Meshell trades up to a snail shell February 2010

Meshell in her new shell 10/18/09

Meshell in her old shell 8/9/09

Kaizen Reef name: Meshell
Common name: Scarlet red legged hermit crab
Scientific name: Paguristes Cadenati

Physical description: Hermit crab in adopted shell with red claws and legs.

Diet: Eats detritus off substrate and rocks, meaty frozen foods like mysis and tiger shrimp as well as Spirulina flake. Also a big fan of fecal matter, especially from the anemone.

Important dates:
7/17/09: Added to the tank
9/15/09: Upgraded to a larger shell (video here)
Feb 2010: Upgraded to a snail’s shell (the snail died, Serps ate it and she took the shell)

Update: Meshell is actually a male specimen. We have seen her produce sperm and she has a mating cycle with the other hermit crab, Barock. Meshell will mount Barock and they will be in that position for hours or sometimes a day or so. Due to our filtration system no hatchings are possible.

Personal notes: We refer to Meshell (not to be confused with first lady Michelle Obama) as a female even though we have not sexed her. She is a very friendly crab that has made friends with all her tankmates. We have seen her communicate with the serpent starfish on several occasions and they seem to be able to share information by just touching one another, for example when the starfish directed her where he had hidden some shrimp. She enjoys quality time with Barock when she is not bullying him around or turning him over on his back.

Barock in January 2010

Kaizen Reef name: Barock
Common name: Scarlet red legged hermit crab
Scientific name: Paguristes Cadenati

Physical description: Hermit crab in adopted shell with red claws and legs.

Diet: Eats detritus off substrate and rocks, meaty frozen foods like mysis and tiger shrimp as well as Spirulina flake.

Important dates:
7/17/09: Added to the tank

Update: Barock is a female specimen. On several occasions when turned over and pulling himself back upright we saw his egg sack. The other hermit crab (Meshell) is actually male and they have a mating cycle. Meshell will mount Barock and they will be in that position for hours or sometimes a day or so. Due to our filtration system no hatchings are possible.

Personal notes: Not to be confused with President Barack Obama, we refer to Barock as male even though we have not sexed him. He is the runt of the tank and gets picked on the most. He has some intimate moments with the other hermit crab. The starfish will push him away if he gets too close and the wrasse will steal his food if he is lucky enough to find something special to eat (like a piece of shrimp or flake food). He works diligently cleaning the tank and has molted once so far since we got him.