Dwarf Zebra Hermit Crab

General information

The Dwarf Zebra Hermit Crab is popular because of its unique coloration. Its pincers are dark but it has white or orange stripes making it look like zebra’s skin. It also has long eyestalks that are colored blue with an orange upper half part. Its body is small but its left claw is enlarged, therefore, it is also called Left-Handed Hermit Crab. Like other hermit crabs, it also lives inside empty snail shells that serve as its protective covering. It can grow up to 1 in. 

It is an herbivore and a scavenger that mainly subsists on algae and cyanobacteria. In instances of food scarcity, dried seaweed may be used to feed it.

There are no definite characteristics that can differentiate the two sexes.

Breeding hermit crabs in the aquarium is difficult.

It is native to the Caribbean.

Like most invertebrates, the Dwarf Zebra 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.

Most invertebrates do not like large swings in water parameters and the Dwarf Zebra 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.