Tank setup
A minimum 300L aquarium suits White-spotted Hermit Crab. Use robust décor and sight breaks; territorial species need defined territories.
Where to buy
Compare prices from SA aquarium shops listing White-spotted Hermit Crab.
No active shop listings right now
Set a free stock alert and we'll notify you the moment this species arrives at a local shop.
Community Marketplace
Fellow hobbyists may also be selling White-spotted Hermit Crab.
Want White-spotted Hermit Crab?
Tell shops you're looking — be the first to signal demand.
Overview
What to know before you buy.
The White-spotted Hermit Crab, often sold as the African Hermit, is a large and striking crab with a bright red-to-orange body covered in white spots. While it is an impressive scavenger, it is **not** reef-safe. It is highly opportunistic and destructive, known for its large size and powerful claws. It will eat other snails (for their shells), small fish, and corals, and will topple any rockwork that isn't secured. It is best kept in a large, fish-only-with-large-fish (FOWLR) tank. An interesting fact is its sheer size; it is one of the largest hermit crabs available in the hobby and requires a constant supply of ever-larger shells.
Key traits
aggressive
predator
large
moderate
scavenger
omnivore
crab
Compatibility
Select a tank to see how this species fits.
Care guide
Everything you need to keep White-spotted Hermit Crab healthy in a South African setup.
Water parameters
Keep pH 8.1–8.4 and 24–28°C. Stable parameters matter more than chasing perfect numbers — acclimate new arrivals slowly.
Feeding
White-spotted Hermit Crab is scavenger. Feed a varied diet appropriate for invertebrates — quality flakes, pellets, or frozen foods sized to the mouth.
Behaviour
White-spotted Hermit Crab is generally aggressive. Observe during feeding and at lights-out for true temperament.
Tankmates
Pair with similarly sized aggressive tankmates in invertebrates. Avoid fin-nippers or species that outgrow this fish.
Breeding
Breeding notes for White-spotted Hermit Crab vary by line and water chemistry — ask your local shop about proven pairs in SA.
Keeping invertebrates?
Invertebrates read water quality more sensitively than fish — condition and test rather than guess.
Availability confirmed with the distributor before dispatch · free delivery over r750
Community photos
From hobbyists across SA.
Photo by FishHubAdmin