Hello All,

I’m excited to introduce the newest addition to the AdrenalineRadio.com fish tank, a pair of Lybia Tesselatas or commonly known as the Boxing Crab.

Boxing Crabs are unique to the aquatic world as they are one of only a few sea invertebrates (An animal without a backbone) that are dependent upon a specific “tool” use. Boxing crabs were originally discovered in Bali, Indonesia but are found throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

The “tool” that a Boxing Crab uses is actually a very small live anemone (The thing Nemo lives in) A boxing crab will collect two of these small anemone’s and place one in each of its front pincers. The anemones are used for defense as well as food collection, when a larger animal approaches, the crab will wave the anemones as a way to defend itself from the potential predator, this waving motion mimics a boxer hence the name. The reason this defense is successful is because all anemones have a stinging cell built into them that is used to deter predators as well as capture prey.

The anemones also benefit from the symbiotic relationship as they are provided protection and food is made more readily available.

There have been no confirmed cases of Boxing Crabs being bred and raised to adulthood in the aquarium although there is some theory that if the appropriate attention was given, that it is possible. The crabs grow to a maximum of 2 inches and they do molt as they grow, when they molt they will carefully put down their anemones, shed their outer layer, pick up the anemones and hide for a few days until their new shell can harden.

The video was shot in the AdrenalineRadio.com tank; they are an incredibly entertaining pair to watch. The next time you come to the studio take a couple of minutes and see if you can find them, it is worth the wait!