HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Okay, this is probably a dumb question but I'm gonna ask anyway! Obviously I know that crabs can and do change color and get darker, but can they do it drastically in one molt? I had a mystery crab come up today and I THINK it's Samwell, but the coloring is completely different even the BP/shield leg don't look the same as they did 2 months ago. I'm so confused!

Here is Sam back in February:




And this is mystery crab today:




If it isn't Sam, I honestly have no idea who else it could be! I don't have a lot of crabs in 1" opening shells, and most of my bigger crabs are accounted for. Definitely not complaining about this one's color, but I really need to have some warning from them so I don't get all confused.

Yes, it is possibly. One of my hermit crabs came home from a petstore and was very pale (an off-white ish color!), then after a molt, s/he turned into a very dark purple!

It is possible. It could also be possible another crab had a big growth spurt in one molt too. Do you know if that's the shell he was wearing when he went down? Isn't really definite proof it is or isn't him but just something else to look at.

Don't feel bad. I've pretty much lost track of most of the crabs in the exoterra/40B. Most are female about the same size with similar enough coloring. Once they started swapping shells I was lost. Cannonball is the only male PP in there and then Gally, an E. I might still be able to identify Tani because she's always had a weird dusky lavender-gray coloring. It's easier with my crew in the 75.

Mine do it all the time! It gets so confusing, especially with the little guys. Yours may still darken up a bit in the next few weeks if he just molted.

Unfortunately I have no idea if it's the same shell - it's possible but so much more worn now I'm not sure. I don't remember seeing that shell in the shop recently. For now, I'm just gonna assume he's Sam until I'm proven wrong. I've never had a crab change color like that! I hope he doesn't darken up too much because he's so pretty right now.

I really try not to stress over telling them apart, unless they're a newbie so I can track that they've had a molt with me. I never thought I'd say I have too many crabs, but...yeah. I have too many crabs.

And now the purple crabs are multiplying!! I think this is Cersei. Maybe. Possibly.

They're very pretty!

CallaLily wrote:They're very pretty!

Thanks! I was giving myself gray hairs trying to figure out who's who, especially with a 3rd (thankfully non-purple) crab up, but for now I'm just going to enjoy them and their magical color-changing abilities.