Multi-colored limbs in shades of red, purple, tan, orange, and yellow. The body is a shade of tan. The pincers are susally purple, but can also be a variety of other colors (reds, purples, tans, oranges, yellows). The eyes are comma shaped and the eyestalks are slender and narrow.
no smaller than a 10 gallon glass tank, is preferable. A glass or plexiglass lid is also preferable, to keep proper temperature and humidity.
Temperature: 74-78 degrees F
Humidity: 70-80% relative
Substrate:
Playsand, Forestbedding (Eco-Earth, Bed-a-Beast, etc). Moss and calcisand may also be added to the tank, however it is not recommended as a main substrate.
Commercial crab foods, Vegetables (favorites include-carrots, lettuce, parsley, spinach, and corn), Fruits (favorites include-coconut, mango, apples, grapes, and pears), Meats (seafood, silversides and chicken are favorites), Grains, Peanut butter, eggs, seeds, algae and seaveggies. Please see http://www.epicureanhermit.com for a list of other edible foods.
Purple pinchers need both fresh and salt water (dechlorinated).
Turbo, pica/magpie, Sharks eye. Shells with circular openings are favorites
-Lethargic before and hyper after molting
-Legs tend to be dry and ashy pre-molt
-Will sometimes molt without a molt sac or other pre-molting symptoms
-Are thirsty and hungry pre-molt and post-molt
-Sweet/nice temperament
-Love to climb
-Love to crowd into piles
-Not as active as other species such as the Es
-Like to hide during the day and are most active at night
-More willing to pinch if they feel threatened/scared
-Females seem to have larger eyes than males
-Love to change shells
-Love to eat and climb on wood such as cholla/choya and corkbark