You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Red reef crab

Paguristes cadenati

Today's Research for Tomorrow's Oceans

Come visit me at Mote!

Support Mote Animals

Fun Facts

These guys are good at keeping their surroundings clean, munching on excess algae and marine debris. 

Species Type:

Invertebrates

Common Name(s):

Red reef crab

Size:

Red reed hermit crabs grow up to 1.2 inches (3 centimeters) across.

Diet:

These hermit crabs are opportunistic feeders, meaning they eat whatever is available, including sea grasses, plants, dead animals and other organic matter.

Range & Habitat:

In the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, these hermit crabs live on reefs anywhere from 1- 260 feet (80 meters) deep.

Details:

Red reef crabs have small, bright red bodies with yellow-orange eyestalks. Their left claw is slightly larger than their right. Like many other marine invertebrates, the red reef crab will find the discarded shell of a mollusk species to live in as protection from predators.