ummmm.....my crab tried to eat me?

[Skymall007]

This has happened to me twice so far. Once at the coast with a purple shore crab and once with my hermit crab Friendlyfeat. Basically at the coast I was kind of chasing this baby crab about (probably not very nice but it was so cute and I wanted to be friends). Eventually, he came out of its hiding place and began to eat my finger tips? Yesterday when I took Friendlyfeat out, Friendlyfeat did the same thing?


The kids that work in the Crab Lab in my marine biology class said "yeah, crabs do that sometimes." Has this happened to anyone else? Are they actually trying to eat me for some reason? Is some strange defense mechanism like "I can't hide, so I'll eat?" It is a bit silly.

[Rocky]

Your hand probably smelled like food or a nice tasty chunk of hand meat. Quite a few people have reported their crabbies having a nibble or a taste test. Kind of like sharks, just checking to see if it's edible
So yes, hand is on the menu

[Skymall007]

That is the cutest, strangest, most odd thing to me ahahaha well I hope he enjoyed it lolz

[heathermortimer]

I love when they just nonchalantly start picking at your hand, looking off into the distance, like "hmmm this is some very fine human you have here, my compliments to the chef". It's sooooo cute. Make sure your crabs have enough protein. I've noticed that pet store crabs that don't have the correct diet are worst about it. Then again my sisters crab Napoleon does it all the time!

[Skymall007]

ahahahahaha that's so funny! I guess hermits just find us tasty. I def. am going to make sure they get more protein. They do love peanut butter. I feel very complimented that Friendlyfeat found me tasty.

[whatthemath]

What exactly do you mean by "trying to eat me"? Hahah. I've never had this happen to me! o.O

[Skymall007]

My hermit started to pick at the skin in my palm and then put it in its mouth lolz. It seems really gross, but it's so funny. It doesn't hurt or anything.

[whatthemath]

Just with his little feelers? Hahah. Sounds cute! ^^

[Skymall007]

It's uber cute =) It used its eating small claw. It kind of used the feelers first though ahahahaha it was so adorable

[wodesorel]

When my Es were babies they would do this every time I tried to hold them steady! I kind of miss it, even if it is strange. They would peel off tiny little bits of skin from my fingertip and eat it. So weird, but it tickled instead of hurt!

[Skymall007]

That's so cute! Maybe it is more common in younger ones. That is adorable. It does tickle =) I hope it happens again.

[Anorable]

I've never had this happen with my crabs, but other animals yes. Our hamster and mouse (especially the mouse) would constantly lick and nibble at my fingers.

I'm a bit glad my crabs don't as they're big enough to hurt

[Skymall007]

oh my! Yes, when they get bigger I didn't think of that. I do hope that habit stops =)

[Rocky]

I'm assuming that it's something they do when they just come home, they're probably starving! And usually we bring babies home so that shouldn't be a worry unless you bring home a goliath

[aussieJJDude]

i have mine for a month RockyGurly and they still try to eat me, especially Peanut.