Help determine the type of crab

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yame1324
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Help determine the type of crab

Post by yame1324 » Sat Mar 02, 2024 1:51 am

Hi all, I'm buying a couple hermit crabs in a couple days, but I don't know what species they are. Maybe someone can help me to determine their species from the description? (I don't know how to attach a photo, sorry). They are small in size, their shell is the size of two phalanges of a finger, they have a light gray body, gray legs and light orange antennae. I also want to know if they will grow or not..... I just couldn't identify their species and I don't know if there are very small hermit crabs that stay so small for life.. The seller told me that this is a type of coenobita, but I do not know which subspecies it is specifically

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JoeHermits
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Re: Help determine the type of crab

Post by JoeHermits » Sat Mar 02, 2024 5:39 pm

Species ID is usually done by looking at the eyestalks and claws. Are the eyestalks tear-drop shaped or more cylindrical? And what color is the big claw?

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yame1324
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Re: Help determine the type of crab

Post by yame1324 » Sat Mar 02, 2024 6:56 pm

JoeHermits wrote:Species ID is usually done by looking at the eyestalks and claws. Are the eyestalks tear-drop shaped or more cylindrical? And what color is the big claw?

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Oh, it seems this is the first option. Their eyes seem to be like an inverted tear or something like that. I will try to send a photo Image


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wodesorel
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Re: Help determine the type of crab

Post by wodesorel » Mon Mar 04, 2024 3:48 am

I would say that's C. rugosus.

C. compressus can look really similar at that size - and are usually found in intact nerites like that - but their coloration tends to be intensely strong blues or greens.
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Re: Help determine the type of crab

Post by crabocado » Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:38 pm

JoeHermits, I love the field guide!
Saving this page in case I ever run into one of those other (i.e. non-clypeatus) crab species...

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