Species Highlights: Viola (Coenobita violascens)

This is the third Species Highlights post, following the trend of attempting to get all of the species finished eventually! If you forgot or don’t know what Species Highlights is, take a look under the “Labels” for the very first blog post on Species Highlights.

Viola (Coenobita violascens) hermit crabs are most commonly found in Indonesia and the surrounding tropical islands. They are known to be mixed in with other species such as Indos (Coenobita brevimanus), Ruggies (Coenobita rugosus) and Straws (Coenobita perlatus).

The Viola hermit crab is accustomed to temperatures higher than 80 degrees Fahrenheit and a higher humidity level (around 85%) than the Purple Pincher hermit crab. Because of the need for more tropical conditions, one must be a more experienced crab keeper to take care of Viola hermit crabs properly.

The violascens species is most known for their bashfulness, as they commonly hide during the day and are more active at night. They are also known for their unique shell choices. While most crabs prefer turbo (round openings), Violas usually prefer oblong and cone shaped shells.

Violas are a popular species among crab hobbyists because of their intense blue and purple colors. While the juvenile Viola is usually a fiery red or orange, it slowly matures into a blue or purple crab during adulthood. It’s these colors that crabbers love!

Saltwater and other staples that any other land hermit crab is recommended to have should be in a tank with Violas. They are not hard to take care of when you have good crab conditions. Because of their shyness, they do not enjoy being handled.

These crabs are easily identified by their purple colors as adults or their red colors as juveniles.
Additionally, the eyestalks are always black and the bottom antennae are always red. They are one of the more easy species to identify, but be careful not to mix them up with Ruggies or Indos.

Finally, I’ve owned one Viola land hermit crab for a little over a year. He’s doing great with me and has molted at least twice. He seems very healthy, but prefers to be active at night. I also recently purchased four Violas from Hermit Crab Vendor, but they are all currently molting. Molting seems to be quite easy for Viola land hermit crabs, as I’ve never had a problem with any of them.

Species Highlights: Ecuadorian (Coenobita compressus)

Here we are, the second "Species Highlight's" post! I hope everyone enjoys it (this is an addition to the other species highlights. Look to the left and click "Species Highlights" under the Labels function!

Coenobita compressus, or the Ecuadorian land hermit crab, comes mainly from the western coast of South America, making itself at home in countries like Ecuador and Chile. They are mostly beach-dwelling hermit crabs, who stay on the beach and walk around in large colonies of over 100.

Ecuadorian land hermit crabs are the smallest species of land hermit crab that is known to enthusiasts. They are known for their blue tint and also their small size. Ecuadorian land hermit crabs will usually not wear turbo shells, but instead will attire themselves into something more comfortable with a “D” shaped opening.

Another difference that these types of land hermit crabs have towards the others are that they are unusually fast. Although other land hermit crabs can be somewhat sluggish in their movements, Ecuadorian land hermit crabs have the capability to run much faster. This may result from living on an open beach without much cover.

Ecuadorian land hermit crabs are used to warm temperatures and a high humidity level, so this is a must when you keep these types of hermit crabs. Additionally, because they live so close to a beach, a good supply of saltwater should be readily available for your Coenobita compressus to drink and use.

You can identify these crabs by looking at their color differences compared to the other species. Additionally, the eyestalks of this land hermit crab appear to have a candy corn shape. I always thought of them as little bubbles that look like they are going to burst at any moment.

Finally, I’ve had Ecuadorian land hermit crabs for more than one year. They are a pretty hardy species and get along well with the other types of crabs. They dig often and are a very exciting species to watch because of their high activity level.

Species Highlights: Purple Pincher (Coenobita clypeatus)

This is the first “Species Highlights” post, so I hope all of my readers will enjoy it!

Purple Pincher (Coenobita clypeatus) hermit crabs are found throughout the Caribbean Islands and the entire area of the West Indies. Purple Pinchers are commonly known for their large, purple big pincher.

Where the average temperature is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity level is usually 60% to 85%, you can see how these land hermit crabs require a tropical climate at home, and not a kritter keeper that is cool and not damp.

Purple Pinchers are unlike other land hermit crabs in that they are usually a hardier species than the other land hermit crabs that exist. Purple Pinchers seem to endure slightly tougher conditions.

Purple Pinchers come in ranges from tan (while they’re young), to purple, red, burgundy, mahogany, or blue as an adult. They can be anywhere from the size of a dime to the size of a large apple. Some Purple Pinchers can even live long enough to be 35!

Purple Pinchers don’t truly need any special care compared to the other species of land hermit crabs, but they require the basic necessities you can find on the HCC. Purple Pinchers can be a fun species to watch as they will usually be a little active in the day and quite active at night in your crabitat.

As an owner of many Purple Pinchers myself, I can tell you that they are a great species of land hermit crab to own and also the most abundant here in the United States. They molt well and they are always around the tank somewhere. The smaller ones seem to be more active than the larger ones, but they are all great overall!

The best thing about Purple Pinchers is the range of colors that they display. Although they are common to buy in the United States, other countries think of them as an exotic species. If you are a hermit crab lover and crave other species of land hermit crabs, definitely look at your Purple Pinchers a bit harder - they are great, too!

Species Highlights

Hey, KH Readers!

I would like to take this blog post to inform you that I am going to be writing a post for each species of land hermit crabs, highlighting their differences, explaining how to identify them, where they come from, their special needs, and what their owners think about them.

Look for new Species Highlights every week! I am going to be trying to post them frequently. The order that each species comes out will be posted below:

1) Coenobita clypeatus Purple Pincher
2) Coenobita compressus Ecuadorian
3) Coenobita violascens Viola
4) Coenobita perlatus Strawberry
5) Coenobita rugosus Ruggie
6) Coenobita brevimanus Indo
7) Coenobita cavipes Cavipe
8) Coenobita purpureus Blueberry
9) Coenobita variabilis Aussie

So, keep an eye out for these posts as they come in! Note that some posts may take longers to other depending on when an owner gets back to me with the required information!

*Note: Order was updated to reflect order of importance 7/20/09. :)