Crabbytalk.com - Hermit Crab Care, food/diet, crabitats, & pictures of land hermit crabs

This is a Coenobita Clypeatus hermit crab or commonly called Purple Pincher (PP) or Purple Claw crab. Purple pinchers are usually sold in Petcos, PetSmarts, and mall kiosks. They are the most common hermit crab in the United States.

Purple pinchers are a good choice for people who are new to keeping hermit crabs. This was the first kind of hermit crab that I got when I started crabbing. Purple Pinchers seem to be more hardy than other exotic hermit crabs.

If you’re thinking about getting a hermit crab, start with a small purple pincher. It may be tempting to get a jumbo hermit crab, but from my observations they tend to be more delicate and new hermit crab owners tend to be afraid to hold really big hermit crabs.

When you go shopping for your new hermit crab look for a crab that is active, has bright coloring, and comes out of its shell when you hold it. Usually you can hold the crab at the store. Hold on to the shell firmly with one hand and hold your other hand under the crab; do this over the tank and soft sand. If the hermit crab doesn’t come out of its shell right a way, gently blow warm air in the shell opening. This will usually relax the hermit crab and it will come out of its shell to greet you. Don’t be afraid when the hermit crab peeks out and don’t drop the crab, this could hurt it, especially if you are holding the hermit crab over a hard floor. Don’t let the sales clerk dunk the crab in cold water to force the hermit crab out of its shell, this just stresses the hermit crab out. After you have picked out your hermit crab or crabs (it’s better to get at least two, they are social) the sales clerk will usually put the crab in a box (Petco does this), ask them to put a moist paper towel in the bottom of the box.

When you get your new hermit crab home put it into its tank and let it explore and destress. Avoid handling your new hermit crab for a few weeks. Because hermit crabs have been taken from the wild, shipped, and then kept in stores in less than ideal conditions they are usually very stressed when you bring them home. Many times they will explore a new tank for a day and then bury themselves for weeks to destress. This is perfectly natural and you shouldn’t dig them up, they will come up when they’re ready. Sometimes when a hermit crab digs he will also molt. Molting is when a hermit crab sheds its exoskeleton like a snake; the hermit crab is growing. They will usually molt under the sand, but sometimes they surface molt. Depending on the size of your hermit crab they may be buried for up to 8 weeks while molting. I will write another article on hermit crabs molting in the near future.

You need to make sure that you have a good home for your new hermit crab. Often new hermit crab owners come home with their hermit crab in a Kritter Keeper or KK. This really isn’t suitable housing for your pet land hermit crab. Here is a list of the top 10 things you should have to setup your new hermit crab tank or crabitat.

Purple pincher hermit crabs can eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, seafoods, grains, and other natural foods. Here are just a few foods that you can feed your hermit crabs: Meat and Fruit organic Baby Foods, Scrambled and Hard Boiled Eggs and Shells, Mango, Cherimoya, Grapes, Apples, Raisins, Golden Raisins, Coconut, Lettuce, Carrots, Celery, Broccoli, Green Bell Pepper, Green Leafy Veggies, Banana (red and yellow), Orange, Pineapple, Tomato, Grapes, Honeydew, Shrimp and Tails, Salmon, Raw Beef, Pork, Sardines, Chicken, Turkey, Almonds, Popcorn (treat), Quaker Oats, Oat Bran, Cheerios (treat) and Granola.

Natural herbs and flowers are also very good for hermit crabs, here are just a few that I feed to my crew: Spirulina, Rose Hips, Kelp, Bee Pollen, Flax Seed, Jasmin, Chamomile Flowers, Dandelion Leaf, Honeysuckle Flower.

Instead of buying commercial hermit crab food, here is a recipe for natural hermit crab food.

Epicureanhermit offers an extensive hermit crab food list; you will also find a list of foods that hermit crabs should not eat at the site.

Good luck and have fun with your new pet. Hermit crabs really are facinating to own and watch. If you need help with your new hermit crabs, the Hermit Crab Addiction has wonderful hermit crab care forums.

