Pet Hermit Crabs: Types, Temperaments, and Everyday Care

I did not understand how tender a crab could be until I watched one choose a new home. He turned the shell in quiet circles, tested the doorway, then slipped inside with a shiver of legs, as if gratitude had a sound. That is how I came to love land hermit crabs: small travelers who carry safety on their backs, curious at midnight, modest in their needs, and unexpectedly full of personality.

If you are wondering which kind to bring home, this guide will walk beside you. I will explain the types you will see most often, the less common beauties you might meet, how their needs fit a busy life, and how to start with a habitat that keeps them comfortable. Think of this as a gentle field note written at the edge of a warm, humid tank where tiny feet tap hello against the glass.

What Makes Hermit Crabs Different

Unlike the hard-shelled image most of us carry, land hermit crabs have soft, coiled abdomens. That softness is their vulnerability and their poetry. To stay safe, they live inside abandoned snail shells, upgrading as they grow. A shell is not decoration for them; it is bed, armor, and weatherproof jacket in one.

Because of that design, my first responsibility is to offer choices. A crab without options is a story without a door. I keep several natural, unpainted shells of different openings and sizes so each crab can choose a perfect fit. Watching those choices teaches me more about them than any care sheet ever could.

Land vs. Marine Hermit Crabs

People sometimes meet marine hermit crabs at aquarium stores and assume the care is similar. It is not. Marine species live underwater their entire lives and require full saltwater aquariums. Land hermit crabs, the ones most commonly kept as pets, breathe air and live on land but need consistent humidity and access to both fresh and saltwater dishes.

This guide focuses on land hermit crabs, who belong to the genus Coenobita. They are social, nocturnal explorers who do best with companionship, deep diggable substrate, steady warmth, and places to climb. When those needs are honored, they live long, interesting lives that quietly brighten a room.

Know the Kinds You'll See Most

The two species I meet most often in North American pet stores are the Caribbean hermit crab, Coenobita clypeatus, and the Ecuadorian hermit crab, Coenobita compressus. Both are land dwellers, both are charming, and both teach patience in different ways.

Caribbean or Purple Pincher (PP) — Coenobita clypeatus: Sturdy and adaptable, PPs often wear shells with round openings and are known for a purplish claw that looks like it has been dipped in twilight. In my experience, they tolerate a range of beginner mistakes better than most and settle into routines quickly. Their pace is unhurried, their curiosity steady.

Ecuadorian (E-Crab) — Coenobita compressus: More active and expressive, E-crabs carry energy like a bright thread. They often prefer shells with elongated openings and show distinct color banding along the legs. Because they are quick, they teach me to secure lids, offer more climbing, and keep humidity faithful. When I meet their needs, they reward me with busy, delightful evenings.

Both species thrive with friends of their own kind or other compatible Coenobita. I keep groups so they can follow each other, trade shells, and interact in ways I cannot imitate. Solitude is a heavy coat for a social animal; company lets them act like themselves.

Meet the Less Common but Loved

Depending on where you live, you may also meet other land species. They are not rare in the world, but they are less common in big-box stores. Each brings a small difference in color, pace, and preference, while the core needs remain the same.

Strawberry — Coenobita perlatus: A vivid red beauty with a reputation for sensitivity. They flourish when humidity is rock-steady and the environment is clean and enriched. When they feel secure, they seem to glow against driftwood like a small ember at dusk.

Australian — Coenobita variabilis: Often sandy or tan with gentle markings, they match beautifully with natural beach-toned scapes. They are attentive climbers, so I lean into branches and ledges for them.

Rugosus (Ruggie) — Coenobita rugosus: Subtle ridges on the large claw give them their name. In groups, they create a lively night market feel—lots of traffic, polite shell inspections, and the occasional, harmless debate over a favorite house.

I keep the air warm as two hermit crabs explore driftwood.

Shells: The Moving House

Shell choices are kindness made visible. I offer a selection that includes both round and elongated openings because species and individuals have preferences. Natural, unpainted shells are safest; painted shells can flake or introduce chemicals that do not belong in a living room—or a living creature.

Size is a conversation. I provide several just a little bigger than what they wear, plus a few larger for the next growth spurt. When a crab switches shells, I resist the urge to celebrate loudly. Privacy makes bravery easier. If a crab keeps testing but never commits, I add more options and check humidity; comfort invites decisions.

