Crab chasing other crab

[Brian_T]

I just watched my largest crab chase one of the smaller ones across the crabitat and kind of pin the smaller crab down. Is this aggression or mating behavior maybe?

The smaller crabs shell is way too small so I guessing it's not an attempted shell-jacking

I decided to give the tank a quick misting which broke up the situation. The big guy now appears to be munching on isopods.

Any ideas?

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[odelayheehoo]

I doubt it's mating, but anything is possible, this sounds more to me like general aggression.

What are you feeding them? Do you offer enough protein? If they lack protein, they will start to go after each other for an easy protein source, so that's why I recommend plenty of plant and animal proteins.

[Brian_T]

I doubt it's mating, but anything is possible, this sounds more to me like general aggression.

What are you feeding them? Do you offer enough protein? If they lack protein, they will start to go after each other for an easy protein source, so that's why I recommend plenty of plant and animal proteins.

They get protein every day. Usually some type of freeze dried meat or crickets.

The way it went after the other crab.. I've never seen it chase down another crab before. Not to mention how fast they both were moving. They both zipped across the tank faster than I've ever seen.

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[Motörcrab]

When my male straws are looking to mate they chase the females and grab them. The males try to flip the females on their backs. I have even seen males try to get other males off of the female so they can mate instead. I just saw them doing this yesterday. It's been a pretty crazy in my tank since early July. I have seen this happen at least six times since July!
Their mating season is usually June through September. I think due to keeping the tank a constant temperature and humidity that can change their schedule since it is always summer conditions. My tank is generally 82-84 degrees and between 80-85% humidity.