Mediterranean Anemone Hermit Crab

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Common in the Mediterranean Sea and along the eastern Atlantic Ocean coasts, from Spain to Senegal. Inhabits sandy, muddy, or detrital sea floors at depths of 10 to 100 m.

Taxonomy: Member of the family Diogenidae. Features a robust body with hairy legs. The left claw is significantly larger than the right, decorated with rough transverse ridges. Grows to 6-8 cm.

Social Behavior: Facultative mutualist with Calliactis parasitica anemones. During shell exchanges, it actively coaxes the anemone to detach from the old shell and transfers it to the new one.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Body color is solid reddish-orange with yellow-orange ridges on the claws. Eye stalks are short with dark cornea. No visible sexual dimorphism.

Tank Setup: Requires a coldwater or temperate Mediterranean setup (not suitable for tropical reef tanks). Provide a soft sandy or fine gravel substrate and secure rockwork.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous scavenger. Feeds on mollusks, worms, small crustaceans, and carrion. Readily accepts frozen foods (mysis, krill, chopped mussels) and large sinking pellets.

Water Quality: Temperate marine conditions. Requires a chiller to keep temperature between 14-22°C. Salinity SG 1.025-1.027, pH 8.1-8.4. Highly sensitive to copper.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Predatory and active. May hunt small bottom-dwelling fish and live snails. Not tropical reef-safe. Best kept with robust, cool-water Mediterranean fish.

Aquarium Breeding: Females carry eggs under their abdomen. Microscopic larval stages are pelagic and complex, and do not survive standard home aquarium filtration systems.

Risks and Diseases: Overheating (above 24°C) is lethal. High stress and mortality if suitable heavy replacement shells are unavailable during growth.