Halloween Hermit Crab (Ciliopagurus Strigatus)
Also Known As: Orange Leg Hermit (Ciliopagurus strigatus)
Compatibility and Behavior
The Halloween Hermit Crab earns its name the moment you spot it: legs banded in alternating fiery orange and deep red, set against a darker body and spiral shell, so the whole effect is a tiny trick-or-treater patrolling the rockwork. It stays small, generally around 1 to 2 inches, but the bold coloration and near-constant movement make it easy to pick out even in a larger system. Behaviorally it is exactly what you want in a cleanup crew member: an active, opportunistic scavenger that spends its day working leftover food, film algae, and detritus off rock, sand, and frag racks. It is reef safe with corals, but it carries the usual hermit caveat worth taking seriously. When hungry or hunting for a bigger shell to move into, it can hassle snails or other very small inverts. The fix is simple and worth doing up front: keep a selection of empty shells on hand in a range of sizes so it always has an upgrade option, and keep it well fed. Do those two things and it generally mixes well with peaceful inverts, small reef-safe fish, and the rest of a cleanup crew in a calm, stable tank.
Aquarium Requirements
This is an easygoing invert that does best in an established tank with plenty of live rock and a maze of nooks and crevices to explore. It suits nano tanks and large systems alike, provided salinity is stable, water quality is good, and there is enough rock and substrate for natural foraging. A varied aquascape with open sand patches and rock ledges lets it climb, sift, and graze the way it wants to. One practical note: these are strong climbers, so it pays to secure any loose frags or top-heavy rockwork they might topple while scaling the aquascape. Round out the natural film algae they find with the occasional algae wafer and small meaty bits, which keeps them well fed and a lot less interested in evicting your snails.
Specifications
Approximate Size: 1–2"
Diet: Omnivore; detritus, film algae, leftover food, algae wafers, and small meaty items
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Care Level: Easy
Reef Safe: Yes
Temperament: Peaceful scavenger
Special Considerations: Strong climber that can dislodge loose frags or top-heavy rockwork
Pairs well with
Halloween Hermit Crab (Ciliopagurus Strigatus)
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Shipping Information
- Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday. Orders will be shipped overnight on the soonest possible shipping day, unless you request to hold the order for up to one business day.
- Your order will ship same-day if placed before 12:30 PM PST on a shipping day.
- Orders placed after 12:30 PM PST will ship on the next shipping day.
- Stay tuned to our Announcement Bar (black bar at the top of every page) for important shipping announcements...we may reach our max limit of orders we can ship on Mondays.
- If it is very hot, very cold, or if you live in a rural area, ship to a UPS Access Point to save your livestock from hours of exposure to the elements. Click here to see how.
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FAQ’s
When will you ship my order?
We will ship on the soonest possible shipping day. Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday, and we ship same-day if the order is placed before 12:30 PM PST (unless announced otherwise). For example, if ordering at 1 PM on Thursday, your order will ship the following Monday.
Can you hold my order until next week?
Unfortunately not. We can hold items for up to one business day before shipping. We restock weekly, so chances are good we will receive more by next week!
When is the best time to order?
Saturdays and Sundays are the absolute best time to order, followed by Wednesday evenings. The closer you order to an inventory update, the better the available inventory.
What happens if something I ordered is unavailable?
We will email you to request a substitution. If you would like your original order, chances are good that it will be available to ship within the week (unless it is a very rare item).
Can I modify my order once it has been placed?
This is possible, but not guaranteed. Please email us if you need to modify your order or shipping address, and we will gladly make the changes for you, or let you know if it is too late.
What should I do if UPS is unreliable in my area?
We recommend shipping to a UPS Access Point, as packages get delivered there first before trucks go on residential deliveries. Click here to see how.
What salinity do you ship at?
Salinity for fish is 1.018-9. Salinity for inverts is 1.024-5.
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Contact Us
Send us an email at sales@reefbeauties.com and we will get back to you shortly.
We do not offer phone calls. We handle our inquiries with timely emails to ensure a qualified and high-quality response, to have all conversations on record, and to avoid miscommunications that can occur over the phone.
Free shipping on orders over $199!
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
When will you ship my order?
We will ship on the soonest possible shipping day. Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday, and we ship same-day if the order is placed before 12:30 PM PST (unless announced otherwise). For example, if ordering at 1 PM on Thursday, your order will ship the following Monday.
Can you hold my order until next week?
Unfortunately not. We can hold items for up to one business day before shipping. We restock weekly, so chances are good we will receive more by next week!
When is the best time to order?
Saturdays and Sundays are the absolute best time to order, followed by Wednesday evenings. The closer you order to an inventory update, the better the available inventory.
What happens if something I ordered is unavailable?
We will email you to request a substitution. If you would like your original order, chances are good that it will be available to ship within the week (unless it is a very rare item).
Can I modify my order once it has been placed?
This is possible, but not guaranteed. Please email us if you need to modify your order or shipping address, and we will gladly make the changes for you, or let you know if it is too late.
What should I do if FedEx is unreliable in my area?
We recommend shipping to a FedEx Ship Center, as packages get delivered there first before trucks go on residential deliveries. Click here to see how.
What salinity do you ship at?
Salinity for fish is 1.018-9. Salinity for inverts is 1.024-5.