Many people wonder how big can hermit crabs get, but the curious thing is that since there are over 1100 species of this animal, sizing can be a little tricky. So, first, let’s go over several hermit crab basics, then let’s talk about the size of different species out there. Keep in mind, the size of the hermit crab in question will be on the particular species in question.

How do Big Do Hermit Crabs get?

Here is a tons size guide for the Common Hermit Crab species;

• Caribbean Crab = 2- 6 inches.
• Strawberry Crab = 12 to 15 cm (6 inches).
• Ecuadorian Crab = 12 mm or ½ inch.
• Coconut Crab = 1 meter.
• Ruggie Crab = 6 cm.

Hermit Crab Basic Facts

• • There are over 1100 species of hermit crabs in 120 general.
  • Hermit crabs have long and spirally abdomens. Unlike other crabs that have hard exoskeletons or shells, hermit crabs have a soft shell, leaving them undefendable to attack.
  • Since hermit crabs do not have a hard shell, the overwhelming majority of them use mobile homes. In other words, they find discarded shells of other animals and inhabit them.
  • The abdomen of a hermit crab is uniquely designed to be able to clasp and hold onto the inside of a shell. The shell needs to be big enough for the hermit crab to retract itself into it entirely, or else it will be left unprotected.
  • The species is not the only thing that determines the size of a hermit crab. The shell they choose to live in will also decide the size to a certain extent. A giant shell will make a hermit crab grow faster and more significant, whereas a shell that is too small will keep it reasonably short.
  • There are two main groups of hermit crab species. The first kind is the marine hermit crab, which spends most of its time underwater, usually saltwater. They can go on land for brief periods as long as their gills are wet. The second group of hermit crabs is the land hermit crab. While they do use most of their time on land, they do need access to fresh and saltwater to keep their gills damp and able to take in oxygen.
  • Hermit crabs can grow anywhere from a few centimeters in size to the size of a large coconut. Once again, this depends on the species in question.
  • Hermit crabs molt several times per year. This means that they are growing, and they shed their old shell (as well as their mobile shell) to become more significant. This process can keep going on for quite several times, and each time they will grow bigger.
  • Hermit crabs can live anywhere from 10 to 70 years, with the ones that live longer, usually also growing the largest (because they never stop molting).

Don’t forget to get the right heating pad for your Hermit Crab’s; the temperature is crucial.

Hermit Crab Species & Size

So, now that we have several of the hermit crab basics out of the way, let’s talk about several of the different species, precisely their size.

Keep in mind that this is very general because the size of the crab will also depend on how long they live as well as the size of their shells.

Caribbean Crab

Scientifically named Coenobita Clypeatus, the Caribbean crab can grow to be anywhere from 2 to 6 inches in length from front to back, with one claw being more large than the other.

They tend to be deep purple and brown in color, a tan head, and a little red or orange on them. They favor shells that have round openings. This is a land-based crab, and it is one of the main ones found in pet shops.

Ecuadorian Crab

The Ecuadorian hermit crab, scientifically named Coenobita Compressus, is another mainland hermit crab species that can be found in pet stores.

These are several of the smallest ones around, only growing to approximately 12 mm or ½ inch in size.

Strawberry Crab

The strawberry hermit crab is also known as Coenobita perlatus. Not only are they called strawberry hermit crabs because of their red coloring, but because their body shape also matches it. Moreover, these things can grow to be around 12 to 15 cm in size (up to 6 inches).

Ruggie Crab

Ruggie crabs, also known as Coenobita Rugosus, are reasonably small and are usually known to grow to only around 6 cm in size.

Coconut Crab

This is not a type of hermit crab you want at home. The Birgus latro or coconut crab can grow to be up to 5 kg heavy (11 pounds) and can grow to be up to 1 meter in length from leg to leg.

They are big, bulky, and can be pretty mean too. This is a land hermit crab and will die if submerged in the water. It is also one of the few that stops carrying other shells as a grown-up because it develops its hard exoskeleton.