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Types of Hermit Crabs: A Guide to the Most Common Land Hermit Crab Pets
Hermit crabs are quiet, low-maintenance, quirky little creatures that can make for great pets. They live inside shells and move from one shell to another as they grow. They can be quite active, especially at night, and exploring and climbing are favorite activities for most types of hermit crabs.
However, not all hermit crabs are the same. In fact, there are different types of hermit crabs, each with its own unique characteristics. In this article, we will explore the different types of hermit crabs and what makes each of them unique.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The Coenobita Clypeatus Hermit Crab
- The Coenobita Brevimanus Hermit Crab
- The Coenobita Rugosus Hermit Crab
- The Coenobita Perlatus Hermit Crab
- The Coenobita Purpureus Hermit Crab
- Conclusion
Introduction
Land hermit crabs belong to the family Coenobitidae, which is a group of crustaceans that live in seashells. These little creatures can be fascinating to watch, as their behaviors can be quite quirky and interesting.
There are many different types of hermit crabs, and each has its own unique characteristics. In this article, we will explore the most common types of land hermit crabs pets found around the world and what makes each of them unique.
The Coenobita Clypeatus Hermit Crab
The Coenobita Clypeatus Hermit Crab is is the most popular type of hermit crab in the U.S. It’s common names are Caribbean hermit crab, Purple Pincher and Tree Crab.
They are typically found in the Caribbean, Florida, and the Gulf of Mexico. These hermit crabs are medium-sized and can grow up to six inches in length.
They have a beige-ish body that is soft and moist, hidden inside the shell, the rest of their body and legs range from browns to reds, in part due to varying diets and also age.
Their two most distinguishable characteristics are their large purple pincer claw and their round eyes.
The Coenobita Brevimanus Hermit Crab
The Coenobita Brevimanus Hermit Crab is also known as the “Brevi” and “Indo” hermit crab. This type of hermit crab is commonly found in the Indo-Pacific region, including Hawaii, Australia, and Indonesia.
Similar to the Caribbean (Purple Pincher) hermit crab above, the Brevi also has a purple pincher claw and round eyes, with similar brown-red coloring, but the purple claw is bigger and more circular and the eyes are on darker stalks and smaller.
The most important difference to note is that the Brevi hermit crabs have very specific care needs much different than most of the other common hermit crab pets, and should not be kept with different types as a result.
The Coenobita Rugosus Hermit Crab
The Coenobita Rugosus Hermit Crab is also known as the “Ruggie” hermit crab.
This type of hermit crab is found in the Western Pacific region, including the Philippines and Indonesia.
They are a very small species and only grow up to two inches in length.
They are most often grey or reddish-brown but can be many colors, and they are most distinguishable by having orange feelers and elongated eyes.
They are also known to make more noise than most other types of hermit crabs via stridulation where they rub their legs together making a “chirping” sound.
The Coenobita Perlatus Hermit Crab
The Coenobita Perlatus Hermit Crab is also known as the “Strawberry” hermit crab as their coloring resembles a… strawberry!
This type of hermit crab is found in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Philippines and Indonesia.
They are a small species and only grow up to 2-3 inches in length.
They may be red or orange-ish, and often have spots.
They have very specific care needs, and shouldn’t be kept with other types of hermit crabs that need different parameters.
The Coenobita Purpureus Hermit Crab
The Coenobita Purpureus Hermit Crab, also known as the “Blueberry” Hermit Crab due to their purple or blueish coloring.
They have oval eyes with a yellow-ish outline. They are found in Japan and surrounding islands.
They are small, most growing to just 1.5-2 inches long. The Blueberry hermit crab is one of the most rare land hermit crabs within the pet industry.
Japan now protects their exportation due to the decreased numbers in the wild.
Conclusion
While the hermit crab species discussed in this article are among the most commonly kept as pets, there are many other types of land hermit crabs found around the world. In fact, there are over 800 known species of hermit crabs that inhabit both land and sea environments.
In addition to the land hermit crab species discussed in this article, there are many other types of hermit crabs that inhabit oceans and other bodies of water. These hermit crabs are distant cousins of the land-dwelling species
Last update on 2024-05-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API