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Dwarf Zebra Hermit Crab (Calcinus laevimanus) Profile

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Joe Martin's Zebra Hermit Crab

Joe Martin's Zebra Hermit Crab

Scientific Name:

Calcinus laevimanus

Other Common Names:

Zebra Hermit Crab, Hawaiian Reef Hermit Crab, Left-handed Hermit Crab.

Identification:

Has an enlarged left claw, long eye stalks, the lower half of the eyestalk is blue, and the upper half, orange.

Distribution:

Hawaii and the Indo-Pacific area.

Maximum Size:

To 1".

Reef Tank Safe:

Yes

Diet & Feeding:

The Dwarf Zebra (or Left-Handed) Hermit Crab (Calcinus laevimanus) may be one of the best reef tank scavengers around. Small in size (up to 1"), they can get into all of the nooks and crannies in a tank as they consume uneaten food, detritus, Green Hair Algae and even Red Slime Algae. If there is not enough algae in the aquarium to sustain them, the hermits' diet should be supplemented with seaweed.

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