Ciliopagurus strigatus - Halloween Hermit Crab

Care Level: Moderate

Temperament: Peaceful

Coloration: Striking orange, red and black

Diet: Omnivore

Reef Compatible: Yes

Maximum Size: Up to 5 cm

Origin: Hawaiian Islands

Description

The Halloween Hermit Crab (Ciliopagurus strigatus) is a striking crustacean known for its vibrant orange and black coloration, resembling the festive colors of Halloween, which gave it its name. Native to the Hawaiian Islands, these hermit crabs add a burst of color to marine aquariums.

These hermit crabs are a valuable addition to your aquarium cleanup crew. They help maintain a healthy aquarium environment by eating leftover food that settles on the substrate. Additionally, Halloween Hermit Crabs are efficient algae eaters, consuming varieties like green hair algae and cyanobacteria. They also provide aeration to the aquarium substrate as they sift through the sand.

It's important to note that as Halloween Hermit Crabs grow larger, they may disrupt rockwork or corals in reef aquariums. They are known to inhabit abandoned snail or triton shells and may sometimes attack and consume snails to use their shells as homes. To prevent this, provide the Halloween Hermit Crab with empty shells of assorted shapes and sizes.

If there is an insufficient amount of algae in the aquarium, supplement their diet with dried seaweed and meaty items like mysis shrimp to ensure their nutritional needs are met.

Illustrative photo.