• There are more than 600 species of hermit crabs.hermit crab image by alwayspp from Fotolia.com
  
  There are more than 30 species of Coenobita family hermit crabs, about 600 species in all. The two most popular hermit crabs kept as pets are the Coenobita clypeatus and the Coenobita compressus. Hermit crabs are nocturnal crustaceans, moving around more at night then during the day. Some species of hermit crabs can live to be 30 years old.
  
  

Coenobita Clypeatus

• These are the most common choice for pets. They are commonly called the Caribbean hermit crab, tree crab or purple pincher. They are native to the Coast of Florida, Caribbean Sea, Bermuda Islands and Venezuela. They have a large purple pincher claw, tan-colored head with round eyes, speckles on their claws and legs. These spots are similar to hair follicles, called setae-rigid. They shed along with the exoskeleton when they molt.
  
  

Coenobita Brevimanus

• Hermit crabs vary in color and size.attacking hermit crab image by Yali Shi from Fotolia.com
  
  The second biggest hermit crab in the Coenobitidae family, the coenobita brevimanus is native to the southwestern coast of the Pacific Ocean and the African east coast. Its exoskeleton is dark purple or brown in color, with spherical eyes and dark eyestalks.
  
  

Cenobita Compressus

• They are among the smallest of all the species of hermit crabs, growing no more than 12 mm. Identification is based on their elongated eyes, same-colored claws, darker leg tips, stripes on the side of their head and a flat thorax. When moving, they cross their two left sided legs over their large claw--they do not have an armored leg. They vary in color, even changing their color during molting. They can be bright yellow, orange, tan or dark gray. A washed out color is due to a lack of carotene. Referred to as Pacific hermit crab or Ecuadorian hermit crab, they are readily found in pet stores. They are generally more active than the Caribbean crab, moving rather quickly. They require salt water in their tanks to drink and bathe.
  
  

Coenobita Cavipes

• These hermit crabs originate from some Asian countries and eastern Africa. They live in the forests, except during mating season when they travel to the beach. Their diet consists mainly of fruits. These crabs molt more frequently than other hermit crabs and their body is usually orange or brown.
  
  

Coenobita Perlatus

• These are native to Australia but are available in the United States. These crabs are called strawberry hermit crabs due to their distinctive red color with small spots of white. As young crabs, they are pale in color and sometimes white, but when they mature, they are bright red in color.
  
  

Coenobita Rugosus

• Called ruggie, they originally thrived in east Africa, along the coasts of Australia, and the south western Pacific. Whenever they feel threatened, they make chirping sounds by rubbing their pincer on their shell. Their color varies based on their diet, but generally, they are green, tan or brown. A few are white, blue, black or pink.