The Zebra Hermit Crab is a lively, eye-catching addition to many marine aquariums. With bold black-and-white banded legs and an active personality, this small cleanup crew member can help keep nuisance algae and leftover food under control while adding movement and character to your reef.
Zebra Hermit Crab Care & Requirements
Despite their striking appearance, Zebra Hermit Crabs are relatively hardy and well-suited for many saltwater setups, from nano reefs to larger community tanks.
- Scientific name: Calcinus laevimanus
- Common names: Zebra Hermit Crab, Left-Handed Hermit Crab
- Adult size: About 1 inch (2.5 cm) body size
- Tank size: 10 gallons and up (larger systems are more stable)
- Temperature: 72–78°F (22–26°C)
- Salinity: 1.024–1.026 specific gravity
- Reef-safe: Generally yes, with proper shell options and feeding
Provide plenty of live rock for grazing and hiding, along with a variety of empty shells so your hermits can upgrade as they grow. This reduces the chance they’ll bother snails or other tank mates for their homes.
Diet, Behavior & Compatibility
The Zebra Hermit Crab is an omnivorous scavenger that spends most of its time picking at rockwork and sand for food. In a well-established tank, they’ll consume film algae, detritus, and leftover fish food.
- Offer sinking pellets or wafers a few times per week.
- Supplement with dried seaweed (nori) clipped to a rock or magnet.
- Occasionally provide tiny bits of frozen foods like mysis or brine shrimp.
They are generally peaceful, but like all hermits, they can show aggression if they are overcrowded or lack suitable shells. Keep only a few in smaller tanks and ensure a good mix of spare shells in different sizes and shapes.
Tip: A good rule of thumb is to provide at least 3–5 empty shells for every hermit crab in your aquarium.
Zebra Hermit Crabs usually coexist well with:
- Most reef-safe snails (when spare shells are abundant)
- Peaceful reef fish
- Soft and stony corals
- Other small clean-up crew invertebrates
Avoid housing them with aggressive crabs, large predatory fish, or invertebrates that may view them as food.
Role in Your Clean-Up Crew
Adding a Zebra Hermit Crab to your clean-up crew can help maintain a cleaner, more stable reef system. They’re especially useful for picking at algae in tight crevices and turning over small patches of sand, which can help prevent dead spots.
For a balanced clean-up crew, consider pairing them with a variety of snails and other invertebrates. You can learn more about building a diverse crew in our guide to saltwater clean-up crew basics and explore compatible invertebrates in our reef invertebrates overview. If you’re planning a new tank, our beginner reef tank setup guide is a great place to start.
With proper care, a stable environment, and plenty of shell choices, the Zebra Hermit Crab can be a hardy, hardworking, and visually striking member of your marine aquarium for years.