Electric Blue Hermit Crab – Calcinus elegans
The Electric Blue Hermit Crab is a striking and rare reef invertebrate known for its vivid electric-blue legs with black banding and bright orange antennae. Its claws are nearly equal in size and display a brownish-green coloration, giving it a balanced and distinctive appearance. Adults typically reach 1–1.5 inches in shell length and spend their lives occupying abandoned snail or triton shells—though they may opportunistically take a new shell if needed. This active scavenger is reef-safe and highly valued for its algae-eating and sand-sifting behavior.
A minimum tank size of 10 gallons is suitable for a single Electric Blue Hermit Crab, though larger reef systems allow for more natural foraging and improved shell availability. Add this hermit early in the cleanup-crew stocking order so it can establish territory and begin grazing before nuisance algae becomes established. Ensure a supply of appropriately sized empty shells to prevent aggression toward snails.
As an herbivorous scavenger, the Electric Blue Hermit Crab will consume a variety of algae, including hair algae and cyanobacteria. If natural algae sources are limited, supplement its diet with Julian Sprung’s Sea Veggies offered on a small clip or rubber-banded to a piece of rubble.
Approximate product size: 0.5"–1.5"
We maintain a rigorous, veterinarian-approved quarantine program that includes proactive treatments, careful observation, and daily monitoring to ensure the highest standards of fish health. Our biosecurity practices reduce the risk of any cross-contamination between systems, making our fish ready for your display tanks.
