Scarlet Hermit Crab – Paguristes cadenati
Species name: Paguristes cadenati
Common names: Scarlet Hermit Crab, Red-leg Hermit Crab, red reef hermit crab
Family: Diogenidae (left-handed hermit crabs)
Order: Decapoda (lobster, shrimp and crabs)
Class: Malacostraca
Maximum length: 1 1/2 in.
Minimum tank size: 5 gallons (or even smaller)
Hardiness: Easy
Aggressiveness: Semi-aggressive
Reef Compatibility: Medium. Will attack and kill snails to wear their shells. May negatively impact many other animals found in the tank.
Distribution: Western Atlantic Ocean
Diet: They prefer meaty food but will scavenge most aquarium foods. They prey on many smaller animals, eat small snails, small polyps, or other minute animals. They will also eat all kinds of nuisance algae including red, green, and brown slim as well as green hair algae. They find there own food and don’t need to be feed.
Additional information:
In the wild, Scarlet reef hermit crabs, also known as red legged hermits or red reef hermits, are mostly found in sandy areas near the reef, rarely on the reef itself. They have a very colorful appearance, with red legs, red body and yellow eyestalks. Hermit Crabs with red legs and red face are not Scarlet hermit Crabs, they are Dwarf Red Tip Hermit Crabs.
They are one of the most popular reef maintenance animals. They often recommended for algae control (it’s the most effective crabs for that) or as a reef scavenger, but can do significant damage if introduced in large numbers. One per 15 gallon should be good. However they are better suited the reef aquariums compared to other species as they are more peaceful, and less likely to attack or kill snails for their shell.
In order to grow, hermit crabs must molt (like all crabs). At night, the crab will crawl out of its shell to exit its exoskeleton. A new exoskeleton will harden after molting, and is aided by maintaining a proper iodine level. After the molting process, they will sometimes seek out a new shell if the old one isn’t big enough. For this reason, a good supply of empty snail shells is needed. If they can’t find a new shell, they might attack and kill snails for their shell.
Scarlet Hermit Crabs are best kept in an established reef system with ample algae supplies.
Do you have experience with Scarlet Hermit Crab?
Share with us using the comment box bellow.
Article written by www.aquariumslife.com
References: Sea Life Base
Popularity: 2% [?]
