HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I know everyone is probably going to post their upgrades they got for Christmas, so here is mine! Only thing I still plan on changing is getting a deeper freshwater dish tomorrow and adding more shells.



Crabzilla, my gentle giant, doing his fifth lap around the tank.


Spider-Crab and George duking it out to be the king of crab mountain. Spider-Crab had started pushing at George earlier and when George started chirping Crabzilla came over and broke up the fight. I had no idea they did things like that.


And that comes to my question... I picked up Spider-Crab from Petco before I really knew much about the different species of crabs. He looks different than my others and is definitely more aggressive. Could he be an E?


If anyone else has any suggestions for my tank let me know!

Love your tank! It rocks!

It's beautiful! I love how natural it looks

Looks good! Spider-Crab is an E.

Thanks CallaLily. That explains everything. Lol.

I love Es! Sooo cute!!!

Cute. But he's still a destructo-crab.

You can usually tell like straws I believe look like bright strawberries and violas* look violet and purple Pinchers have a big purple claw. Looks like an E to me though. But one of my PP is dark purple all over so like my saying goes "ya never know". But in this case it deff looks like an E


Hermie mommy of 10 PP babies: Octavius Flemming, Poseidon, Bruiser, Junior, Matty Pumpkin, Turbo, Kaylee Frye, Pepper, Flower and Adrian Shephard.

I didn't really mean to get an E since I just started crabbing in October and read about how high maintenance they can be. He seems to be doing good though other than getting into pushing/feeler wars with one of my PPs every once in awhile.

Is it always necessary to get an E a species buddy? I've seen my E sit next to and even cuddle with my PPs so I was wondering if that's enough social interaction. I'd be a little nervous about taking a risk getting an overly aggressive E next time.

rml6f4 wrote:Is it always necessary to get an E a species buddy? I've seen my E sit next to and even cuddle with my PPs so I was wondering if that's enough social interaction. I'd be a little nervous about taking a risk getting an overly aggressive E next time.

Yes, I say that it is rather important to get a species buddy. Think of it similar to you locked up in a small room where you shared it with x amount of strangers that spoke a different language - that you can't speak.... It would get frustrating IMO.

aussieJJDude wrote: Yes, I say that it is rather important to get a species buddy. Think of it similar to you locked up in a small room where you shared it with x amount of strangers that spoke a different language - that you can't speak.... It would get frustrating IMO.

I got him a buddy! So far they've pushed each other around a little so hopefully they start getting along better and he gets along with my PPs alright. I have lots of non-painted shells for him too.

Fruit feast!

I am glad that you got him a buddy! I bet them two will have a ball & will be destroying your tank soon!

They are so cute! My tiny little E's tear my tank apart! I swear every day they find a way to move everything in the tank. They'll also push shells across the tank into the pools I have haha! Little terrors!

I love your setup!