giant hermit crabs

[kowaleski]

ok so I'm visiting my in-laws in Jupiter Florida, and I was by the inlet and found 2 giant hermit crabs- both at least 3-4 inches big, they are reddish with a purple claw- would it be okay to place in my FOWLR ? I'll try to post pics later

 

[spanko]

Quote from Bob Fenner "Never entirely "reef safe"... All hermits are to degrees opportunistic omnivores... they WILL eat your other livestock if hungry"
That said it sounds like you have a Purple Pincher hermit crab actually a land based critter.

 

[kowaleski]

yup it is a purple pincher- Thank You- he will go back to the inlet- I knew it was to good to be true

 

[scottallert]

giant strawberry hermit crab they get about a foot long and really big, my i see them everytime i go snorkling in inlets. my lfs has a nice size one in there show aquarium and its fwlr it should be ok in your tank.

 

[kowaleski]

nope scott- these two are defintly purple pincher's which web sites say the are land- but that it is what I was hoping for for them to be giant strawberry crabs- that would be something just walking along beach and finding $60 worth of crabs just sitting there