Dardanus megistos
Red hermit crab
Hermit crabs vary quite considerably in size and color, from the blue-legged hermits from Singapore and the tiny thumbnail-sized species commonly shipped from the Caribbean to the giant
Aniculus maximus, which has attractive golden yellow legs but is a fearsome predator that will devour anything that comes within reach of its powerful claws.
D. megistos is one of the largest species, with fist-sized specimens by no means uncommon.
Unlike most crabs, the hermit crab's abdomen extends out from the body, with no hard protective shell on the rear. It protects itself by taking over the shells of various univalve molluscs-often by eating the previous and rightfull owner. Despite the weight of some of these shells, hermit crabs are very active climbers and their inquisitive nature endears them to many hobbyists. However they have very catholic tastes and a large hermit, such as
D. megistos, is capable of causing considerable within a well-stocked living-reef aquarium. They are useful scavengers, however, particularly in tanks with sizeable fishes, but will rarely fit into the average aquarium set-up.
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