Molly Ayala
Electric Blue Hermit Crabs, also known as Dwarf Blue Leg Hermits, are native to the Marshall Islands and are a popular choice for marine aquarium enthusiasts due to their small size, bright colours, and ability to clean algae and detritus. In the wild, they are found in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region and Hawaii, where they live around coral reefs and rocky substrates. In this paragraph, we will explore what to feed these fascinating creatures in a captive environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Feeding habits | Opportunistic |
| Food | Organic debris, decayed and fresh macro-algae, dead and live animal tissues, fish or shrimp food leftovers, fish wastes, leftover meaty food, dried seaweed, dead plants, cyanobacteria, green hair algae, Aiptasia |
| Water temperature | 22-26°C |
| pH level | 8.0-8.5 |
| Specific gravity | 1.020-1.025 |
| Water type | Saltwater |
| Tank size | Minimum 24 gallons for 3-4 crabs |
| Compatible tankmates | Non-aggressive invertebrates and small fish, e.g. tetras, zebra blennies, mollies, guppies |
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What You'll Learn
Electric blue hermit crabs eat algae and seaweed
Electric blue hermit crabs are a species of saltwater hermit crab. Saltwater hermit crabs are omnivores, meaning they eat both plant and animal matter. In the wild, they forage for food across the ocean floor and reefs, eating a diverse blend of foods, from algae to small invertebrates.
Electric blue hermit crabs are a great natural solution for combating green hair algae and cyanobacteria in your aquarium. They are voracious algae eaters and will graze on green algae and some types of macroalgae, including cyanobacteria. They also eat dried seaweed, which provides beneficial vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
In addition to algae and seaweed, electric blue hermit crabs will eat leftover fish or shrimp food, fish wastes, leftover meaty food, dead plants, and dead animal tissues. They will also sift through the sand in your aquarium, providing essential aeration and contributing to a healthy aquatic environment.
It is important to provide a varied diet for your electric blue hermit crab to ensure it gets all the essential nutrients it needs. You can supplement its diet with chopped vegetables like carrot, apple, cucumber, zucchini, spinach, and kale, as well as unsalted nuts, cuttlebone for calcium, and protein-rich frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, mysis, and plankton.
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They are opportunistic omnivores
Electric blue hermit crabs are opportunistic omnivores. In the wild, they spend most of their time scavenging for food. They eat organic debris, decayed and fresh macro-algae, and dead and live animal tissue. They are also known to eat Aiptasia, a small sea anemone considered a nuisance by aquarium hobbyists.
In aquariums, they often play the role of a clean-up crew, eating fish or shrimp food leftovers, fish waste, leftover meaty food, dried seaweed, dead plants, and many types of macroalgae, including green hair algae and cyanobacteria. They will also eat other foodstuffs they find while sifting the substrate.
Because of their opportunistic nature, it is important to ensure they do not overeat. In tanks with lots of food, they may overeat and ignore the Aiptasia. Therefore, it is recommended to provide a variety of food options and ensure they do not have constant access to food.
In addition to their omnivorous diet, electric blue hermit crabs are also detritivores and scavengers. They help clean up debris and algae in saltwater aquariums. They are valuable additions to any aquarium due to their ability to control algae and maintain sand and water quality.
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They can be fed dried seaweed
Electric blue hermit crabs are voracious eaters of algae, making them a great natural solution for combating green hair algae and cyanobacteria. If there is an insufficient amount of algae present, they will need to be fed dried seaweed.
Dried seaweed is available at pet stores in the fish section, and at grocery stores, particularly ethnic grocery stores. Seaweed sold at pet stores may be packaged for fish, but this is fine for hermit crabs. At grocery stores, look for seaweed in the Asian food section. Nori, the seaweed used to wrap sushi, is a good option, as is wakame. You can also feed your hermit crab microalgaes such as spirulina, available in powder form from health food stores.
When purchasing dried seaweed, make sure it is organic and contains no other ingredients. Seaweed that is completely organic is good to go. Avoid seaweed with added salt or herbs. If you are gathering seaweed from the beach, make sure it is from an area without a lot of pollution or 'people traffic' and that no pesticides, herbicides, or artificial fertilizers have been used nearby.
To serve dried seaweed, you can tear it into little chunks and give it to them in their dry food dish. Alternatively, you can mix the dried seaweed with a little warmed ocean water until it's soft, then chop it up and mix it with calcium powder.
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They eat animal tissue
Electric Blue Hermit Crabs, also known as Calcinus elegans, are a rare find from the Marshall Islands. They are voracious eaters of algae, including green hair algae and cyanobacteria. They also eat dead plants and various types of macroalgae.
In addition to plant matter, these crabs will eat animal tissue. They are active omnivores with opportunistic feeding habits. They spend most of their time foraging for food, including fresh and decayed animal tissues, leftover meaty foods, and fish or shrimp leftovers.
In their natural habitat, Electric Blue Hermit Crabs are nocturnal, resting or moving slowly during the day and becoming active at dusk, when they begin to feed. They are social animals that congregate in groups among detritus-covered rocks.
In an aquarium setting, Electric Blue Hermit Crabs can be added to established tanks with plenty of rockwork, cracks, and crevices for grazing. They are beneficial for algae control and aeration, as they sift through the sand. It is important to provide a variety of different-sized shells as these crabs will seek larger homes as they grow.
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They are a natural solution to green hair algae
Electric Blue Hermit Crabs are a natural solution to green hair algae. They are voracious eaters of algae, including green hair algae and cyanobacteria. In fact, they are considered a perfect natural solution to combat these pests.
The Electric Blue Hermit Crab, or Calcinus elegans, is a rare species native exclusively to the Marshall Islands. Its distinctive features include bright blue legs with black bands, orange antennae, and claws of a brownish-green hue that are almost equal in size. They thrive in abandoned snail or triton shells, but they may also attack snails to claim their shells as their new home.
In an aquarium setting, these crabs are beneficial for several reasons. Firstly, they are excellent at controlling algae growth, especially green hair algae, due to their diet. Secondly, they provide essential aeration to the sand, contributing to a healthy aquatic environment. Their small size allows them to reach areas that other tank cleaners cannot, making them efficient at maintaining the sand in the aquarium.
While Electric Blue Hermit Crabs are effective at managing green hair algae, some sources suggest that other creatures may be more efficient. For example, Mexican Turbo snails, lawnmower blennies, and emerald crabs have been recommended as effective algae eaters. However, the Blue Leg Hermit Crab, a close relative of the Electric Blue Hermit Crab, has also been known to aid in controlling certain hair algae.
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Frequently asked questions
Electric Blue Hermit Crabs are omnivores and will eat algae, seaweed, organic debris, and leftover meaty foods.
Electric Blue Hermit Crabs are a natural solution for combating green hair algae and cyanobacteria. They also provide essential aeration, contributing to a healthy aquatic environment.
Electric Blue Hermit Crabs are opportunistic in their feeding habits and will take food where they can find it. They are also scavengers and will play the role of a clean-up crew in your aquarium.
