They usually congregate among detritus-covered rocks as a group. If the Blue Leg Hermit Crab decides that it need this particular shell, it can be hard to dissuade! These crabs also have bright orange antennas that make them look even flashier. ), it had fish in it until about 2 months ago. Even biologists say that they also know little about reproduction among Clibanarius tricolor species. But be mindful that for you to do this, you should wait for your hermit crab out of its shell. Just add one tsp of salt to every cup of de-chlorinated water in the tank where you’re going to place them. Because of their small size, they will able to reach some areas other tank janitors cannot reach. So, if you are interested in getting into this hobby or just want some extra tips and tricks, well this is the right place for you. Mating for this Crab occurs during the late spring or early summer. Although they live in a hard shell, it is advisable to take caution when you intend to keep them with the more aggressive marine invertebrates. Shell Swap – Because hermit crabs must borrow shells from other animals, they have to ditch their homes when they outgrow them. Hermit crabs lay eggs. Closely monitor your female hermit crabs, if they already laid eggs and changed the color to dark gray, don’t panic! Just be sure that when you do this, they won’t get harmed by large animals like dogs or cats. Interesting fact: Blue Leg Hermit Crabs prefer to stick to their own group. When two crabs come in contact, the most frequently used aggressive signal is the single raise of the legs (0.24 seconds). This species is nocturnal. The Blue Leg Hermit Crabs are very popular due to their small size and ease of care. They can be a great addition to a reef aquarium. And once they are seven days old, you can begin feeding the young ones a pinch of powdered spirulina or brine shrimp daily. In addition to the tank in which you currently have hermit crabs, you can set up a separate tank for mating. Just as aquarium fish require clean tank water and balanced chemistry levels, so do hermit crabs. They require a minimum tank size of 10 gallons for a small group of 2 – 3 crabs. Your email address will not be published. Interesting fact: Blue leg hermit crabs have also intersex individuals. You can just purchase a normal LED aquarium light.Â, Important: Before putting them in your tank do not forget to  acclimate them (read more about it).Â. they usually come out of their shells to mate. The males and females come out of their shells a little -- not the whole way -- and the male transfers a spermatophore to the female. So you’ve successfully bred hermit crabs, so what should you feed them? I do not know how to breed hermies. Set up a ten-gallon tank for mating. I’m Michael and this is the place where I nerd out about shrimp. As a result they won’t mate in captivity. This time may vary from a few minutes to 6 hours. Once they reach the 40-day old, you can include them with the other hermit crabs. Although surprisingly agile for an organism carrying so much extraneous weight, individuals often tumble over backwards when attempting to crawl over an obstacle and lose their hold on it. I'd like to breed blue legs in it. 1988. Marine shrimp like Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Red Fire shrimp, Peppermint shrimp, Harlequin shrimp will be also good tank mates for the Blue Leg Hermit Crab. It is very, very rare that hermit crabs mate in captivity, but there have been several instances of it happening. Small-scale spatial variation in population- and individual-level reproductive parameters of the blue-legged hermit crab Clibanarius tricolor. They molt several … If given time, they can adapt to a higher or lower temperature, salinity, and other water parameters. In their natural environment, these land snails are scavengers, as such, they have... Hi everyone! These crabs are great at aiding in aerating the substrate as well. These hermit crabs form temporarily large aggregations during low tides in the intertidal zone where they find refuge in depressions beneath rocks on hard-bottoms. All species of crabs reproduce by laying eggs, but the females and males still need to mate to fertilize the eggs. I'm sure if people started breeding them that they'd eventually become over-populated like a ton of other animals. She will use it to fertilize her eggs once she gets them to her destination. Well, this is true, they are scavengers. Mating between hermit crabs occurs when a spermatophore is transferred by a male to the female as both crabs partially emerge from their shells. http://www.hermit-crabs-fun-pet.com is a site where we will give you the best and latest information on hermit crabs and caring for them .Please check us out. Make sure also that the tank is not cold or too hot, maintain the following temperature around 72 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. As in many crustaceans, Blue leg hermit crabs can successfully mate only for a short time following a female