Blue-striped squat lobster (Galathea strigosa) care guide

Group
Other invertebrates
Other names
Squat lobster, Spiny squat lobster, Cancer strigosus, Galathea spinigera
Family
Galatheidae
Origin
North-east Atlantic from the North Cape to the Canary Islands, including Britain; Mediterranean and Red Sea
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
9 cm
Temperature
8–16°C
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
aggressive
Reef safe
no

Care

Galathea strigosa is the largest squat lobster of the north-east Atlantic, reaching about 9 cm in total length. It is reddish-orange and easy to recognise by the bright blue stripes across its body. Squat lobsters carry the tail folded under the body and have long, flattened front claws. Native species: it is native to Britain, needs a coldwater (unheated) marine tank and should not be collected from the wild where that is not allowed. It is a bottom-living animal that hides under rocks and in crevices. Give it a coldwater marine tank with plenty of rocky caves and a lid. Water figures given here are general hobby guidance rather than taken from our sources. It is not suited to tropical reef tanks. It is a nocturnal predator and scavenger and is aggressive towards other crustaceans and small fish. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most other invertebrates. Never dose them in a tank holding this animal, and check the label of any treatment or fertiliser before use. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galatheastrigosa); SeaLifeBase (sealifebase.se/summary/Galathea-strigosa.html). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Predatory scavenger: takes meaty foods such as chopped mussel, prawn, fish and frozen mysis, and catches small animals. Our sources infer its diet from related species.

Breeding

Separate sexes, with courtship using smell and touch and indirect sperm transfer, as in other decapods. Females carry eggs under the tail, which hatch into planktonic larvae. It is not bred in aquaria.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not reef safe and not a community animal: it will catch and eat small fish, shrimp, crabs and snails. Keep alone or with larger, robust coldwater fish (blennies, gobies too big to eat) in a dedicated coldwater tank.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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