Crab – Giant Red Tip Hermit

Giant Red Tip Hermit Crab Care Tips:

Minimum Tank Size: 40 Gallons

Max Size: Up to 10cm (4”)

Diet: Omnivore

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Lifespan: Up to 20 years

Scientific Name: Dardanus Megistos

Coral Safe: No

Invertebrate Safe: No

The giant red tip hermit crab is one of the rarer hermit crabs not often seen in the hobby. Its scientific name is Dardanus Megistos but they are often referred to as the giant red tip hermit or the white spotted hermit crab. The giant red tip hermit is a part of the Diogenidae family. Their maximum size is 4” and they can live up to 20 years. Giant red tip hermit crabs are omnivores that will scavenge leftover food/algae from the tank. Giant red tip hermit crabs have a minimum tank size of 40 gallons. Giant red tip hermit crabs are considered aggressive. Hermit crabs use empty shells from snails as their house. Every so often a hermit crab will outgrow their shell, and they will look for a larger one. If there are no empty shells large enough for the hermit crab to move into, they will sometimes become predatory to certain snails, if their shell is the right shape and size. This is not done on a regular basis. The giant red tip hermit has also been known to prey upon small sleeping fish, because of that this species of hermit should only be kept with large fish. Giant red tip hermit crabs are not coral safe and are not invertebrate safe.