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Reef Safe Hermit Crabs

By Stan & Debbie Hauter, About.com

Not all Hermit Crabs are considered to be safe for reef tanks. Many Hermit Crabs will destroy corals, eat fish, or other invertebrates. Growing Hermit Crabs are always on the lookout for a larger shell to settle in.

These hermits are considered to be reef safe janitors.

1. Dwarf Yellow Tip Hermit Crab

The Dwarf Yellow Tip Hermit Crab (Clibanarius sp.) is a great addition to a saltwater aquarium because it eats many kinds of algae, including red slime algae (cyanobacteria), and sifts the sand, as well. It's small size (to 1") allows it to get into all of the nooks and crannies in a reef tank.

2. Halloween Hermit Crab

The Halloween Hermit Crab (Ciliopagurus strigatus) is a great addition to a saltwater aquarium because it eats detritus, uneaten food and many kinds of algae, including red slime algae (cyanobacteria), and sifts the sand, as well.

3. Electric Orange Hermit Crab

The Electric Orange Hermit Crab (Calcinus sp.) is a great addition to a saltwater aquarium because it eats detritus, uneaten food and many kinds of algae, including red slime algae (cyanobacteria), and sifts the sand, as well.

4. Electric Blue Hermit Crab

The Electric Blue Hermit Crab (Calcinus elegans) is a great addition to a saltwater aquarium because it eats many kinds of algae, including red slime algae (cyanobacteria), and sifts the sand, as well.

5. Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab

Dwarf Blue Legged Hermit CrabSavdy Phou
The Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab (Clibanarius tricolor) is a great addition to a saltwater aquarium because it eats many kinds of algae, including red slime algae (cyanobacteria), and sifts the sand, as well.

6. Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab

Scarlet Reef Hermit CrabPhoto by Craig Smith
The Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab (Paguristes cadenati) is a great addition to a saltwater aquarium because it eats many kinds of algae, including red slime algae (cyanobacteria), and sifts the sand, as well.

7. Dwarf Red Tip Hermit Crab

The Dwarf Red Tip Hermit Crab (Clibanarius sp.) is a great addition to a saltwater aquarium because it eats many kinds of algae, including red slime algae (cyanobacteria), and sifts the sand, as well.

8. Dwarf Zebra Hermit Crab

Dwarf Zebra Hermit CrabPhoto by Joe Martin
The Zebra Hermit Crab (Calcinus laevimanus) is a great addition to a saltwater aquarium because it eats many kinds of algae, including red slime algae (cyanobacteria), and sifts the sand, as well.

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