HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi everyone please help me identify the species of crabs I have. I currently am housing 4 in a 40 gallon breeder. I’ve tried my best to get a good picture of their eyes and claws however they decided to pose on their own. Still kinda a newbie here so if you can help if would be appreciated.



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All E’s! Congrats!

Looks like Es to me.

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I would say those are E's.

Thank you guys!! I thought they were E's but they were were advertised as Coenobita clypeatus (PPs). When i asked the sales lady if they were really Purple Pinchers and not Ecquadorian she looked at me and told me "i really don't know what you just said". Lol such is life i guess. Thanks again now if i could only get these guys to switch from their shells it would make me so proud.

Well - to be honest with you Es are very picky about their shells. They spend a lot of time modifying the insides of them, so when they do that, getting them to change...well...it takes just the right shell. They also prefer "D" type openings, although I do have a couple of Es that love their turbos.

A couple of things I personally recommend for Es: 10 gallons per crab, 10" to 12" of substrate (regardless of size)! IMO the 6" substrate minimum doesn't apply to Es. Es are avid diggers and need lots of substrate. I also recommend two proteins a day, and different calcium options for them. By following these guidelines I have never had issues with any of my Es.

GotButterflies wrote:Well - to be honest with you Es are very picky about their shells. They spend a lot of time modifying the insides of them, so when they do that, getting them to change...well...it takes just the right shell. They also prefer "D" type openings, although I do have a couple of Es that love their turbos.

A couple of things I personally recommend for Es: 10 gallons per crab, 10" to 12" of substrate (regardless of size)! IMO the 6" substrate minimum doesn't apply to Es. Es are avid diggers and need lots of substrate. I also recommend two proteins a day, and different calcium options for them. By following these guidelines I have never had issues with any of my Es.

Thank you so much for this info. Right now they’re in a 40 gallon tank with the 6” of substrate. I’m gonna go ahead and add some EE this weekend. Ever since they moved from a critter keeper to a 10 gallon to a 40 gallon they haven’t dug into the ground yet. They did disappear after critter keeper to 10 gallon for about 10 days but came back up and I’ve then transferred them over. I have linked up with someone who needed 2 crabs to be adopted about “golf ball” size. Is my 40 gallon tank too small? The 4 in my tank are about the size of ping pong balls so just slight smaller. Thanks for the advice...just want to do the best for my guys and if the adoptees need to find other home I’ll contact my person ASAP.


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IMO Es don't do well with overcrowding. Purple Pinchers are okay with it, but Es...not so much.

Is your substrate just EE? Is it moistened to be sandcastle consistency? I personally love the 5:1 playsand to ee mixture. I mix mine with dechlorinated msw.

GotButterflies wrote:IMO Es don't do well with overcrowding. Purple Pinchers are okay with it, but Es...not so much.

Is your substrate just EE? Is it moistened to be sandcastle consistency? I personally love the 5:1 playsand to ee mixture. I mix mine with dechlorinated msw.

So I got the substrate mix backwards. It’s more 1:5, sand:EE mix. I’m gonna go ahead and add sand. I followed the direction on the EE on how to make and the consistency is more like shoreline wet. Not dripping but definitely moist. I’m hoping dry sand will make it where I need it to be without having to start over. Right now my E crabs are just sitting there. I mean they just sit on their branches and chill. When I turn the light off they move around and I find them at a different spots in the morning. Reading from the info pages hermit crabs are mostly nocturnal so I don’t think I should be working right? Their tank is at a steady 80* and humidity 75-80 with a bubble stone. Food is changed everyday and given variety. Anything else you can think of that I can improve upon. I’m doing the last touches of my tank set up and will post a picture soon.


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When you pick up the ee and squeeze it in your fist, no water should come out from it.

I personally let my temp get up to 85 during the day.

Humidity ~ hermit crabs have modified gills and need the humidity to breathe. I keep my humidity at 99%. Anything over 80 is preferable.

Edit: most crabs are nocturnal. During the summer a great majority of my crabs become diurnal. Especially my Es. Each creature will be different!

Sounds like you are doing great!


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