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In order to properly care for your land hermit crab you really need to determine what species you own. The most common species of hermit crabs found in the United States are as follows:

Some of the common identifying characteristics of the Rugosus hermit crab or commonly called ruggie are: Dark spots under the eyes, stitch marks on the big pincher, orange feelers. You’ll also notice in the picture to the right a line of black running down the shield and his left leg seems to be twisted. Rugosus hermit crabs come in a varity of colors, if you look at my Rugosus hermit crab archives you will see the rainbow of colors. Ruggies are a personal favorite of mine, they are good natured, friendly, and entertaining. Rugosus hermit crabs can usually be found in Petcos depending upon your geographic location. Ruggies usually prefer turbo shells.

The Compressus or Ecuadorian hermit crab, commonly called the E, looks very similar to the ruggie. The differences are that the Ecuadorian does not have black marks under the eyes, the stitch marks on the big pincher are not as raised or they are absent all together and they usually have multiple markings on their shield. Ecuadorian hermit crabs tend to be shades of blue green and oranges. The Ecuadorian hermit crab is often confused with the Rugosus hermit crab. Ecuadorian hermit crabs are energetic, they move quickly around the tank and will suddenly drop from high branches when spooked. Ecuadorian hermit crabs can usually be found in small mom and pop pet stores. I have never seen an Ecuadorian hermit crab in a nation chain. Ecuadorians usually prefer shells with D shaped openings, like the rock shells, whale eyes, and babylons.

Cavipe hermit crabs or Cavs are gorgeous crabs. Many call them the “shy” crab. Cavipes are usually shades or orange or purple. One of the most noticeable characteristics of the Cavipe hermit crab is the bright red eyestalks and feelers. The cavipe claw will have a very pronounced stripe running down the middle of the big pincher. Cavipes can sometimes be found in Petcos, but they are a rare find. Cavipes are picky about there shells, they will wear some shells with D shaped openings like Babylons and they will also wear some murex shells and snail shells.

The Perlatus or Strawberry hermit crab is one of the most beautiful hermit crabs. The perlatus hermit crab is also the most delicate and difficult to care for. The Perlatus hermit crab is usually a bright red and has white, raised dots all over its body. The juvenile perlatus hermit crab will be red and white stripped resembling a candy cane. While these hermit crabs are beautiful, please consider carefully before you purchase one. They require humidity and temperature at about 80/80 and they MUST have a saltwater pool that is deep enough for them to fully submerge. Strawberry hermit crabs will usually wear turbo shells.

The Clypeatus hermit crab, also known as the Purple Pincher, Purple Claw Crab, or PP, is the most common hermit crab in the U.S. These hermit crabs are found in Petcos, PetSmarts, mall kiosks, and local pet stores. They are considered the hardiest of the various hermit crab species. They are typically purple, but can also be found in shades of orange. Purple Pinchers will usually wear turbo shells.

The Brevimanus or Indo hermit crab is often confused with the Purple Pincher. The Indo hermit crab is always a beautiful shade of lavender and its eyes are perfect dots compared to the Purple Pinchers eyes which look like commas. The Indo also has a huge big pincher that appears to be too big for its body. I have found that Indo hermit crabs are shy. While I do have an Indo in my care, I have found that they don’t survive well in captivity. Indos can sometimes be found in Petcos. Indos will usually wear turbo shells

I have provided you with a few pictures and details about the various species of hermit crabs found in the United States. For someone who is new to caring for hermit crabs one of the most difficult tasks is identifying the species of hermit crab that they own. Stacy, aka Daethian, who writes the hermit crab care blog and helps to administer the Crab Street Journal, has just created the most comprehensive hermit crab identification system to help you to find out what kind of hermit crab you own. This wonderful hermit crab identification system will allow you to view numerous photos of hermit crab’s eyes, you then select the photo that looks most like your crab and you will be presented with a series of photos of hermit crab’s big pinchers; select the photo that resembles your own hermit crab’s big pincher and the system will display the hermit crab species and additional information about the hermit crab species. Stacy has done an amazing job building this system, so check it out now so that you can learn what kind of hermit crab you own.

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One of my little PPs climbs on everything, including my Cavipe.