Orange Claw Hermit Crab, Calcinus tibicen

Orange Claw Hermit Crab, Calcinus tibicen. Crab photographed underwater in coastal waters off Cozumel Island, Quintana Roo, March 2021. Photograph courtesy of Marina Sutormina, Stockholm, Sweden.

General information: The Orange Claw Hermit Crab, Calcinus tibicen, is a member of the Diogenidae Family of Left-handed Hermit Crabs that is characterized by its left claw being larger than its right.  They are a popular species in the pet trade and make great cleaners for aquariums often added as a part of the “clean up crew”. If kept as a pet it’s important to keep an assortment of shells due to the fact that hermit crabs are very selective about their mobile houses, always searching for a better shell with more room. They are even known to battle other hermit crabs for the property rights of a shell. In the wild These hermit crabs can live as long as thirty years but in captivity average only one to two years.

Identification: The Orange Claw Hermit Crab can be recognized by its orange eye stalks with white tips and black pupils with have bright orange antennae. The size of the claws are also unequal, with one claw (right) half of the size of the other. Their legs are a orangish red color with white tips. The chela are a darker red with a lighter red around the border. They can grow up to 5.0 cm (2.0 inches) seeking out new gastropod shells with every molt. Molting can take up to 10 days and take place every 18 months.

Habitat and Range: The Orange Claw Hermit Crab can be found in the Western Atlantic Ocean inhabiting shores of the Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, down the Mexican coast southward all the way to the southern end of Brazil. these crabs prefer intertidal zones and can be found at depths up to 30 m (100 feet) but are most often found along rocky shores searching for algae. They prefer temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 27°C ( 81°F).

Diet: The Orange Claw Hermit Crab is diurnal and omnivore that feeds on algae and detritus.

Conservation Status:  The Orangeclaw Hermit Crab has not been formally evaluated from a conservation status.  However, they are common and should be considered to be of Least Concern. They are a popular item with the aquarium trade.

Synonyms:  Calcinus formosus, Calcinus sulcatus, Cancer tibicen, and Pagurus sulcatus.