HCA: Hermit Crab Association

so here is the crab I rescued from a tank with aquarium gravel and an inch of water everywhere. there were three others, which looked to be ruggies, and then this one, which I wasn't sure. My thoughts were possibly a rug, possibly an e, but really not either of them. His eyes aren't really like an e, but nor are they like a rug! [smilie=tearhair1.gif] And it was the same with his antenna! Plus, there was no stitching on the bp, so I almost ruled out rug...

anyway, I came, ready to post, and then I saw someone else post a pic of their new crab, a cav, and it looks just like mine! So, what is it?

pic 1



pic 2

I can't say 100% but I think it's an E. Those eyes ARE very strange. Can you get another picture of the eyes and the BP?

Never mind I'm wrong on what I thought.

Look at those red antennae and roundish eyes, I'm voting for Cavipe here.

Aww... thats a cute little fellow!! I don't think that looks anything like an E or a Ruggie. I agree with amnell71 that you have a Cavipe. Not to long ago, we were at Petco and I saw a hermie that looked exactly like your crab. I definatly think that is a Cavipe when I look at those antenneas! Also those eyes have that specific have that specific enlongated look that is not like either a E or Rug. Cavipes usually have very dark eyestalks which it looks like yours does. Cavipes tend to have oddly shaped bps. The shape is sort of hmm... dented in around the bottem. They never have stitch marks so that tells me something. Cavipes tend to come in quite a few different colors including red, brown (like yours), and I even saw a blue one!! I'm all for Cavipe!!!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That sure looks like a cavipe that I have.

Definately c. cavipes. Congratulations!

You're right, it does look a lot like my cav! Well, make sure it has plenty of saltwater, cavs seem to really get stressed out when they haven't had saltwater in a while. The one i posted pics about yesterday sat and drank forever and took some with him and did the whole tkaing water in dance.

Anyways, nice cav! I really like his color!

Definitely a cav–look at those bright red antennae! It has beautiful coloration. I think I have seen the most color variation on cavs than any other species–from almost white to a dark blue-violet color (I'll always remember that one!!).

And one of mine is black and tan/orange. They are interestingly colored.

thanks for your help! I'm very excited about my new cav! I love how the tips of his antenna are bright red, and the rest of him is very dark. I'll keep that salt water tip in mind and make sure the pool is always full. He's in with my PPs and rugs so sometimes I let the water get a little low, as I find they prefer to wade in it vs. completely submerging or just drinking... I have two more weeks of school and then finals, so within 4 weeks I should have my new 'tat up and running, unless something works out with someone I may adopt from...

Glad we can help!!! I'm glad your new cav is doing so well!!!! I mentioned above that we were at Petco recently and saw a Cavipe. The cavipe had the most wonderful color variation!!! Its legs and body was a lavender color while its eyestalks were red mixed with mostly black and it had fire red antenneas!!!! It was the sweetest little thing or well it was medium sized. It made my heart melt!!! The Cavipe was one of the friendliest crabs I've ever seen!!! While I was stooped next to the tank, he/she walked right up to me, not even afraid!! I wished I could have gotten the Cavipe soooooooooooo badly, but that was the day I picked out Spunky's new ruggie pal, Snowy and I was only allowed to get one!!!!!! It looks like your doing everything right too. Yes, definatly make sure the pool is always full. I just love helping people indentify their species of hermie!!!!!!!! it's soo fun!!!! I memorized the characteristics of all of the species very quickly. I used to have trouble identifying certain ruggies from Es, but I've got the hang of it.

And don't forget the Easy Cav-ID using just the back-left leg (as is easily visible when the crab is tucked up in its shell)

Probaly a cav. To double check use Yartacs species test.
Go right------------------------------------------------------------------------->

the leg diagram is very helpful! I'll have to keep that in mind. Purplepinch...thanks for the advice, i tried the test and didn't get anything absolute.