Scarlet Crab
Paguristes cadenati the red reef hermit crab or scarlet hermit crab is a small about 3 centimetres or 1 2 inches across species of hermit crab with a bright red body and yellow eyestalks that lives in the caribbean sea the specific name honours the french ichthyologist jean cadenat 1908 1992 who collected the type specimen and sent it to the french carcinologist jacques forest who.
Scarlet crab. Scarlet hermit crabs are useful to keep corals and live rock clean of nuisance algae. More importantly however these small hermit crabs have a voracious appetite for detritus and algae. Despite their large appetites and constant feeding habits the scarlet reef only.
Although not much is known about the scarlet king crab other king crab species can survive 20 to 30 years in the wild and reach sexual maturity at 4 to 5 years old. These active creatures spend their time scavenging for food and make excellent partners in algae management. This crab is found from the bering sea gulf of alaska southward along the eastern pacific slope to san diego.
It is easy to see why the scarlet reef hermit crab is one of the most popular reef maintenance animals. Scarlet hermit crabs is very hardy and requires minimal care in a well established system. Scarlet hermit crabs are found on sandy areas surrounding reefs rather than moving about on them.
I have a few of these and they do no harm. Native to the reef faces and coral rubble of the caribbean and western atlantic these active scavengers can consume large amounts of animal matter and algae. They also help process detritus stir the sand and give you hours of enjoyment watching them navigate through your reef tank carrying their home on their back.
The scarlet reef hermit crab is named for its bright red legs which are contrasted by their yellow face.
