Stripy Hermit-crabs

[Tiggrx]

Are hermit-crabs often blue-striped like this specimen?



There were dozens of hermits at this spot (Seahouses, Northumberland) and most were this colour. Books always seem to show them as an orange-red colour.

By the way am I correct in thinking it is Pagurus bernhardus?

[zan]

That would be my guess, yes. P. bernhardus uses shells of other animals (e.g. whelks \ winkles etc.) for itself, while P. prideaux carries an anemone instead. The only other species I could find was P. cuanensis, which is very small but has a furry right claw which yours doesn't.

As for colour, I think yours would turn out to be mostly orange if you took it out the pool (and its shell) for a closer look, but it's likely to just be normal variation.