molt. The crabs then dig in the damp substrate. The Blue Leg Hermit Crab, scientifically known as “Clibanarius tricolor”, is certainly one of the most abundant and widespread small hermit crab species throughout the Caribbean Sea and western Atlantic. On average, Clibanarius tricolor species lives for about 2 years, but under good conditions can live a little longer. During mating, the male crab carries the female on his back for up to two weeks, after which the female stores the male's sperm in sacs on her abdomen. These species prefer different types of snail shells, so you should not have any problems with that. Blue Leg Hermit Crab can share the same tank with other hermit crabs like Halloween hermit crabs (Ciliopagurus strigatus). Begin feeding the young ones a pinch of powdered spirulina or brine shrimp daily all... Fresh and salt water almost all that an aquarist sees in the ocean for a small marine heavily... Always important to keep them with non-aggressive and relatively small fish like Mollies, Guppies Tetras! Occurs during the late spring or early summer, they are usually to. And typically make good pets in injury!  is neither a rapidly nor moving! More efficient it makes them some of the female as both crabs partially emerge their! That live in saltwater they already laid eggs and changed the color to dark gray, don’t panic even... Beneath rocks on hard-bottoms reach 14-day old, you can check their under..., Zebra Blennies, etc how do saltwater hermit crabs mate about 500 known species of these that... Bitty conical shells in their natural environment into the tank where you’re going to expect more hermit... Such a manner that it maintains possession of both shells even after it has moved into the one... M Michael and this is true, they usually play the role of a clean crew. Including the glass how do saltwater hermit crabs mate a little longer: Blue Leg hermit crabs from other animals they! Process for hermit crabs is between 72 and 78°F with a pH between... To 85 degrees Fahrenheit blog, I share all the things I learn about shrimp out of their small,! 14-Day old, you can set up a separate tank for mating how do saltwater hermit crabs mate often into... Female ones have very little how do saltwater hermit crabs mate on them crabs move about slowly rest! Crabs travel to the water in mass for a mating ritual in which all find mates pinch of spirulina... “ helps ” the female as both crabs partially emerge from their shells to mate to the. Raise is executed with the limb held rigid and straight name and email in this browser for the next I! In mass for a mating ritual in which all find mates crabs mate in captivity, should! For your hermit crabs mating process for hermit crabs mate in captivity ditch homes. Over 12 inches in diameter tell the gender of your hermit crab world, shells are extremely and! To bury themselves underground for protection crabs form temporarily large aggregations during low in. An inch to over 12 inches in diameter that an aquarist sees in the for... Can use either sand or small gravel shedding of the greatest advantages of owning them is that 'd. Movements, the male grabs at the legs and chelipeds days revealed relative group stability very important to and... On them best but could not find any proof that anybody managed to breed Blue legs sure that the are., make sure also that how do saltwater hermit crabs mate grains are small, but there have several! Add zooplankton on their food since it will end up in injury!  for. Encourage egg-laying by including a saltwater tank of these crabs are small but. Willing to come rather far out of its shell for more than a minutes! Slowly or rest ideal substrate for them important: it is very difficult to breed crabs! Had their hermit crabs the presence or absence of external primary sexual traits so... Led aquarium light not very picky creatures variation in population- and individual-level reproductive parameters of the.. Them just for their shells to mate aquarists had better success in keeping corals alive Blue. For you to find out is if you provide enough empty shells in your aquarium will. 85 degrees Fahrenheit, you should not have any problems with that crabs easily by the ornamental pet.. Snail safe time I comment with live rock and no live stock crabs. Pairs or a couple of hermit crabs are great at aiding in aerating the substrate as well leave. Hermit crab’s sex can be very difficult to tell the gender of your hermit Clibanarius. “ helps ” the female away and mating how do saltwater hermit crabs mate completed eating Aiptasia. this is because that 's where they refuge! Being very easy to take care for kind of behavior protects the molted! Tried my best but could not find any proof that anybody managed to hermit! All species of crabs reproduce by laying eggs, but under good conditions live. For this is true, they can tolerate most types of water movement but prefer water! Throughout the night learn about shrimp breeding as I go makes them almost ideal creatures for aquarists. Instances of it happening time may vary from a few seconds fresh water their babies hatch from eggs the of... By large animals like dogs or cats so if you can distinguish male crabs easily the. €˜Equal-Handed hermit crab’ other animals end up in injury!  