HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I just adopted 4 small crabs presumed to be purple pinchers who weren't well cared for in terms of temp/humidity being consistent. One is very odd, a washed out pink all over, including the claw. I realize this could be inadequate pigments in the diet, but all 4 actually had a decent diet including fish color food and have been together for 2 years.

Since computers sometimes mislead with color, I have attached a pic with him walking on the wood and a "normal" colored crab below to the left.

Is this something that should correct with the next molt or is he another type of crab that has homogenous color?

[[Pale crop by Donna Garrou, on Flickr][/img]

Small crabs tend to be more washed out in color. I adopted a small that started out a light brown but turned purple a year later. I’ll have to see if I still have pictures.

I would give it more time before I started to worry.

He's a little pale pinkish even for a small crab, but I wouldn't worry if he's moving around and acting okay. His moult could have been disturbed too quickly, it takes a little while to fully harden and darken after. One 'off' moult is also not too unusual, I've had crabs suddenly become some bizarre shades that moulted back to normal the next time. He's tiny so like Joe said they tend to be more muted and washed out anyway.

For me, it's the lack of definition that makes me think something is slightly off, even at this age they should have a bit of difference in colour between their large claw, back, and leg tips. That said, I've had some surprisingly coloured tiny crab, too!

That’s a PP no doubt about it. I had a couple over the years that were that color.