Orange Claw Hermit Crab – Calcinus tibicen

The Orange Claw Hermit Crab is species collected primarily in the Caribbean but other regional variants may exist. The left claw is larger than the right, and both claws are maroon to brown in color with bright orange edges typically. These crabs usually have red to maroon colored legs tipped with white or yellow and orange antennae and eyestalks. Another variant is lighter orange in color with white tips on the legs, blue eyes, and blue bases around the end of each eye stalk.

Most hermit crabs are scavengers. Some smaller hermit crabs will feed on algae like nuisance hair algae while larger hermit crabs are scavengers and carnivores. Most hermit crabs are opportunistic – they will not actively hunt for a fish or active invertebrates but will prey on sick, dead, or dying individuals. Only the larger hermits like those from the genuses Aniculus, Dardanus, Peguristes, and Petrochirus are a real threat to healthy, larger tankmates or to corals. Hermit crabs that are underfed are also a greater threat to tankmates like snails and other invertebrates. Calcinus, Clibanarius, and Paguristes are some of the most common \