HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Crooked & twisted legs ( C.purpureus )



Newly re-generated B P ( C.purpureus )
Tiny left pincer





Same-sized pincers ( left & right pincers are in identical size - C.purpureus )




Same-sized pincers ( left & right pincers are in identical size but different color - beautiful ! - C.violascens )


Weird newly-grown dactylus ( leg's last segment )

I think all of the leg deformities can be explained by molting difficulties - either getting stuck in the exoskeleton or the crabs moving while still soft. I've seen a few of those in my tanks, and they always disappear after the next molt.

The claw deformities though are very interesting! Are these crabs keeping the odd sized pinchers when molting? I can't help but wonder if some of them are replacement claws that weren't able to grow in full-sized in one molt. I know that fiddler crabs can sometimes have mutations where they end up with two large claws, so I'm sure that a few hermit crabs can end up with two small ones!

That's a messed up bunch, ha. A few molts should do the trick, possibly.

Is it possible for a hermit crab to be permanetely deformed?

Poor things. Very interesting, but also a little sad for me.

Wow cool pics! Atleast crabs can regenerate limbs and look good as new in just a few molts. Keep us posted on their progress.