Extra shells also reduce conflict. A well-stocked market turns potential shell fights into quiet shopping trips. I have learned that peaceful crabs are crabs with choices.

Habitat Basics at Home

Comfort lives in three elements: warmth, humidity, and depth. Land hermit crabs breathe through modified gills that need moist air, so I keep the environment humid and warm like a gentle tropical evening. A glass tank with a secure lid helps hold that atmosphere steady.

For substrate, I favor moist sand or a sand-and-fiber mix deep enough for a full molt burrow—think several times the height of your largest crab. When the sand clumps lightly in your fist and holds a tunnel without collapsing, you have given them the safety of an underground room. Molting is private and essential; depth is dignity.

Water access matters. I set out two shallow, easy-to-climb bowls: one with dechlorinated fresh water, one mixed to marine saltwater levels using aquarium salt (not table salt). Many keepers notice that regular access to both helps with moisture balance and shell water storage. Stable water offers stable bodies.

Finally, I create a landscape: cork bark to climb, driftwood arches, leafy hides, and a gentle light cycle that respects their nocturnal rhythm. A habitat that asks to be explored keeps minds busy and nights joyful.

Food and Enrichment

In the wild, land hermit crabs are omnivores and scavengers. At home I mirror that variety with a base food formulated for crabs and frequent fresh offerings: leafy greens, carrots, bits of fruit, plain cooked protein in tiny amounts, and calcium sources such as clean cuttlebone. I avoid seasonings, onions, chocolate, and anything processed or salty.

Food is also enrichment. I scatter tiny pieces in different corners so they can forage, tuck snacks into a safe crevice, and rotate textures—crunchy, soft, chewy. Watching them carry a discovery up a branch is one of the quiet pleasures of this hobby.

Because their shells and exoskeletons need minerals, I keep a small dish of crushed limestone or a cuttlebone shard available. I refresh it often—small signals of care add up to strong molts.

Choosing a Healthy Crab

At the store, I slow down and let my eyes do the listening. I look for three pairs of walking legs, intact antennae, a responsive posture, and a shell that is not glued or painted. A healthy crab explores, reacts to gentle movement, and can pull in firmly if startled. If a crab seems limp or unable to grip, I keep looking and trust that patience is a kind of expertise.

Larger individuals tend to be sturdier for beginners, though small ones are irresistible. I choose a mix when I can so they do not all compete for the exact same shell size. Before leaving, I ask what they have been eating and how they have been housed so I can create a softer landing at home.

Once we arrive, I give them time to settle—quiet, dim light, and familiar humidity. The first good night you offer often becomes the first good habit they learn.

Mistakes and Fixes

I have made almost every beginner mistake, and my crabs forgave me when I fixed the environment. If something feels off, start with these gentle adjustments.

• Dry Air: If you see dull activity or brittle behavior, raise humidity and cover more of the lid. Add moss hides and refresh water dishes.
• Shallow Substrate: If a crab cannot dig a safe tunnel, molts may fail. Add depth gradually and maintain a lightly packed, tunnel-holding texture.
• Too Few Shells: Provide a variety of natural, unpainted shells with both round and elongated openings so shopping does not become fighting.
• No Saltwater Dish: Even land species benefit from a proper marine saltwater dish; include it alongside fresh water and watch comfort increase.

Most problems soften when the habitat becomes more like a warm shore at night: humid, deep, and full of places to hide and climb. Attention is the best medicine here.

Mini-FAQ for New Keepers

These are the questions I hear most often when someone falls in love with a small shell and wonders what comes next.

• How many should I keep? Hermit crabs are social. A small group lets them interact, trade shells peacefully, and express normal behaviors.
• Do they pinch? They can. Gentle, confident handling and patience reduce the risk. I use a flat palm or let them walk across my hand close to the substrate.
• How long do they live? With steady care, many live for years and some for much longer. Long life begins with depth, humidity, and diet.
• Why is a crab buried for days? Molting is private work. I avoid disturbing the substrate and provide stable humidity and quiet until the crab reappears.
• Painted shells look cute. Are they safe? I stick to natural shells. Paint can chip or introduce chemicals. Beauty is a well-fitted, unpainted home.

If you remember nothing else, remember this: offer choices, keep the air warm and moist, and let them be themselves after dark. In that small kindness lives the whole joy of keeping hermit crabs.