{"product_id":"decorator-crab","title":"Decorator Crab","description":"\u003cp\u003eDecorator Crabs (\u003cem\u003eCamposcia retusa\u003c\/em\u003e and related species) do exactly what the name promises: they actively attach living sponges, algae, colonial tunicates, and other small organisms to hooked Velcro-like bristles covering their carapace and legs, building a genuine, growing camouflage suit out of whatever material is available in their environment. It's not passive debris accumulation — the crab selects and places material deliberately, and a decorator moved to a new tank will often re-decorate itself using locally available organisms within 24–48 hours.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe biology behind this is fascinating: the hooked cuticular projections (\u003cem\u003esetae\u003c\/em\u003e) on their exoskeleton function like biological Velcro, holding attached organisms in place. The attached organisms typically remain alive and continue growing, which means a well-established decorator crab is carrying a miniature reef of living organisms on its back — including organisms that weren't there when it arrived.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful, slow-moving, and one of the more genuinely fascinating behavioral quirks you can observe in a reef cleanup crew. They're not aggressive toward corals, fish, or other invertebrates, and their deliberate, unhurried pace means they rarely disturb settled specimens even when climbing across the rockwork.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Camposcia retusa (and related decorator crab species)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Indo-Pacific — rubble zones, reef slopes, and sponge-rich habitats across tropical reefs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e Temp 72–80°F · Salinity 1.023–1.026 · pH 8.1–8.4\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTank requirements:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30 gal minimum; a reef with diverse living organisms gives the crab material to decorate with\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Omnivore scavenger — detritus, algae, and small particulate organic matter; often eats what it collects\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reef safe; peaceful with all species; won't harm corals or fish\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHusbandry note:\u003c\/strong\u003e The decoration behavior is directly tied to camouflage — a decorator crab in a bare or sparsely decorated tank will appear underdressed and stressed. A tank with diverse macroalgae, sponge fragments, and varied rubble gives it the palette it needs to fully express this behavior.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"YoCamron's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Wild-Caught","offer_id":50153135538413,"sku":"SWINV-DECORA-CRAB","price":36.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0806\/1032\/8813\/files\/lg-0620171-057_80058bc5-eafb-4195-a810-c0c581fdfda9.jpg?v=1786966903","url":"https:\/\/www.yocamronsaquatics.com\/products\/decorator-crab","provider":"YoCamron's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}