Encyclopaedia
African Estuarine Hermit Crab
Clibanarius africanus
A robust and euryhaline hermit crab, excellent scavenger capable of adapting to varying salinities.
- Family
- Diogenidae
- Origin
- Oceano Atlantico orientale: estuari costieri e mangrovie dell'Africa occidentale.
- Origin
- Tropical oceans and reefsAfrica and Madagascar
- Tank use
- Used in 0 tanks
Share
22 °C - 28 °C
7.8 - 8.4
Marine
Spazzino
Alta
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Eastern Atlantic Ocean: coastal estuaries and mangroves of West Africa.
Taxonomy: Belongs to the Diogenidae family. It exhibits a morphology typical of reef-dwelling scavenger invertebrates, growing to a size of 4.0 cm.
Social Behavior: Very peaceful and secretive. It leads a benthic lifestyle, spending much of its time sheltered within crevices or sandy burrows.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: The coloration consists of cryptic or distinct markings helpful for camouflage. Sexual dimorphism is not externally prominent.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Tank Setup: Requires a reef aquarium of at least 80.0 liters with stable rockwork. Provide shaded areas and caves to shelter during molting.
Diet and Feeding: Omnivore. Acts as a scavenger, eating leftover foods, micro-crustaceans, organic debris, and sinking pellets.
Water Quality: Reef parameters with pH 8.1-8.4, gravity 1.023-1.025, and low nitrates are critical.
Compatibility and Tankmates: Peaceful. Reef-safe. Do not house with large, aggressive fish species that might consider it prey.
Aquarium Breeding: Simultaneous hermaphrodite. Breeding is complex due to a prolonged planktonic larval phase which rarely survives.
Risks and Diseases: High sensitivity to copper-based medications. Risk of osmotic shock; requires slow drip acclimation.
Invertebrate profile
- Type
- Granchio eremita
- Diet
- Onnivoro/Detritivoro. Si nutre di alghe, detriti organici e pellet affondanti.
- Ecological role
- Spazzino
- Minimum group
- 1
- Adult size
- 4 cm
- GH
- n/a
- KH
- n/a
- TDS
- n/a
- Copper
- Alta
- Shock sensitivity
- Alta
- Calcium and minerals
- I minerali carbonati sono fondamentali per la solidità del suo esoscheletro.
- Molting
- Abbandona temporaneamente la conchiglia o si barrica al suo interno durante la muta.
- Reproduction
- La femmina trasporta le uova sotto l'addome. Allevamento larvale non documentato.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Pacifico, ma necessita di gusci vuoti supplementari di varie taglie per prevenire attacchi alle lumache.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Other recommended species with similar care requirements and water parameters.
