim.
Standard Grade & B-Grade Pom Pom Crabs
Aquatic Arts may offer both Standard Grade and B-Grade Pom Pom Crabs, depending on availability.
Our B-Grade crabs are animals that we consider healthy and viable but that do not meet our normal cosmetic standards for the standard grade. This is most commonly due to a missing or damaged leg or claw or another visible physical imperfection.
Crabs can regenerate lost appendages through subsequent molts, although regeneration takes time and may require multiple molts. Because the rate of regeneration varies from crab to crab, we cannot guarantee when or how completely an appendage will return.
B-Grade crabs are offered at a reduced price because of their appearance at the time of sale. B-Grade does not mean that we knowingly sell sick or unhealthy animals.
What We Love About This Crab
- Unmistakable fuzzy “pom-pom” claws make their feeding and foraging behavior fascinating to observe.
- Tiny adult size allows them to explore plants, wood, rocks, and intricate areas of a mature aquascape.
- Constant natural foraging behavior makes them particularly interesting in established aquariums rich in biofilm and natural surfaces.
- Fully aquatic lifestyle means they can be maintained without constructing a terrestrial section.
Quick Care Guide
Scientific Name: Ptychognathus cf. barbatus
Common Name: Pom Pom Crab
Family: Varunidae
Care Level: Intermediate
Adult Size: Approximately 1 inch across the carapace
Temperament: Generally peaceful but opportunistic
Lifestyle: Fully aquatic
Land Area Required: No
Minimum Aquarium Size: 5 gallons or larger; additional space recommended for groups
Temperature: Approximately 72–78°F (22–26°C)
Diet: Omnivorous; biofilm, fine organic material, algae, small meaty foods, and quality prepared foods
Water Movement: Gentle to moderate with good oxygenation
Aquarium: Mature aquarium with abundant structure, hiding areas, and natural surfaces
Plants: Recommended
Secure Lid: Strongly recommended
Salinity: Freshwater occurrence and successful freshwater maintenance have been documented, including in Aquatic Arts\' own systems. However, because Ptychognathus is strongly associated with freshwater-influenced estuarine and brackish habitats, Aquatic Arts recommends stable low-end brackish conditions as the more conservative long-term approach.
Water ParametersIs the Pom Pom Crab Freshwater or Brackish?
This question deserves more explanation than a simple “freshwater” or “brackish” label.
Members of Ptychognathus are strongly associated with coastal, estuarine, and other environments influenced by both freshwater and saltwater. Freshwater occurrence has also been reported, and Aquatic Arts has maintained the Pom Pom Crabs we receive in fully aquatic freshwater systems.
What we cannot currently establish is that permanent freshwater conditions are optimal throughout the entire lifespan of every Pom Pom Crab entering the aquarium trade. We also have not found reliable evidence supporting claims that these crabs can survive only a particular number of weeks or months in freshwater.
Because of that uncertainty, Aquatic Arts recommends low-end brackish conditions as the more conservative choice for long-term husbandry. This recommendation reflects what is known about the natural environments associated with the genus without making unsupported claims about how long an individual crab will survive under a particular salinity.
Salinity
If you choose to maintain your Pom Pom Crab under brackish conditions, use a marine aquarium salt mix rather than freshwater “aquarium salt,” table salt, or another sodium-chloride-only product. Brackish water should be prepared and measured rather than created by adding an arbitrary amount of salt directly to the aquarium.
We are intentionally not publishing a narrow specific-gravity requirement at this time. The exact identity of aquarium-trade Pom Pom Crabs and their optimal long-term salinity remain uncertain, and we do not want to turn a generalized recommendation from another species or population into a precise requirement for these animals without sufficient evidence.
Whatever conditions are chosen, prioritize stability. Avoid repeatedly moving the crab between freshwater and brackish conditions or making sudden changes in salinity.
Temperature
Maintain a stable temperature of approximately 72–78°F (22–26°C). Good oxygenation and consistent water quality are more important than attempting to maintain the aquarium at one exact temperature within this range.
pH and Hardness
Avoid extremely soft, acidic conditions. Like other crustaceans, Pom Pom Crabs depend on adequate dissolved minerals to support normal exoskeleton development and successful molting.
Rather than chasing a single exact pH, provide stable, appropriately mineralized water with measurable hardness and alkalinity. Any changes to hardness, pH, or salinity should be made gradually.
Aquatic Arts Husbandry Note
We maintain the Pom Pom Crabs we receive in fully aquatic freshwater systems, and we believe our direct experience with these animals is important information for customers.
At the same time, successful maintenance in our holding and conditioning systems does not prove that freshwater provides optimal conditions throughout the animal\'s entire natural lifespan. Current habitat and taxonomic information surrounding Ptychognathus warrants a more cautious long-term recommendation.
The freshwater-versus-brackish discussion should also not be confuséd with whether these crabs require access to land. Pom Pom Crabs are fully aquatic and do not require a terrestrial area.
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Click the Shipping & Payments tab above the listing description for more info
Payment
Accepted Payment Methods
Immediate payment is required upon selecting \"Buy It Now\" or upon checking out through the cart.
We accept payment via U.S. PayPal accounts and all Major Credit Cards, Debit Cards & Google Pay.
We are legally required to collect sales tax in those states and localities where we maintain a physical presence (nexus).
The applicable amount of sales tax charged to an order will be calculated based on the shipment destination\'s state and local sales tax laws.
Thank you for shopping with us on !
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