mating?

[mrscrabmadness]

o.k. when do crabs mate? is there a certain cycle, time of the year? I have been having trouble with these crabs and 2 of them going after this one for a week and 1/2 now, tried all sorts of suggestions from putting more protiens in, putting the shells in, more climbing stuff in and rearranging, someone said are you sure you don't have a male and female? then I read about someone else said they had a crab mating? I never looked before, they creep me out , so I tried last night. as far I could see crabby paddy and shell lea didn't have any " dots " that i could see, if they are really really visable when they come out of the shell. the other crab I had no luck with with, it shuts up tight when you pick it up, I tried blowing on it, dipping it in water, letting it sit up side down in my hand.. nothing! if they are mating this one crab is very aggressive, but there is no chirpping. will this cycle end??

[kip.rogers357]

exactly how are they with each other when this happens? like in what position are the crbas in; normal, standing on back legs, on thier back?
I've read that mating usually occurs during rainy season. What has the temp and humidity been like in the tank?
there is a lot of information about this around the site if you do a search. I know there is a link to a site that has pictures of them mating but i'm not sure where... :-/
hopefully someone else has more information!


EDIT:
Found a video! Do they look like this when they're at it?
http://youtu.be/ocT8po6g8jY

[mrscrabmadness]

everything in the tank is fine and right.. when I put the crab in he goes up to this other and tries sit on top, does this bear hug then tries to flip it over or that is what it looks like and the other one is tucked way up in the shell and I don't let it get further than that. I take the crab back out, I'm afraid he will rip it to shreds! he just looks like he is getting really aggressive, before I notice what was going on they were sitting on ths crab alot then they kept trying to flip it around. I you tubed crabs mating, I found one that sort of looked like what mine was doing but it was so calm compared to what mine was doing. they have a 55 gal tank so it's not like they don't have room to be in different areas to call their own.

that was the site you mentioned above that I saw, he does this but very aggressive after he does this bear hug! I have a mean crab! now I just need to know will this end??

[parrothead]

here is a video @wolfnipplechips took of her crabs mating.. maybe this will help
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocT8po6g8jY

[mrscrabmadness]

yep I saw it, someone told me they mate from May to July , YI! YI! YI! and to look for egg sac on the crab? well I can't look on this crab if it clamps up tight every time I flip or touch it! I cleaned out my 29 gal tank and stck this crab in it until mating season is over and hope this is will be done and over with!