White-spotted Hermit Crab – Dardanus megistos

The White-spotted Hermit Crab (Dardanus megistos) is a large, carnivorous hermit crab. It has hairy red legs covered with white spots with black rims. This hermit will prey on smaller inverts and fish and will not control algae. They are best kept in a species-only tank or a tank with larger fish. The White-spotted Hermit Crab has many other common names and may also be referred to as the Spotted Hermit Crab, Hairy Hermit Crab, Shell-Breaking Reef Hermit or Strawberry Hermit Crab.

Most hermit crabs are scavengers. Some smaller hermit crabs will feed on algae like nuisance hair algae while larger hermit crabs are scavengers and carnivores. Most hermit crabs are opportunistic – they will not actively hunt for a fish or active invertebrates but will prey on sick, dead, or dying individuals. Only the larger hermits like those from the genuses Aniculus, Dardanus, Peguristes, and Petrochirus are a real threat to healthy, larger tankmates or to corals. Calcinus, Clibanarius, and Paguristes are some of the most common \