http://www.ehow.com/guide_2-http://www.ehow.com/guide_2-pets.html.htmlwww.ehow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/how_4993992_purchase-hermit-crabs.htmlWhen purchasing a hermit crab at a pet store, find a crab that is eager to get away, comes out of its shell and has no deformities. Identify an unhealthy hermit crab using this free video from a exotic pet specialist on hermit crab care. Published on 5/2/2009http://www.ehow.com/tips_4993992.htmlhermit crabs with colored shells usually aren't good :[ you should see what they do to get those crabs into those shells... they brake open their original shells and force them into the colored shells that usually don't fit right... this causes them a lot of stress and add they to the stress of shipping them and the stress of usually being in horrible conditions at pet stores and boardwalk shops, it's just not good... stress causes loss of limbs, sickness, n ultimately death.