Halloween Hermit Crab Care Guide
Ciliopagurus strigatus is a brightly banded Indo-Pacific hermit crab kept in reef aquariums as an active algae grazer and scavenger.
Overview
The Halloween hermit crab (Ciliopagurus strigatus) is a hermit crab of the family Diogenidae, named by Herbst in 1804. It is among the most brightly coloured hermit crabs in the trade, with a red body crossed by alternating orange and white bands and solid orange eye stalks and antennae. It is one of the larger reef hermit crabs and is conspicuous and active.
Taxonomy
- Family: Diogenidae
- Genus: Ciliopagurus
- Scientific name: Ciliopagurus strigatus
Habitat
Ciliopagurus strigatus is native to the Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea and Hawaii. It occupies shallow tropical coastal waters, generally less than about 15 metres deep, along coral substrates and the sandy areas surrounding reefs rather than on the reefs themselves. It lives primarily in empty cone shells.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-12
- Water flow: moderate
- Size: about 5 cm in length
- Lifespan: up to about 10 years
Diet
It is an omnivorous scavenger that consumes nearly anything available, including filamentous algae, detritus, small animals and both live and dead animal material. In aquariums it grazes nuisance algae on rockwork. Because it may attack snails to obtain larger shells, ample empty cone-type shells should be provided.
Reef compatibility
The species is generally reef-compatible and useful as a cleanup-crew member, but as a larger, active hermit it may become aggressive toward other tank inhabitants and can disturb loose items. Avoid keeping it with predators such as pufferfish and triggerfish, and supply spare shells to limit predation on snails.