Description

The Thai micro crab is one of very few fully aquatic crabs that can be kept in a normal aquarium with no land area. It is tiny — the carapace is under a centimetre — and translucent brown, which makes it hard to spot. It feeds by filtering microparticles from the water and biofilm rather than hunting, and is entirely harmless even to small shrimp. It needs a mature tank with plenty of moss surface, because a newly set up aquarium will not provide enough food.
Scientific name
Limnopilos naiyanetri
Adult size
1 cm
Difficulty
Medium

Habitat

It is endemic to the Tha Chin river basin in Thailand, where it lives among the floating roots of water hyacinth. Reproducing that environment with roots, mosses and long-rooted floating plants is practically a requirement for it to thrive.

Habitats

🌊 Water parameters

pH
6.5 - 7.5
GH
4 - 10
Temperature
22 - 27 °C
Current
Low or moderate

What about your tank?

Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.

Compatible fish

General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.

Ancistrus temminckii

Ancistrus

Image byis licensed under CC BY 3.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–27 °C.

Melanotaenia boesemani in Ouwehands Dierenpark

Arcoíris de Boeseman

Image byFakirNLis licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–27 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 25–27 °C.

Crossocheilus siamensis by Ark

Comedor de algas siamés

Image byArkis licensed under CC BY 3.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–26 °C.

Corydoras Sterbai

Corydoras sterbai

Image byMatthew Mannellis licensed under CC0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–27 °C.

Brown Discus Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Disco

Image byBrian Gratwickeis licensed under CC BY 2.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 27 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Endler Guppy 'Yellow Top Sword'

Guppy Endler

Image byDornenwolfis licensed under CC BY 2.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

Honey gourami red variant

Gurami miel

Image byEevaya is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

Pelvicachromis pulcher (male)

Kribensis

Image byTino Straussis licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–27 °C.

Kuhli loach in aquarium

Locha kuhli

Image byIidkkis licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–27 °C.

Otocinclus

Otocinclus

Image byNico Hernandezis licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Carassius auratus auratus (goldfish)

Pez dorado

Image byJames St. Johnis licensed under CC BY 2.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–24 °C.

Danio margaritatus

Rasbora galaxy

Image byBread962is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.

Tetra ember

Tetra ember

Image byUsienis licensed under CC BY 3.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–27 °C.

Tetra negro

Tetra negro

Image bySerentier is licensed under CC0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.

Hyphessobrycon eques

Tetra serpae

Image byDouglas Lopesis licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

Compatible invertebrates

General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.

Ampularia

Ampularia

Image byÁngel Ramosis licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

Blue Bolt

Blue Bolt

Image byMarcus Hafermannis licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5 and 22–24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Cangrejo enano CPO

Cangrejo enano CPO

Image byVeitwis licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–25 °C.

Cangrejo pantera

Cangrejo pantera

Image byLaesaMajestasis licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–27 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Cangrejo vampiro

Cangrejo vampiro

Image byAverageWalrusis licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

Anentome helena
AI: ChatGPT

Caracol asesino

Image byHectoris licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

Tylomelania zemis
AI: ChatGPT

Caracol conejo

Image byHectoris licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5 and 26–27 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Caracol cuerno
AI: ChatGPT

Caracol cuerno

Image byHectoris licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.

Crystal Black
AI: ChatGPT

Crystal Black

Image byHéctoris licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–6.8 and 22–24 °C.

Crystal Red

Crystal Red

Image bySean Murrayis licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–6.8 and 22–24 °C.

Gamba Amano

Gamba Amano

Image bySky99is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

They share water: pH 7.5 and 27 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Melanoides

Melanoides

Image byBuchlingis licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

Neocaridina davidi
AI: ChatGPT

Neocaridina Black Rose

Image byHectoris licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.

Neocaridina Blue Dream

Neocaridina Blue Dream

Image byRoth 1312is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.

Neocaridina Green Jade
AI: ChatGPT

Neocaridina Green Jade

Image byHectoris licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.

Neocaridina Orange Sakura

Neocaridina Orange Sakura

Image byDack9is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.

Neritina cebra

Neritina cebra

Image byEvan Baldonadois licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

Neritina pulligera
AI: ChatGPT

Neritina pulligera

Image byHectoris licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

Physa

Physa

Image byBarbalalaikais licensed under CC0 (resized)

They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

Planorbis

Planorbis

Image byKong of Lasersis licensed under CC BY 3.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

Planorbella duryi

Planorbis rojo

Image byDat dorisis licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.

Sources

  • GBIF
    GBIF Secretariat (2026). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei. Consultado vía GBIF.org, 2026-08. Limnopilos naiyanetri.

Taxonomy verified as ACCEPTED unless stated otherwise.

The care values (pH, temperature and hardness) have no citable source: none of the accepted sources publishes invertebrate profiles. Seriously Fish has none and PlanetCatfish does not respond. A source for invertebrates is still to be agreed.