Hairy Yellow Hermit Crab

Aniculus maximus is one of the more visually distinctive large hermit crabs available to reef aquarists, with bright yellow legs covered in dense, short hair-like setae that give the animal a uniquely textured, almost fuzzy appearance unlike any other commonly traded hermit crab. Found across the Indo-Pacific, it is a robust omnivore that grazes algae and consumes detritus and uneaten food from rock surfaces and the substrate. Due to its larger size it requires appropriately large empty gastropod shells to retreat into and will readily evict smaller hermit crabs from desirable shells — a consideration when planning the clean-up crew composition. Best housed in larger reef or FOWLR systems where its bulk is proportionate to the tank inhabitants.

Provide several large empty shells in a range of sizes to accommodate molting and growth. Supplement diet with algae wafers and dried seaweed if natural algae growth is limited. Generally reef-safe with corals but may disturb lightweight frags when moving through the tank. Avoid housing with aggressive fish that may attack the crab during molting. Avoid copper-based medications.