{"product_id":"red-giant-hermit-crab","title":"Red Giant Hermit Crab","description":"\u003ch3 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eBiosecurity Shipping Limitations apply\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eShipping Allowed?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; height: 79.3752px;\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 49.3739%; height: 19.5938px;\"\u003eTasmania\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 50.2683%; height: 19.5938px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #6bb71f;\"\u003eYES\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 49.3739%; height: 19.5938px;\"\u003eWestern Australia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 50.2683%; height: 19.5938px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003eNO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 49.3739%; height: 19.5938px;\"\u003eNorthern Territory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 50.2683%; height: 19.5938px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003eNO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 20.5938px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 49.3739%; height: 20.5938px;\"\u003eAll Other States\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 50.2683%; height: 20.5938px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #6bb71f;\"\u003eYES\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"124\" data-end=\"458\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Red Giant Hermit Crab (Dardanus megistos) is a large, eye-catching marine crustacean recognised by its reddish-orange legs, bright white spots and bristly appearance. It lives inside an empty gastropod shell, which protects its soft abdomen, and may change shells as it grows.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis species is an active scavenger and opportunistic omnivore. It consumes leftover food, carrion and other organic material, but its size and feeding behaviour mean it is not a safe choice for most reef aquariums. It may prey on snails, smaller crabs and other invertebrates, disturb corals or rockwork, and move unsecured decorations while searching for food.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed Giant Hermit Crabs are best suited to a spacious, established marine aquarium with sturdy rockwork and plenty of appropriately sized spare shells. Provide a varied diet of marine meaty foods and monitor feeding to prevent waste build-up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eQuick Care Guide\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScientific Name: Dardanus megistos\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCommon Name: Red Giant Hermit Crab \/ Giant Red Hairy Hermit Crab \/ White-spotted Hermit Crab\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFamily: Diogenidae\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eType: Marine Invertebrate — Hermit Crab\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdult Size: Body length can reach approximately 20 cm; overall size varies with its shell.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTemperament: Aggressive and opportunistic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCare Level: Moderate\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMinimum Aquarium: 300 L+; a much larger system is preferable for a large adult\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTemperature: 24–27°C\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003epH: 8.1–8.4\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSalinity: 1.023–1.026 SG\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiet: Omnivore \/ Scavenger\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFood: Chopped shrimp, mussel, squid, marine pellets and suitable algae foods\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTank Level: Substrate and rockwork\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReef Safe: No\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuitable For: Large, established fish-only marine aquariums\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAquascape: Secure rockwork, open substrate and hiding places\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpecial Requirement: A selection of empty shells in progressively larger sizes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCopper Sensitivity: High\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs the Red Giant Hermit Crab reef safe?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. It can prey on snails, worms and other invertebrates, disturb corals and move unsecured rockwork. It is best kept in a large fish-only aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/s2\/favicons?domain=https:\/\/www.saltcorner.com\u0026amp;sz=32\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003esaltcorner.com\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e+1\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does it grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts body can reach around 20 cm, although size varies. Remember to allow for the shell, which adds to the crab's overall bulk. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does it eat?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt scavenges leftover food and detritus, but should also receive meaty foods such as chopped shrimp, mussel and squid, alongside suitable prepared foods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it need spare shells?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Provide several empty gastropod shells of different sizes. As the crab grows, it needs larger shells for protection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I keep it with other hermit crabs?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is risky. It may attack smaller hermit crabs or compete aggressively for shells. Keeping a single specimen is generally the safer option.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan it live with marine fish?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is best housed with larger, robust fish that are unlikely to be eaten. Small, slow-moving or bottom-dwelling fish may be vulnerable, especially at night.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon Mistakes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeeping it in a reef aquarium with valuable corals and invertebrates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnderestimating its adult size and strength.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFailing to provide larger replacement shells.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLeaving rockwork unsecured where it can be knocked over.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAssuming it can live entirely on leftover food.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHousing it with small fish, snails or ornamental shrimp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Apex Aquatic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50632725528715,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/8353\/3195\/files\/red-giant-hermit-crabapex-aquatic-2276092.jpg?v=1791844569","url":"https:\/\/apexaquatic.com.au\/products\/red-giant-hermit-crab","provider":"Apex Aquatic","version":"1.0","type":"link"}