Electric Blue Hermit Crab

The Electric Blue Hermit Crab, a very rare find, originates exclusively from the Marshall Islands. This crab has electrifying blue legs with black banding, and its antennae stand out with its bright orange color. Both claws are close to being equal size, and are brownish green in color. This tiny crab lives in abandoned snail or triton shells, or it may resort to attacking and eating a snail so it can use the shell for its home.

The Electric Blue Leg Hermit Crab is a valuable addition to an aquarium because it will eat algae including green hair algae and cyanobacteria. In addition, it provides valuable aeration by sifting through the sand. This is one Hermit Crab that is reef-safe.

If there is an insufficient amount of algae present, the Electric Blue Leg Hermit Crab will need to be fed dried seaweed.

The electric blue hermit crab (Calcinus elegans) is a rare, tropical crab with striking blue and orange colors: 

• Appearance
  The electric blue hermit crab has bright blue legs with black banding, orange antennae, and brownish green claws. It also has two bright blue eyes. 
   
• Habitat
  In the wild, electric blue hermit crabs live in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, in and around coral reefs and rocky substrates. 
   
• Behavior
  Electric blue hermit crabs are scavengers and detritivores that eat algae, including green hair algae and cyanobacteria. They also sift through the sand to aerate the aquarium. 
   
• Care
  Electric blue hermit crabs are relatively easy to care for in a saltwater aquarium. They need a stable water temperature and quality, plenty of hiding places, and suitable snail shells to choose from. 
   
• Growth
  As they grow, electric blue hermit crabs need larger shells. They may attack snails to take their shells or they may molt before they have a new shell. 
   
• Diet
  You can supplement their diet with live macro algae, dried seaweed, and mysis shrimp.