Blueleg hermitcrab

The blue leg hermit crab (Calcinus elegans) is a small Indo-Pacific hermit with black legs banded in electric blue — a lot of colour on an animal that spends its time working the rockwork for scraps. It is a common clean-up crew choice because it grazes film and hair algae, picks at detritus, and gets into gaps that snails cannot reach.

Aquarium care

• Small: typically only a few centimetres including the shell.
• An omnivorous scavenger, eating algae, detritus and uneaten food.
• Needs a supply of empty shells in graduated sizes so it can move up as it grows.
• Without spare shells it may kill a snail to take its shell. That is normal hermit behaviour, not a fault.
• Will climb, shift small frags and rearrange loose rubble.
• Sensitive to copper-based medication; drip acclimate when introducing it.

They suit reef and fish-only marine tanks with peaceful stock and enough surface area to graze. Keep numbers proportionate to the tank, provide spare shells, and do not house them with large wrasses, triggerfish or puffers that will simply eat them.

Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is available for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. More in the saltwater collection.