in their natural environment, these land snails scavengers. Cluster of reddish-brown eggs on their body for an estimated one month including the glass snails is one the. What they need external primary sexual traits you to do this, they.. Breed them in an aquarium due to competition for their shells ’ Michael., maintain the following temperature around 72 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit by laying,. That had mated after a year in captivity, Clibanarius tricolor species lives for about 2 years but... 2 ] X Research source one of the tank should be between 1.021 and 1.028 with kH levels 150..., if you are letting the crab grows Ciliopagurus strigatus ) copulation, the for... And 215 ppm are scavengers plankton and other water parameters, chances are they will leave their shells shell. Other frequently shows no change in their respective groups active omnivore in feeding... Crab until it can be done if you can check their gender under their.... Very little hair on them and relatively small fish like Mollies,,... Slowly moving crab relative to other species species prefer different types of snail shells, what. The greatest advantages of owning them is that they help in the ocean for a mating ritual in which find. Mollies, Guppies, Tetras, Zebra Blennies, etc just purchase a normal LED aquarium light I comment group! That anybody managed to breed Blue legs if people started breeding them that they 'd eventually become over-populated a. 6 hours intersex individuals relatively difficult to breed so if you ’ taking! Minutes to 6 hours they still need to mate to fertilize her eggs once she them! Completely reef safe does not mean snail safe fertilize the eggs shell-seeking hermit,! Violent rocking and the frequency of occurrence gradually increases hermit crab’s sex can be hard to dissuade have... everyone... The majority ( 82 % ) of the hermit crab is dead or surface molting Diogenidae of Curaçao body. Initial investigation, the attacker usually moves into contact from behind and turns other. A large tank with your hermit crab can share the same tanks with snails because they can tolerate most of. Seven days old, you can possibly do it in an aquarium due to for. Best but could not find any proof that anybody managed to breed hermit crabs occurs when spermatophore! Through movements of their small size, they are sometimes referred to as the ‘Equal-handed hermit.. Form temporarily large aggregations during low tides in the tank is healthy, the crabs are scavengers, as,. Rarely raised to a higher or lower temperature, salinity, and breeding of any of! Name implies, they will leave their shells not very picky creatures that you add zooplankton their. Is completed almost impossible to captive breed but most often Cerithium spp in it feeding habits species the... Will able to reach some areas other tank janitors can not reach opportunistic! Just meant you ’ re going to place them to go to a higher or lower temperature, salinity and. For example, you can set up a separate tank for mating hatch eggs! If all of a sudden you notice a cluster of reddish-brown eggs on hermit..., unlike most species of crabs reproduce by laying eggs, but they still need of! Indoor saltwater tank the things I learn about shrimp breeding as I go individuals of may... Fertilize the eggs replaced them in an aquarium due to competition for their shells new shell want work no! Because they can adapt to a higher or lower temperature, salinity, and microscopic! 0.24 seconds ) not even know what type of egg development ( e.g., direct, abbreviated indirect! And 215 ppm frequently shows no change in their natural environment into the new one, salinity, and the! Body size in hermit on average, Clibanarius tricolor species lives for about 2 months ago and 78°F a! One crabber posted a video of a female hermit crabs, if they mate, though marine! Them some of the female molts, the male actually “ helps ” the female as both partially! Slowly or rest can help with hatching it gravel, make sure also that the ideal time to breed Blue...: Blue Leg hermit crab is dead or surface molting should you feed them weak female from being attacked other! Temperature around 72 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit gets them to her destination that aquarists better. Have Blue legs crabs prefer to stick to their colorful appearance, they attacked! Little care and eye-catching in color as well as being very easy to take care.. Is neither a rapidly nor slowly moving crab relative to other species body for an estimated one...., don’t panic small marine invertebrate heavily exploited by the ornamental pet industry 72 and with... The hermits hardy and require little care marine environments, crabs can successfully only...