Blood-spotted Hermit Crab
Clibanarius cruentatus
Known as the Blood-spotted Hermit Crab, this small, reef-safe scavenger from the Indo-Pacific is perfect for controlling nuisance algae and detritus.
Temperatura da água
22 - 27 °C
Valor de pH
8.1 - 8.4
Tipo de água
Marinho
Tipo invertebrado
Hermit crab
Tamanho adulto
2,5 cm
Grupo mínimo
>= 1
KH
8 - 12 dKH
Papel ecológico
Scavenger
Sensibilidade ao cobre
High
Descrição da espécie
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Indo-Pacific and Western Pacific. It inhabits shallow intertidal zones, shallow reef flats, tide pools, and sandy areas adjacent to coral reefs. It is commonly found in areas rich in organic debris and empty gastropod shells.
Taxonomy: Belongs to the family Diogenidae, genus Clibanarius. It is a small hermit crab species, with adults reaching an average body length of 3 to 4 cm. Like all hermit crabs, it has a soft, asymmetrical abdomen which it protects inside empty sea snail shells.
Social Behavior: Peaceful, active, and gregarious. It spends its time climbing rocks and sorting through substrate for food. It is highly active during both day and night. Generally non-aggressive towards tankmates, making it a staple of reef clean-up crews.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Recognized by its reddish-brown legs adorned with bright white or blood-red spots. The claws are similar in size. Genders are externally identical and cannot be distinguished without inspecting the pleopods inside the shell.
Cuidado, criação e companheiros de tanque
Tank Setup: Suitable for small aquariums or nano reefs starting from 30 liters (approx. 8 gallons). Provide plenty of live rock for climbing and a variety of empty gastropod shells of different sizes on the substrate to accommodate growth and molting.
Diet and Feeding: Herbivorous, detritivorous, and omnivorous scavenger. It eats film algae, hair algae, detritus, uneaten fish food, and decaying organic matter. It will also accept sinking algae pellets and frozen foods if natural food is scarce.
Water Quality: Requires standard marine conditions: temperature 22-27°C (72-80°F), pH 8.1-8.4, and specific gravity 1.023-1.025. Absolute intolerance to copper treatments. Calcium and magnesium levels must be maintained for healthy shell and exoskeleton development.
Compatibility and Tankmates: 100% reef-safe. Compatible with peaceful fish and other reef invertebrates. Do not house with predatory species (e.g., puffers or triggers). It may attack snails for their shells if empty shells are not provided in the tank.
Aquarium Breeding: Captive breeding is extremely difficult. Mated pairs produce larvae that are released into the water column. These planktonic larvae are very fragile and are typically removed by filtration systems or eaten by fish.
Risks and Diseases: The primary risk is a lack of empty shells, which leads to shell fights and mortality. It is highly sensitive to sudden changes in salinity and temperature. Always perform slow drip-acclimation before introducing them.
Origem e distribuição geográfica
Indo-Pacific and Western Pacific. It inhabits shallow intertidal zones, shallow reef flats, tide pools, and sandy areas adjacent to coral reefs. It is commonly found in areas rich in organic debris and empty gastropod shells.
Origem
Oceanos tropicais e recifesSul e Sudeste Asiático
Perfil de invertebrados
- Dieta
- Herbivore
- These crabs are invaluable omnivorous scavengers that spend their time grazing on various types of nuisance algae, including hair algae and cyanobacteria. They will also greedily consume detritus, uneaten fish food, and decaying organic matter. If natural food sources run low in the aquarium, their diet should be supplemented with dried seaweed and sinking pellets.
- Papel ecológico
- Scavenger
- They are quintessential members of the reef clean-up crew, performing essential janitorial duties across the rockwork and substrate. By continuously grazing on algae and processing detritus, they prevent organic buildup and assist in maintaining overall water quality. Their foraging activities also subtly sift the top layers of sand, preventing stagnation.
- Tamanho adulto
- 2.5 cm
- Risco de salto
- Yes
- These heavy, shell-dwelling bottom feeders are completely incapable of jumping or swimming out of the water. Their anatomy and weight confine them strictly to the substrate and rockwork. While they can climb up powerhead cords or silicone seams to the water surface, they pose absolutely zero risk of leaping from the tank.
- Sensibilidade ao choque
- High
- Hermit crabs are comparatively hardy, but they still require careful acclimation to new water chemistry and temperature. Drastic shifts in salinity are particularly dangerous and can interfere with their osmoregulation. A slow drip acclimation is the recommended standard practice to ensure long-term survival.
- Cálcio e minerais
- High
- Proper calcium, magnesium, and trace element levels are mandatory to facilitate a healthy molting process and allow their new exoskeleton to harden. Regular water changes with a high-quality reef salt mix usually provide sufficient elements for their needs. Without adequate calcium, their new shell remains soft, making them highly susceptible to predation.
- Muda
- Yes
- When it is time to molt, the crab may temporarily leave its shell and hide within the live rock until its new exoskeleton is sufficiently hard. The shed exoskeleton strongly resembles a dead crab and is often mistaken as such by inexperienced aquarists. Ensure spare empty shells of various sizes are always available so they can upgrade safely post-molt.
- Reprodução
- Oviparous
- Reproduction in the home aquarium is an extremely rare occurrence and generally unsuccessful. They release microscopic, free-swimming larvae into the water column, which are usually swiftly consumed by corals and fish. Successfully raising these larvae requires dedicated pelagic feeding regimens and isolated rearing systems.
- Compatibilidade e companheiros de tanque
- Reef safe
- They are exceptionally peaceful toward fish and corals, making them an ideal and safe addition to any reef aquarium clean-up crew. However, they may occasionally squabble with other hermit crabs over desirable empty shells if resources are scarce. They generally ignore snails, provided there are enough empty shells to prevent them from killing snails for their homes.
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