HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Here's TomClown. He's active and friendly, While taking some pictures last night, I noticed this pink thing on the side of Tom... I investigated some of the other crabs and I didn't notice anything similar.
Can anyone tell me what it is?


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Molt sack would be my guess.
Wode would know best though


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I thought molt sacks were black!? As well as a lot further back in the shell? But your right on the fact that Wode would probably know best

I say molt sack. I have seen them ranging from clear to dark brown and even black. it just depends on the crab and where they are in the molting cycle I guess :p


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Uh...... It really could be my brain interpreting the flat picture wrong, but that looks freaking bizarre. I wouldn't worry about it - their abdomens can have oddly colored structures, and they can be hermaphroditic, so the weird bits we rarely get to see can look stranger than normal in some individuals. When he changes to a turbo you should be able to get a better view of what exactly is on his side. It should be a molt sac, but it could also be regrown small appendages or pleopods, or a mix of all three. It really is very unique.

wodesorel wrote:... It should be a molt sac, but it could also be regrown small appendages or pleopods, or a mix of all three. It really is very unique.

It seems a bit of a too round shape to be a 'rear sided' appendage but it certainly could be regrowing a back leg and getting color after the 'gel' colored phase. Pleopods I thought were farther back closer the egg carrying area with comblike setae, hard to tell ?? Also what's hard to make out is the dark & tan colors behind the pink in question - if they're from the shell or connected to the crab? Could you post pictures surrounding that area on this mysterious guy?


Twelve PP hermit babies

I'll try to get a couple more pictures... It definitely looks weird. Hubs suggested a 'male appendage' ... Lol...

I bought him from Petsmart about 4/5 months ago... He dug down the day I got him... Came up about a month ago. He's actually the most active crab I've got, So it doesn't seem to bother him. I'm gonna try to get more pictures now.

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missAlfalfa wrote:I'll try to get a couple more pictures... It definitely looks weird. Hubs suggested a 'male appendage' ... Lol...

I bought him from Petsmart about 4/5 months ago... He dug down the day I got him... Came up about a month ago. He's actually the most active crab I've got, So it doesn't seem to bother him. I'm gonna try to get more pictures now.

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Oh oops I didn't even notice that pink part at fist. Are you sure it's not just part of the shell?


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In the one picture it looks like it's part of the shell, but from the other pictures, you can see its on HIM.

I'm more curious than concerned.

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Sorry, on mobile right now, so it's hard to tell. I'm not really sure what it is. Someone else may be able to chime in.


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kornchaser wrote: It seems a bit of a too round shape to be a 'rear sided' appendage but it certainly could be regrowing a back leg and getting color after the 'gel' colored phase. Pleopods I thought were farther back closer the egg carrying area with comblike setae, hard to tell ?? Also what's hard to make out is the dark & tan colors behind the pink in question - if they're from the shell or connected to the crab? Could you post pictures surrounding that area on this mysterious guy?


Twelve PP hermit babies

Best I could do... He was trying to run away.

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Ok so I did a Google search on these shells (Haitian tree snail or candy snail shell) and looked at some pictures of the openings. All of the intact shells have a little lip in the same place as the photos you posted, ranging in colors from a light pink to more red, I really think it's part of the shell and it's just an optical illusion that it's part of the crab.


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purpleperson wrote:Sorry, on mobile right now, so it's hard to tell. I'm not really sure what it is. Someone else may be able to chime in.


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Can't fault ya... I thought it was part of the shell too until I took more pictures. I also have the advantage of seeing it in person. Lol. I appreciate you trying either way. [WHITE SMILING FACE]

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purpleperson wrote:Ok so I did a Google search on these shells (Haitian tree snail or candy snail shell) and looked at some pictures of the openings. All of the intact shells have a little lip in the same place as the photos you posted, ranging in colors from a light pink to more red, I really think it's part of the shell and it's just an optical illusion that it's part of the crab.


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I agree.



Twelve PP hermit babies