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SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
The wonderful world of exotic pets
Blueberry Hermit Crabs (Coenobita purpureus)
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Hermit crabs have become a popular species to go for as people delve more into mixed-terrain environments such as the paludarium. They also tend to live in groups, are fairly easy to care for and make for a refreshingly different choice of animal to keep.
There is a handful of common species on the market, but some rarer than others. The blueberry hermit is one such species, named for its lovely and vibrant blue colouration. This blue can also bleed into purples and reds. They develop these colours once mature, being beige or cream as youngsters.
The blueberry hermit crab comes from Southern Japanese islands; it is also known as the Okinawan blueberry hermit crab. This range extends down to Malaysia.
You’d be very fortunate to see any for sale in a store –most of them are sourced from online collections. Be wary of other coloured hermit crabs incorrectly listed and priced as C. purpureus, as other species can come in blue and purple pigmented varieties.
The natural habitat of this colourful hermit is quite humid and should stay at 70-80%, with a temperature maximum of 30°C. Maintaining humidity is easily done with a substrate of coir and a sand, which will also allow digging and burrowing when kept at a ‘sandcastle’ consistency.
Known to be shell-hoppers, these crabs should be supplied with a choice of housing to swap and change. Oval-shaped openings are best suited to their body type according to the anecdotes of keepers. They’re known to be quite active and inquisitive little things which adds to their charm, but they cannot be mixed with other species.
They are also a generally omnivorous hermit crab species, and fresh healthy foods should keep them happy and vibrant.
These crabs have been observed in their natural habitat alongside other hermit species in the area utilising plastic waste items such as bottlecaps for housing, which highlights both the rampant global pollution issue but also the adaptability of some species to their changing environments.
