Giant Hermit Crab, or not!?

attilak · Apr 10, 2021

I don't usually do this as it was an impulse purchase but seeing something like this was quite amazing and thought it would be cool to add to my 210 FOWLR tank. I am trying to research hermit crab and nothing comes up as big as this thing ... maybe it is a something different, which is why I am concerned as I don't know if it will try to eat any of my fish. It doesn't seem aggressive at all and fish went right up to it to check it out when I added but didn't seem bothered. Most of my fish in this tank are triggers and angels. If I was to bet on any fish trying to go for it, probably be the Harlequin tusk goldenheart trigger. We shal see once lights come on in the morning.

I have attached a video and difficult to see the size, but I bet the Conch shell must be 8" long! Let me know if any of you know what this is exactly as I tried to search for giant hermit crab and nothing...

Thanks!

DDenny · Apr 10, 2021

I can’t see the video but maybe other can.

attilak · Apr 10, 2021

hmm ... I can replay it fine. I is an MP4. let's see if anyone else has a problem and will try converting. Thanks for letting me know and quick response.

stanleo · Apr 10, 2021

Yeah I can’t see it either.

Rtaylor · Apr 10, 2021

Can’t see anything

DaddyFish · Apr 10, 2021

I had one about 2/3 that size in my 90-gal FOWLR predator tank. He was always "nervous". He never hesitated to wipe out snails, smaller crabs, starfish etc., but never seemed to bother the fish, probably because he just wasn't fast enough to actually catch one. My Molly Miller Blennies would ride on his back and eat the algae from his shell. The Picasso Trigger would hover over him and attempt to peck at him. They went at each other often but neither one ever landed an injurious blow.

All was fine for months until one day, out of the blue, the snowflake eel decided Mr. Crabs smelled tasty. A 45-minute dismemberment began that looked like a closing scene from SAW.

He should be fine, but everything smaller or slower than him is lunch. It is super cool to watch them shred shrimp etc. and watch the tankmates feast on the spray in the current.

Oh yeah, don't underestimate how far he can climb. If that shell is 8", it means he can stretch out 12-16" from the tallest support. Any cord, airline, decor item or rock within 12-16" of the tank edge and he WILL escape at some point.

attilak · Apr 10, 2021

ok, not sure why some wasn't able to play video but took a few pics. It's in the evening so lights are out - somewhat difficult to see. I did catch a few fish in the pics so you get the idea of the size.

attilak · Apr 10, 2021

DaddyFish said:
I had one about 2/3 that size in my 90-gal FOWLR predator tank. He was always "nervous". He never hesitated to wipe out snails, smaller crabs, starfish etc., but never seemed to bother the fish, probably because he just wasn't fast enough to actually catch one. My Molly Miller Blennies would ride on his back and eat the algae from his shell. The Picasso Trigger would hover over him and attempt to peck at him. They went at each other often but neither one ever landed an injurious blow.

All was fine for months until one day, out of the blue, the snowflake eel decided Mr. Crabs smelled tasty. A 45-minute dismemberment began that looked like a closing scene from SAW.

He should be fine, but everything smaller or slower than him is lunch. It is super cool to watch them shred shrimp etc. and watch the tankmates feast on the spray in the current.

Oh yeah, don't underestimate how far he can climb. If that shell is 8", it means he can stretch out 12-16" from the tallest support. Any cord, airline, decor item or rock within 12-16" of the tank edge and he WILL escape at some point.

Thanks for the reply! It does make me feel much better ... my wife is all freakin' out as I am putting in the tank saying "that thing is going to eat all your fish" .. lol. Don't you love it when the spouse becomes a marine biologist all the sudden. I figure someone on here must have seen or had one of these things. I don't have eels, or real aggressive triggers. I have a pair of crosshatch, which would never go for it - those fish are mellow. If any fish would attempt to maybe bother it would be my tusk or goldenheart but I was willing to take the risk.

Great point about the reach, BTW! I need to see if anyway it can reach top to escape but hopefully it will be fine. The only thing I am thinking of is perhaps it can get into the overflows as I do have rocks stacked up against it and may reach. I have these plastic covers and think I will zip tie down. I had one of the triggers get in there one time and man it was a pain to get it out!

Thanks!

clifg · Apr 11, 2021

It's a giant marine hermit. No experience but really just a bigger version of your regular hermit, meaning you will need even bigger shells for it to move into. @S2G @MombasaLionfish @Damon Jensen

Giant hermit crab (Considering)

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...

www.reef2reef.com

Giant Marine Hermit* (Medium)

The Giant Marine Hermit, (Petrochirus diogenes) is a long lived hermit crab that will entertain younger hobbyists. It is hardy, long lived, (up to 20 years in captivity) and while it has large claws...

www.reefcleaners.org

attilak · Apr 11, 2021

clifg said:
It's a giant marine hermit. No experience but really just a bigger version of your regular hermit, meaning you will need even bigger shells for it to move into. @S2G @MombasaLionfish @Damon Jensen

Giant hermit crab (Considering)

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...

www.reef2reef.com

Giant Marine Hermit* (Medium)

The Giant Marine Hermit, (Petrochirus diogenes) is a long lived hermit crab that will entertain younger hobbyists. It is hardy, long lived, (up to 20 years in captivity) and while it has large claws...

www.reefcleaners.org

Thanks! it's crazy, I paid $130 for this one at my local store... on this site you sent it is $25. LOL I feel like I got ripped off... ohh well.

attilak · Apr 11, 2021

quick update. the crab is completely in it's shell as the lights are on ... are these guys usually walk around at night only or during the day too? doesn't seem like any of the fish are picking at it. I see the bandit and queen angel picking at the shell once in a while, but that is it.

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Apr 11, 2021

Strawberry hermit crab? They get big. Lol
D

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Apr 11, 2021

Dardanus megistos

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Apr 11, 2021

Yours looks like the giant. Lol. Right on. D

backinthereef · Apr 11, 2021

Just FYI, I was able to play the video just fine. I am not sure what it is, but it does certainly look like a giant hermit and I would think that your fish should be fine given they are rather big. I would love to see a full video of your tank actually. That crab is super cool!!

attilak · Apr 11, 2021

monkeyCmonkeyDo said:
Strawberry hermit crab? They get big. Lol
D

I just did research on the strawberry hermit and looks like they get 80mm (3.1 inch), which is actually small compared to this... lol. This thing is amazing - I hope it does well in my tank. I usually don't take risks and impulse purchases as I learned my lesson throughout the years. But when I saw this at the LFS, I was surprised no one scooped up. I guess the price tag perhaps but I paid more for Maxima clams that parish in a month - could never keep those darn things.

DaddyFish · Apr 11, 2021

I moved my giant hermit several times between tanks. He would sometimes remain hidden in his shell for days before coming out.

attilak · Apr 11, 2021

backinthereef said:
Just FYI, I was able to play the video just fine. I am not sure what it is, but it does certainly look like a giant hermit and I would think that your fish should be fine given they are rather big. I would love to see a full video of your tank actually. That crab is super cool!!

Thanks ... sure, here is a quick video of the tank. This was supposed to be a reef tank but I started putting in angels and now it is my FOWLR.

DaddyFish said:
I moved my giant hermit several times between tanks. He would sometimes remain hidden in his shell for days before coming out.

Cool, thanks! funny, when I fed my fish today it started coming out a bit but hid right back... hopefully it is just a bit scared and need to be adjusted into it's new environment.