Encyclopaedia
Antillean Hermit Crab
Clibanarius antillensis
A small Caribbean hermit crab with a striped body, active consumer of hair algae.
- Family
- Diogenidae
- Origin
- Oceano Atlantico occidentale: Florida, Caraibi e coste orientali del Brasile.
- Origin
- Tropical oceans and reefsExtra-Amazon South AmericaCentral America and CaribbeanNorth America
- Tank use
- Used in 0 tanks
Share
22 °C - 26 °C
8.1 - 8.4
Marine
Spazzino
Alta
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Western Atlantic Ocean: Florida, Caribbean, and eastern coasts of Brazil.
Taxonomy: Belongs to the Diogenidae family. It exhibits a morphology typical of reef-dwelling scavenger invertebrates, growing to a size of 3.0 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. Si ciba principalmente di alghe, biofilm, residui di mangime e detriti.
- Ecological role
- Spazzino
- Minimum group
- 1
- Adult size
- 3 cm
- GH
- n/a
- KH
- n/a
- TDS
- n/a
- Copper
- Alta
- Shock sensitivity
- Alta
- Calcium and minerals
- Fornire calcio e magnesio per prevenire debolezze della muta.
- Molting
- Esegue la muta all'interno della conchiglia per proteggersi da predatori.
- Reproduction
- Emette larve planctoniche in mare. Nessuna riproduzione registrata in acquario.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Reef-safe. Pacifico. Inserire conchiglie vuote per evitare scontri con lumache turbo.
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.
