Blue Legged Hermit Crab
Clibanarius tricolor
Saltwater Invertebrate
Species Group: Crab
Family: Diogenidae
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Water parameters
Temp
76-80 F
Temperature
Maintaining a stable and appropriate temperature is critical for the survival of aquatic life.
pH 7.8 - 8.4 potential of HydrogenMeasuring the acidity or alkalinity of water on a 0–14 scale, where 7 is neutral, 7 is alkaline.
NO3 1-20 ppm NitrateWhile less toxic than ammonia, high nitrate levels (above 40–80 ppm) are important to monitor because they can cause fish stress, stunted growth, and harmful algae blooms.
NO2 <0.0001 ppm NitriteIt is a highly toxic, intermediate compound in the nitrogen cycle produced from broken-down ammonia
PO4 0.01 - 0.1 ppm PhosphateIt is essential for plant development but must be managed, as excess levels trigger nuisance algae blooms and inhibit coral calcification.
NH3 <0.1 ppm AmmoniaIt is the primary killer of aquarium fish, causing gill damage, stress, and death
Ca 380 - 450 ppm CalciumSupporting the growth, skeletal structure, and shell formation of corals, mollusks, crustaceans, and coralline algae
KH 8 - 12 dKH AlkalinityIt acts as a shield, neutralizing acids to prevent dangerous pH "crashes" that can harm fish, corals, and plants.
Mg 1200 - 1400 ppm MagnesiumIt enables coral growth by supporting skeletal formation, assists in metabolic processes, and ensures that calcium is available for corals, clams, and coralline algae.
SG 1.023 - 1.026 SG SalinityEssential for maintaining stable, natural water parameters, proper osmoregulation, and stress-free environments for marine fish and corals
ORP 250 - 400 mV Oxidation-Reduction PotentialA higher positive mV indicates clean, oxygen-rich water with high water quality, while low readings indicate high pollution.
About Blue Legged Hermit Crab
General information
The Clibanarius tricolor is a hermit crab that has blue legs with red banding and reaches up to 3/4″ (2 centimeters) in size. This species is very popular, especially to aquarium home trades. Its environment inhabits intertidal zones where they feed upon detritus and algae. They are more active during nighttime than daylight hours.
They will climb over anything in the aquarium but are considered reef safe and do not disturb the corals; it may cause them to temporally close.
Blue legged hermit crabs can live up to 30 years in the wild. However, they only last for about 1-2 years average when inside an aquarium.
Diet & nutrition
It is a scavenger for most aquarium foods. It is also a detritivore which eats dead plants and animals. It also eats green hair algae, cyanobacteria, and seaweed. Its feeding habits lead to cleaning aquarium tanks, helping sustain the ecosystem of the aquarium and lessen the need for maintenance by the owner.
Determining sex
There are no distinguishing characteristics in differentiating male blue legged hermit crabs from the female ones.
Breeding & spawning
Blue legged hermit crabs mates when they are partially out of their shells, and the date of mating is spontaneous. The Clibanarius tricolor reproduce by spawning, which means the female lays her eggs in the water, and the male will release his sperm so that the eggs will be fertilized. But breeding these species in an aquarium is very difficult.
Origination
These kinds of species live in Tropical western Atlantic Ocean, especially in the shallow waters of the Caribbean Sea, Florida, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Cautions
Like most invertebrates, the Blue-Legged 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.
Acclimation process
Most invertebrates do not like large swings in water parameters and the Blue-Legged 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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