White Spotted Hermit Crab

Dardanus megistos is one of the most visually impressive hermit crabs available in the marine hobby, bearing brilliant red legs boldly patterned with white-spotted black patches. An active and effective scavenger of detritus, algae, and uneaten meaty foods, it serves as a capable clean-up crew member in large reef and FOWLR systems. Due to its size, it requires suitably large gastropod shells and may harass smaller crabs, shrimp, and sessile invertebrates.

Provide multiple empty gastropod shells significantly larger than its current shell to allow regular moulting. House with large, robust fish and invertebrates that can hold their own. Temperature 23–27°C, SG 1.020–1.025. Supply meaty supplemental food when natural detritus is insufficient. Avoid very small tanks — this species needs room to roam and scavenge. Not suitable with ornamental small crustaceans.