Electric Blue Hermit Crab (Calcinus Elegans)

Species Name : Calcinus Elegans

Care Level : Easy

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Blue

Diet : Omnivore/Algae and detritus

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025

Max. Size : 2"

Origin : Indo-West Pacific Ocean

Family : Diogenidae

Supplements : Calcium, Magnesium, Iodine, Trace Elements

The Electric Blue Hermit (Crab Calcinus Elegans), a very rare find, comes from the Indo-West Pacific.

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. It can grow up to 3/4' to 1-1/2' in. Like all hermit crabs, they make their home in empty snail shells, be sure to have an array of empty shells available for them to move into when they grow. Hermit Crabs without homes may sometimes make their own by killing the snail inside, or they may molt before they have a new shell, leaving them extremely vulnerable to predators.

Sexing hermit crabs is extremely difficult.

Keep in mind they cannot tolerate copper treatments, therefore if they are in the same aquarium where fish need to be medicated with copper, they must be removed.

The Electric Blue Leg Hermit Crab is a valuable addition to an aquarium because it feeds on algae, including green algae and cyanobacteria. It removes fish waste, algae and detritus deposited on living stone and substrate. In addition, it provides valuable aeration by sifting through the sand. This is one of the reef-safe hermit crabs.

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