| Would you believe that there are around 600 species | | | | · Coenobita rugosus. The Australians fondly called |
| of hermit crabs crawling all over the coastal lines of | | | | them 'ruggie' and they are commonly found on the |
| the world? Yet only few of these species exist in the | | | | coastal areas of Australia, east Africa and the |
| United States and reared as pets. In Australia, they | | | | southwestern Pacific. They are fascinating animals |
| prefer the Coenobita bariabili and the | | | | because they can make sounds much like the birds |
| strawberry-colored Coenobita perlatus. The | | | | when chirping especially when they feel they are in |
| Americans, on the other hand, prefer the Caribbean | | | | danger. They produce this sound by rubbing their |
| hermit or scientifically known as the C. clypeatus as | | | | pincers on their shell. Their colors always depend on |
| their pets. If we want to learn more about the | | | | their diet so you can see them in varieties of color |
| common hermit crab species, let us first identify and | | | | such as brown, green, black, blue, tanned or even |
| study the most common species of hermits found and | | | | white. |
| reared in the United States. | | | | · Coenobita perlatus. They are now common in the |
| · Coenobita cavipes. This species originated from | | | | United States as well as in Australia and people regard |
| some Asian countries and eastern part of Africa. You | | | | them as 'strawberry hermit crabs' because they have |
| can only see them on the beach during mating season | | | | this unique color of white spots with red background |
| because they prefer to stay in the forests that are | | | | color on their exoskeleton. Their young are paler in |
| near the beaches. They prefer fruits for their diets and | | | | color. This species can live up to 30 years or more |
| have the record to have the most molting stages than | | | | even in captivity. |
| any other species of hermit. Their usual colors are | | | | · Coenobita clypeatus. As we have said, this is the |
| brown and orange. | | | | most common hermit crab pet in the United States. |
| · Coenobita brevimanus. Considered the second | | | | They are better known as the 'tree crab', 'soldier crab', |
| biggest hermit crab of the Coenobitidae family (C. | | | | 'purple pincher', and the 'Caribbean hermit crab'. |
| Birgus latro is the largest) it came from the African | | | | Although originally they came from the Caribbean Sea, |
| east coast and the southwestern coast of the Pacific | | | | they can now be found on the beaches of Florida, |
| Ocean. They are can be easy to recognized by their | | | | Venezuela and the Bermuda Islands. They are big in |
| dark eyestalks and spherical eyes. Their exoskeletons | | | | size and their purple claws are what make them |
| or body shells are usually brown or purple in color. | | | | unique. They can also live up to 30 years and beyond. |
| · Coenobita compressus. This species of hermit are | | | | Still, if you want to learn more about the different of |
| known by two names, the 'Ecuadorian hermit ' and | | | | species of hermits so that you can choose which |
| 'Pacific hermit crab. They are commonly found on pet | | | | among them could better be reared as pets you can |
| shops and favorite among hermit lovers because they | | | | check their information on my site about hermit crabs. |
| are the smallest species in the hermit crab kingdom. | | | | It contains complete information with regards to their |
| Although the adults can reach only about 12mm, it can | | | | preference on their habitat, their foods and feeding |
| walk so fast that people lose them easily when | | | | habits, and many of the things to avoid in order to |
| mishandled. Their colors are yellow, dark grey and | | | | keep them alive. |
| orange. | | | | |