HCA: Hermit Crab Association

After buying a crab from the beach and learning/researching how to care for them properly i decided to buy him a buddy and upgraded them to a 20 gallon high tank (the biggest i can fit temporarily) and they seem comfortable. My concern is that they are clearly different species. one i is a darker brown/purple color, assuming a purple pincher and the other has brighter orange/red colors and is a little larger when he fully comes out. After buying the second crab i read about something called the “buddy rule” where a crab should have at least one other crab of their species to be comfortable. Will they be comfortable like this or do i need to get them buddies? i don’t know if 4 crabs can fit in my 20 gallon, but for now they seem to be getting along and spend most of their time together in the same hideout. i will try to post pics of them later if someone can help me further identify them.


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Size and color are bad ways of telling species! The description you've given are both common color combos of Purple Pinchers. I wouldn't worry too much until you're able to share photos of them.