[6][9] It is very similar in appearance to three other species in the same genus: C. tricolor, C. vakovako, and C. galzini, only distinguishable by the color of its striae.

[8] It has been described as an unusual hermit crab[12] and the brightest of the hermit crabs typically available,[5] with vividly colored walking legs,[12] a red body, and alternating horizontal bright orange and white bands,[8] giving it the likeness of the festive colors[5] of Halloween.

[5] The halloween hermit crab is omnivorous[6] and a scavenger,[4] eating nearly anything that appears in its environment,[6] including small animals.

[4] It feeds on live and dead animal material,[3] including filamentous algae and detritus.

Because it can become aggressive towards other tank animals and may even kill fish and other invertebrates,[6] feeding it meats, such as clams, mussels, scallops and shrimp along with various vegetation may reduce this behavior.