TankBud

Blue-leg hermit crab

Clibanarius tricolor

Also known as Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab, Blue-Legged Hermit, Equal-Handed Hermit

SaltwaterCrab

Blue-leg hermit crab (Clibanarius tricolor)
RevolverOcelot · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
1 in
2.5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Diogenidae
Origin
Caribbean and Western Atlantic

Overview

The blue-leg hermit crab is an active dwarf hermit that scavenges over the rock and sand of a reef tank. It is easy to keep and a good choice for a beginner.

Did you know

The blue-leg hermit crab has two claws of equal size, which is why it is also called the equal-handed hermit.

Caring for the blue-leg hermit crab

Keep blue-leg hermit crabs in an established reef of at least 11 gal (40 L), with a good supply of algae and detritus to scavenge. Always supply plenty of spare empty shells in a range of sizes, so each crab has somewhere to move as it grows.

Hold the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. The crab grazes green hair algae and cyanobacteria and cleans up leftover meaty food. That makes it a workhorse of the cleanup crew.

The blue-leg hermit crab is mostly peaceful and safe with corals and fish, so it counts as reef safe. It is not snail-safe, though. When it outgrows its shell, it will pull a snail out and kill it to take the shell, especially a cerith snail. Crowded hermits also fight each other over shells, so keep the population modest.

Good to know

The blue-leg hermit crab, Clibanarius tricolor, belongs to the family Diogenidae. Its blue legs are banded in orange-red. It is also sold as the dwarf blue leg hermit crab.

In the wild

Blue-leg hermit crabs come from reef and rubble zones in the Caribbean and the western Atlantic. They live on and around the rock and sand, tucked into borrowed snail shells.

Common questions

What size tank does a blue-leg hermit crab need?

A blue-leg hermit crab needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a blue-leg hermit crab need?

A blue-leg hermit crab is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a blue-leg hermit crab eat?

A blue-leg hermit crab grazes green hair algae and cyanobacteria. It also scavenges detritus and cleans up leftover meaty food.

How big does a blue-leg hermit crab get?

An adult blue-leg hermit crab reaches about 1 in (2.5 cm).

Related species