{"product_id":"hairy-hermit-crab","title":"Hairy Hermit Crab","description":"\u003cp\u003eHairy Hermit Crabs (\u003cem\u003eDardanus\u003c\/em\u003e sp.) are named for the dense, bristle-like hairs covering their legs — a likely adaptation that helps break up their outline against algae-covered rock, functioning as natural camouflage in the same way a ghillie suit disrupts a silhouette. In the reef, they're generalist scavengers that clean up leftover food, pick at nuisance algae, and turn over detritus in rockwork crevices that other cleanup crew members don't bother reaching.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLike every hermit crab, they need an appropriately-sized shell to live in and they'll outgrow their current one periodically. The solution is simple but important: keep a handful of spare empty shells of varying sizes in the tank so they can upgrade without needing to evict a snail to do it. A hermit crab actively bothering snails is almost always a housing problem — the right size shell available solves it. Hardy, low-maintenance, and genuinely useful cleanup crew once that detail is covered.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThey'll opportunistically pick at soft corals if underfed, so ensure scavenging opportunities are adequate. A well-fed hermit is a reef-safe hermit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dardanus sp.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Indo-Pacific and tropical Atlantic — rocky reef zones, rubble areas, and hard-bottom habitats\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e Temp 72–80°F · Salinity 1.023–1.026 · pH 8.1–8.4\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTank requirements:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10 gal minimum; provide several empty shells in a range of sizes\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Omnivore scavenger — detritus, algae, leftover food; target-feed sinking foods if other scavenging is limited\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility:\u003c\/strong\u003e Generally reef safe; may bother soft corals if underfed; will attempt to evict snails if appropriately-sized empty shells are unavailable\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHusbandry note:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stock 3–4 appropriately-sized shells per hermit crab and replenish them as they're claimed. This single step eliminates most hermit-related tankmate conflicts and is the most frequently overlooked part of hermit crab care.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"YoCamron's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Individual \/ Wild-Caught","offer_id":50153135079661,"sku":"SWINV-HAIRY-HERMIT-IND","price":38.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5-Pack \/ Wild-Caught","offer_id":50339104817389,"sku":"SWINV-HAIRY-HERMIT-5PK","price":172.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10-Pack \/ Wild-Caught","offer_id":50339104850157,"sku":"SWINV-HAIRY-HERMIT-10PK","price":321.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0806\/1032\/8813\/files\/IMG_0064.jpg?v=1782360940","url":"https:\/\/www.yocamronsaquatics.com\/products\/hairy-hermit-crab","provider":"YoCamron's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}