Hermit ID

[primetyme941]

Need help please..I bought this several weeks ago and before my tank crashed I always saw him near my frogspawn, when he was by the frogspawn it would tuck back into its skeleton. So I wanted to make sure before i transferred fish from my QT and added anything else that I ID him and make sure he is reef safe. He has maroon legs with many white dots. Tried looking many places but can't find one similar...the legs are not hairy and it didn't quite look like a Caribbean Red leg. Thanks

 

[Betta132]

Seen them at my LFS. He's gonna get big. Not sure what he is, though.

 

[primetyme941]

Thanks, that's what I'm worried about. Hoping someone knows what it is and can give advice...

 

[sam.basye]

Looks to me like a clibanarius something. The pincher/claw is of the algae eating type. I have one similar to it, clibanarius genus but it's yellowish. With the same structure and claws.


Mine is a little bigger and will walk over everything, but not eat coral. Great addition to a tank.

 

[primetyme941]

Ok, they do look similar minus the stripes on the legs. Makes me feel better. I suppose I'll just watch him closely when introducing new additions. Thanks

 

[sam.basye]

I found mine at the beach in SC. Its a clibanarius vittatus. It was a solid school bus yellow color when I found it and now it is two-toned tan stripes and has blue eyes.

I have a small hammer, todds torch, zoas, monti, gsp, tube coral, two different hermits, pistol shrimp, mithrax crab, two stars and a fish that he has no interest in unless it is to eat algae off of. Hope this helps as they are neat to watch.

He will eat dried shrimp pellets as well.

 

[primetyme941]

Good to know! Just seems crazy I couldn't find one similar scouring the internet and here on RC in 2 forums. I'll go with what you're saying. Since my tank has been fallow he seems to do fine on the rocks eating algae and whatnot. I'm guessing now he's a good tankmate.

 

[sam.basye]

Yeah, same here. It's definitely got some nice color. I think max size is probably 3ish". Mine is about 2" now. As long as you don't mind him walking all over everything or climbing up the silicone to the top. Lol