HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So the other day, I was doing the daily clean up after the hermit crab nightly antics, and I came across one of my medium/large crabs, Blue.

As I was watching him climb the hanging vines from bottom to top in my tank, I started thinking about how when I got him, he was brown, but after his 3rd molt with me, he came up more of a muted blue color with red antennas. But because his claw was slightly darker, I always thought he was a PP, because I rescued him from a PetSmart and that is all they ever sell.

Then I started thinking about how he is always out and about when the temp and humidity in the tank is around 85 degrees and 85 or so humidity. Then about how he is an extremely good climber and loves to do it more than the PPs, if that’s even possible. And how he is extremely shy around me. I added in the fact he has red antannae and the pale blue color of his body, and.... BAM!!

It hit me. I immediately looked up violas and their traits, and it turns out.... Blue is a viola - not a PP!!! And I’ve had this crab for 5 years!!! .

I can’t believe I never put 2 and 2 together! I am amazed and even more excited to watch his journey now along with my others!!


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Photos??!! Please.

I’ll see if I can get a good enough close up of him through the tank... The minute I get near him to pick him up, he automatically goes back into his shell lol


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I had no idea what a Viola was so I googled it and they’re so pretty! Would love to see a picture too!


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Since I am in the hospital, my husband was able to sneak a pic of Blue on the wheel through the tank glass.

This is a very blown up picture so you can see the bluish/purple color and the red antennae!! As you can also see, he does not have setae on his legs like PPs do - he only has them on the inside of his claw. He also does not have any red tips to his back legs. Like I said before, when I got him 5 years ago, he was brown and through many molts, has changed to a beautiful bluish grey color!! He has been in the same shell for 5 years! But he checks out shells of ALL different sizes and shapes, and chirps up a storm!!

I have asked my husband to see if he can get a better one bc the light for the tank has a yellowish tint.

ENJOY!!!


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crabbycasey wrote:I had no idea what a Viola was so I googled it and they’re so pretty! Would love to see a picture too!


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Pic posted!


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curlysister wrote:Photos??!! Please.

Pic posted with description. My husband is going to see if he can get one without the light distortion from the tank!


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He/she is so cool looking, thank you for sharing!! You mentioned being in the hospital so I would like to wish you well and that you come out nice and healthy .


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crabbycasey wrote:He/she is so cool looking, thank you for sharing!! You mentioned being in the hospital so I would like to wish you well and that you come out nice and healthy .


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I’m glad you enjoyed!! I can’t believe I never put 2 and 2 together before this! I always wondered why he was originally brown and changed to this bluish/purplish/grey considering I feed a very varied diet and color enhancing foods, but I just thought “hey, PPs come in all different colors” That’s the one thing I love about this group- you never stop learning!

My husband is a bit freaked out by hermit crabs (which I think is really funny, considering he is a big, tall guy!) so he said he was going to try to get more pics through the tank glass because he is afraid to pick them up

And thank you so much I really appreciate that!


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Lol, my boyfriend is a big guy too and he refuses to touch them! Big babies!


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Crab species are determined superficially by claw shape and eye shape, never by color. Sorry to bust your bubble, but he is a PP. Those eyes are unmistakable. They do come in a huge range of colors, their antennas can also vary in color, and smaller crabs aren't always very hairy.

wodesorel wrote:Crab species are determined superficially by claw shape and eye shape, never by color. Sorry to bust your bubble, but he is a PP. Those eyes are unmistakable. They do come in a huge range of colors, their antennas can also vary in color, and smaller crabs aren't always very hairy.

Aw darn... the little guy fooled me!!! . I was convinced!

I’m still just as excited I have a bluish/purple color one though!!


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He's very cute, no matter what!!

PinkyNTwinkie33 wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 04, 2020 8:29 pm

I’m still just as excited I have a bluish/purple color one though!!


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I love how colorful the PPs can be! I always take it as a sign that they're happy and enjoying their best life.
Enjoy your colorful little one. <3

PinkyNTwinkie33 wrote: Aw darn... the little guy fooled me!!! . I was convinced!

I’m still just as excited I have a bluish/purple color one though!!


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My PP Mera has reddish eyes and blue antennae. Some of my crabs are starting to switch shells and look the same lol, but if I see those blue antennae I know it's Mera lol.

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