Behaviors of a Captive Coenobita clypeatus in the Presence of Varying Light Stimuli

Coenobita clypeatus, or the purple pincher, is a terrestrial hermit crab and common pet in the United States. Modern behavioral studies have waned since the early 2000s; we therefore sought to characterize the behavior of a single captive C. clypeatus under varying light conditions. Frequency and duration of behaviors were studied in the presence of different light stimuli, along with weight monitoring. The crab was recorded for a set period of time every night with all conditions standardized except for light. The light stimulus alternated between no light, blue light, and red light. The case study revealed a significant increase in feeding behavior duration under blue light and a return to baseline conditions under red light. A non-significant trend of greater frequency of activity under red light was observed. These data support further research on C. clypeatus that might have implications for visual learning and improving captive conditions.