• Name:

    Electric Blue Hermit Crab

  • Family: Diogenidae
  • Species: Crab
  • Scientific Name: Calcinus elegans
More Details

General info about Electric Blue Hermit Crab

The Electric Blue Hermit Crab is very attractive due to its electriying blue legs with black bands and its bright orange antennae. Its claws are colored brownish green. Like other hermit crabs, it also lives inside abandoned snail shells. It can grow up to 3/4' to 1-1/2' in. It is beneficial to the aquarium because it consumes algae and adds aeration to the substrate. Therefore, it is considered a reef-safe species.

Electric Blue Hermit Crab Diet & Nutrition

It is an herbivore that mainly subsists on green hair algae and cyanobacteria. In instances of food scarcity, it can be fed with dried seaweed. 

Determining Sex of Electric Blue Hermit Crab

Sexing hermit crabs is extremely difficult.

Electric Blue Hermit Crab Origin

It is native from the Marshall Islands. 

Caution with Electric Blue Hermit Crab

Like most invertebrates, the Electric Blue Hermit Crab does not do well if there are large swings in water parameters. It also does not tolerate any type of metal traces in the water, therefore, it should never be in contact with any copper medications. 

Acclimating Electric Blue Hermit Crab

Most invertebrates do not like large swings in water parameters and the Electric Blue Hermit Crab is not an exception, so even though most hobbyists do not acclimate their cleaner crews it is suggested to do so. If you have a sump, float your cleaner crew in an area with low light to allow them to temperature acclimate first which should take about 15-20 min. Then it is best to slowly drip acclimate them to allow them to adjust to your water conditions.

 
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Name Species Family Scientific Name More Detail Added by
Electric Blue Hermit Crab Crab Diogenidae Calcinus elegans

The Electric Blue Hermit Crab is very attractive due to its electriying blue legs with black bands and its bright orange antennae. Its claws are colored brownish green. Like other hermit crabs, it also lives inside abandoned snail shells. It can grow up to 3/4' to 1-1/2' in. It is beneficial to the aquarium because it consumes algae and adds aeration to the substrate. Therefore, it is considered a reef-safe species.

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