Common Land Hermit Crabs

The Indonesian Hermit Crab (Coenobita brevimanus)

• Indonesian hermit crabs are covered in a thick outer shell that helps them keep water from evaporating. Their eye stalks are thin, dark and narrow, and come equipped with a large claw. These hermit crabs can be found in Indonesia and around the Pacific Ocean.

The Caribbean Hermit Crab (Coenobita clypeatus)

• Caribbean hermit crabs can come come in a variety of colors; their physical characteristics include oval-shape eyes and round eye stalks. Even though this species of hermit crab lives on land, it has gills that rely on humid weather to keep them wet and healthy. They are originally from the Caribbean island and can be found in most tropical and sub tropical regions.

The Ecuadorian Hermit Crab (Coenobita compressus)

• Ecuadorian Hermit crabs are one of the more common hermit crabs that are sold and kept as pets in the United States. In the wild they can be found in the sea shores of Ecuador and Chile. They are one of the smaller types in the hermit crab family, and come in a variety of colors from bright yellow to dark grey; however they are usually a tan color.

The Strawberry Hermit Crab (Coenobita perlatus)

• Strawberry hermit crabs can be distinguish by their red color. The colors of the crab are influenced by the amount carotene in their diet. Strawberry crabs with an efficient amount of carotene will have a more deep reddish color, while strawberry crabs that consume little carotene in their diet will tend to have a much lighter color. In the wild, these crabs can be found in the Pacific islands.

The Aussie Hermit Crab (Coenobita variabilis)

• Aussie hermit crabs can vary in coloration from light tan to dark brown, and are known to be a nocturnal. They are large breed of hermit crab that live in large colonies within high tides, distancing themselves from the beaches. They are prevalent in northern Australia.