Description

The panther crab is one of the few large crabs that lives permanently submerged, with no need for a land area. Its carapace reaches about 6 cm and its mottled brown and cream pattern justifies the name. It is territorial and fairly aggressive towards its own kind, so it is kept alone or as a pair in spacious tanks with many refuges. It is not compatible with slow fish or with shrimp, which it catches without difficulty.
Scientific name
Parathelphusa pantherina
Adult size
6 cm
Difficulty
Medium

Habitat

It is endemic to Lake Matano on Sulawesi: warm, slightly alkaline and low-conductivity water. It needs stability and minerals available for moulting, but it does not come from very hard water; raising hardness indiscriminately does not solve a lack of stability.

Habitats

🌊 Water parameters

pH
7.5 - 8.5
GH
4 - 8
Temperature
24 - 29 °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 7.5 and 24–27 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

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.

Rohanella titteya

Barbo cereza

Image bybrian.gratwickeis licensed under CC BY 2.0 (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.

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.

betta

Betta

Image byDaniella Vereekis licensed under CC BY 2.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

They share water: pH 7.5 and 25–29 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Crossocheilus siamensis by Ark

Comedor de algas siamés

Image byArkis licensed under CC BY 3.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–26 °C.

Corydoras aeneus

Corydoras aeneus

Image byAndrew Kelleris licensed under CC0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–26 °C.

Corydoras panda

Corydoras panda

Image byDornenwolfis licensed under CC BY 2.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–25 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Corydoras Sterbai

Corydoras sterbai

Image byMatthew Mannellis licensed under CC0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Danio rerio

Danio rerio

Image byMarrabbio2is licensed under CC0 (resized)

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

 Pterophyllum scalare

Escalar

Image byKareljis licensed under CC0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

The guppy

Guppy

Image byCarlos Eduardo Joosis licensed under CC BY 2.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–28 °C.

Endler Guppy 'Yellow Top Sword'

Guppy Endler

Image byDornenwolfis licensed under CC BY 2.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–28 °C.

Thrichogaster lalius

Gurami Enano

Image byBernat Arlandisis licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5 and 25–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–28 °C.

Honey gourami red variant

Gurami miel

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

They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Gurami perla

Gurami perla

Image byChmee2is licensed under CC BY 3.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Pelvicachromis pulcher (male)

Kribensis

Image byTino Straussis licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 (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.

Otocinclus

Otocinclus

Image byNico Hernandezis licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–26 °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 7.5–8 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Two Xiphophorus maculatus in aquarium

Platy

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

They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–27 °C.

Danio margaritatus

Rasbora galaxy

Image byBread962is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Tetra limón

Image byWaugsbergis licensed under CC BY 2.5 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Tetra negro

Tetra negro

Image bySerentier is licensed under CC0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

black neon tetra

Tetra neón negro

Image byBrian Gratwickeis licensed under CC BY 2.0 (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.

Hyphessobrycon eques

Tetra serpae

Image byDouglas Lopesis licensed under CC BY 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.

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 7.5–8 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Cangrejo Thai micro
AI: ChatGPT

Cangrejo Thai micro

Image byHectoris licensed under CC BY 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 enano CPO

Cangrejo enano CPO

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

They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–25 °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 7.5–8 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Anentome helena
AI: ChatGPT

Caracol asesino

Image byHectoris licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–28 °C.

Tylomelania zemis
AI: ChatGPT

Caracol conejo

Image byHectoris licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5–8.5 and 26–29 °C.

Caracol cuerno
AI: ChatGPT

Caracol cuerno

Image byHectoris licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5–8.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Gamba Amano

Gamba Amano

Image bySky99is 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.

Melanoides

Melanoides

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

They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Neritina cebra

Neritina cebra

Image byEvan Baldonadois licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5–8.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Neritina pulligera
AI: ChatGPT

Neritina pulligera

Image byHectoris licensed under CC BY 4.0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–28 °C.

Physa

Physa

Image byBarbalalaikais licensed under CC0 (resized)

They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–28 °C.

Planorbis

Planorbis

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

They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Planorbella duryi

Planorbis rojo

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

They share water: pH 7.5–8.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.

Sources

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

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.