Giant hermit crab (Considering)

[MombasaLionfish]

I don't know about an anemone but it started in a reef. Didn't work out started killing things and wrecking stuff. It was the size of a softball shell and all. He had it in a 240. We put it in a 125 and it had problems moving around freely with the big shells available. Do what you want but it's not a good fit if you only have a 30 available for it.

Here is a pic of the new hermit! So cool. I fed him some squid this morning. Charged it and was so cool. Grabbed the hemostats I used to feed. Cool creature.

I have this same type of hermit (Petrochirus diogenes) right now it is a little bigger than a golf ball and lives 20+ years it grows to be bigger than a foot ball. It is really great at cleaning the sand bed and has never killed a fish it has killed some other small hermits.

It also has an anemone on its shell.

 

[MombasaLionfish]

You will need lots of shells.

 

[MombasaLionfish]

The other crabs in my tank include decorator crab pompom crab 2 other large hermits not quite as the big one 5 porcelain crabs and getting another arrow crab soon. None of them bother the coral you do have to glue them down or they will be knocked off. I have an anemone that lives on hermit shell it is a special type of anemone.

 

[SighKenny]

I had a hermit sneak in my tank when i inherited it and thought itd be fine since hes only ab 2 inches long but he immediately killed 5 snails and attacked my goby in 2 days so hes in solitary in my display refuge now

 

[Cra-z wolf]

This type will actively search for bristleworms to eat. Constantly digging through the sandbed.
He also doesn't bother snails, other crabs, fish, or shrimp.

 

[jsvand5]

Here is a pic of the new hermit! So cool. I fed him some squid this morning. Charged it and was so cool. Grabbed the hemostats I used to feed. Cool creature.

Looks like he’s already in need of a new shell

 

[MombasaLionfish]

This type will actively search for bristleworms to eat. Constantly digging through the sandbed.
He also doesn't bother snails, other crabs, fish, or shrimp.

This is not he same type it is Dardanus megistos I have never owed one but I hear they eat fish.

 

[Cra-z wolf]

This is not he same type it is Dardanus megistos I have never owed one but I hear they eat fish.

I have had a few of these in the past and never had that issue. They don't seem to be built to be fish catchers,they move very slow, and their claws aren't sharp.(cross between rounded and spooned).
He currently lives with a firefish and bangaii cardinal in a converted display fuge that was overrun with bristleworms. About 2 weeks and there aren't any visible anymore. But, he does make a mess. Stirring the sand releasing all the debris.
Any crab will eat a fish if it is dead or dying. I have heard many instances blaming crabs, urchins, starfish for eating a fish, but more likely is it died, then was consumed by the scavengers.

 

[tony'stank]

Many years ago I had a hermit crab the size of a hardball in a 125 Gal. I had to get rid of him because he eat almost everything he could grab. He even tried to catch a juvenile Queen Angel. I agree that a 30G tank is likely too small

 

[Be102]

Bump!

 

[Gareth elliott]

Never owned one this large but have owned a Clibanarius vittatus, or thin striped hermit was about 3” when it died. Never bothered fish or corals. But was a bulldozer, use epoxy to secure rocks and corals. Anything that can move it moved it. Was great at keeping the sand bed clean as it dragged itself across.
Got mine as a small hitchhiker on my live rock.

 

[Damon Jensen]

I have an empty 30 gallon tank (exception with some snails, live rock, and some chaeto) and I am thinking about getting this $14.99 giant hermit crab. I mean it is massive. I am not sure what species, but they (local fish store) said it can't have anything else in the tank or it will catch and eat it. Any experience with giant hermit crabs?

I hag one, and found it kept growing out of his shell, even went to etsy a could of times. Spent way more on shells than on the monster itself. I also suspect he nabbed quite a few fish. Ended up taking him back to the LFS after about a year, but even they could not find him a home in one of their LA tanks. So Cujo live out his time in the store probably sided because his shell was too small......keep in mind too small of a shell was larger than my fist.

 

[flsalty]

Never owned one this large but have owned a Clibanarius vittatus, or thin striped hermit was about 3” when it died. Never bothered fish or corals. But was a bulldozer, use epoxy to secure rocks and corals. Anything that can move it moved it. Was great at keeping the sand bed clean as it dragged itself across.
Got mine as a small hitchhiker on my live rock.

I saw one of those in the intracoastal that was huge. It was using a large queen conch shell. Looked to be about the size of a football at least. I wanted so bad to net it, but I didn't have a tank big enough for it.

 

[MombasaLionfish]

I saw one of those in the intracoastal that was huge. It was using a large queen conch shell. Looked to be about the size of a football at least. I wanted so bad to net it, but I didn't have a tank big enough for it.

Yep mine will get that big in a year or two. I don't know where I will get shells for it or how i will find a tank for mine.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Yep mine will get that big in a year or two. I don't know where I will get shells for it or how i will find a tank for mine.

Who needs shells?
J/k its actually just crab stuffed pasta shells.

Wonder if you could use giant land snail shells? Might be q financial incentive for someone to hunt them in florida or puerto rico. Ship them customer for x fee. Win win, buyer gets shells, hunter gets paid, invasive tree eating snails die lol.

 

[MombasaLionfish]

Who needs shells?
J/k its actually just crab stuffed pasta shells.

Wonder if you could use giant land snail shells? Might be q financial incentive for someone to hunt them in florida or puerto rico. Ship them customer for x fee. Win win, buyer gets shells, hunter gets paid, invasive tree eating snails die lol.

I have one right now you just need to soak it in SW for a day and make sure there is no paint.

 

[piranhaman00]

Bump, I just purchased a Petrochirus diogenes with a reef cleaners order! Anyone have these guys?

 

[MombasaLionfish]

Oh those are fun. I had one, by far my favorite creature in the tank. I don't recommend getting one though because they get massive.

 

[MombasaLionfish]

I have heard of them getting aggressive and eating fish but mine never did that he just stirred up sand and occasionally ate a snail. Mine grew from 1 cm to 3 or 4 inches. Oh I forgot you can see mine in my profile picture. Unfortunately I had some virus that killed off all my crabs a few months ago so I no longer have this crab.

 

[piranhaman00]

Oh those are fun. I had one, by far my favorite creature in the tank. I don't recommend getting one though because they get massive.

I have heard of them getting aggressive and eating fish but mine never did that he just stirred up sand and occasionally ate a snail. Mine grew from 1 cm to 3 or 4 inches. Oh I forgot you can see mine in my profile picture. Unfortunately I had some virus that killed off all my crabs a few months ago so I no longer have this crab.

Hes going in a 180