So they're at it again (guarding) - 5/25/15 eggs!

[CallaLily]

Last year I saw a lot of guarding but never saw any eggs or babies in that tank. That was the first I'd ever noticed this behavior in any of my crabs. I don't know if that's because I had been missing it all along, it wasn't happening, or if it's because that was our first summer without my jumbo PP, Mallorn. He was the largest crab I've ever had and definitely ruled the tank. He and Athelas were pretty buddy buddy - she was the only other crab he would repeatedly allow to eat at the food dish with him. Others would often be pushed or flicked away. Not to make him sound like a bully. That was honestly the most "aggressive" thing I'd see him do. His death may have left the remaining large crabs an actual chance to win Athelas .... maybe? Athelas is, and has been for some time, my largest female. Lettie (had since May 2014) is a close second, then Niphredil (also since 2008).
In the E tank last summer I did find dead babies in the saltwater dish. And once, back when I had the 120g, there were dead babies in the saltwater pool. The 120 ran from 2009-2012, I can't remember what year it was I found them. I'm thinking not that last year because it was back when I had the built in pools. At the time I didn't know what I was looking at. It was only looking back on it that I realized they were dead babies. There were both PPs and Es in that tank.

[megmaholm]

Even though you're not able to try and raise them, that's still so exciting to see eggs! Athelas is beautiful

[CallaLily]

Just realized I never updated. I'm not sure what happened with her eggs. I wasn't checking her too often, not wanting to bother her too much, and the last time I looked they were just gone. I can't remember the exact date but sometime in June. So she either ate them or dropped them on the substrate and another crab ate them. I think it's more likely it was that she ate them because two times I checked before that the bunch looked smaller to me.