Lucky enough to see a pom-pom crab while diving? Log it on your Digital Logbook. Locate a PADI Dive Shop in any of the above locations and to book a dive and try to find these incredible crabs firsthand. However, they are also known by many different aliases such as Hong Kong Crabs and Cheerleading Crabs. They’re peaceful and may be housed with other pom pom crabs and any fish that won’t consume them. When the Pom Pom Crab raises its anemones it resembles a cheering cheerlead, hence its name. Their scientific name is Ptychognathus barbatus. Pom Pom crabs are considered to be reef safe with a bit of caution because their anemones may sting corals their crab touches with them or fish the crab defends itself against, but they don’t pose a serious threat to healthy corals or fish. This small crab will carry a tiny anemone in each hand and use them to ward potential attackers. Hawaiian Flower: Also referred to as the Hawaiian boxer crab (Lybia edmondsoni) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It’s Hawaiian name is kūmimi pua, meaning “inedible flower crab”.Ĩ. Professional Cleaner: The sea anemone’s tentacles can be used like mops, gathering debris and food particles from the ground around the crab’s hiding place. Description The Pom Pom Crab is a truly unique and interesting crab. Tiny Cheerleader: You’ll have to peer into little crevices to try and spot the pom-pom crab which grows to an average width of about 2.5 cm (about 1 in).Ħ. Tropical Travels: Pom-pom crabs (Lybia tessellata) can be found in shallow water in the tropical Indo-Pacific region, its range extending from the Red Sea and the East African coast to Indonesia and New Guinea.ħ. Best Friends: The relationship the pom-pom crab has with the sea anemone – being carried in it’s claws – is not essential for the survival of either species.ĥ. Sometimes substituting other organisms such as sponges and corals for the sea anemones.Ĥ. Besides defense, the crab will also use the anemones to mop up food off of the rocks and substrate. This crab carries an anemone in each claw which it uses for defense. Tight Grip: Pom-pom crabs have been known to use three different species of anemones. The Pom Pom Crab is white to tan in coloration and has darker markings covering the body which serve as camouflage for the crab. Mothering Skills: The red eggs of pom-pom crab are carried around on the female’s abdomen for around 13-15 days where they are brooded.ģ. The freshwater Pom Pom crab is one of the newest additions to aquariums, and their lack of information about them. These tiny treasures can be hard to find, but if you keep your eye out, even on night dives, you might be lucky enough to spot one.ġ. Boxing Gloves: If provoked or attacked by a predator, the pom-pom crab (boxing crab) will threaten the aggressor and try to deter it by waving it’s anemones around, the tentacles of which are well armed with cnidocytes (stinging cells).Ģ.

The crabs are known for their signature move of always carrying a small living sea anemone around in each of its claws, which helps them catch food and protect themselves from predators (thought to resemble pom-poms or boxing gloves). It is also referred to as Hawaiian boxer crab, pom-pom crab, cheerleader crab, mosaic boxer crab among many other nicknames. The Lybia crab is a species of small crab in the family Xanthidae.

Pompom crabs