Crab came to friends defense

[CrabbyAbby]

I witnessed something tonight I've never seen a crab do before.

I have fish net strung horizontally across my tank and spotted a crab on the underside of it where he'd trapped himself. He was trying to come up through a small gap between the net and the glass but a small overhang in the net prevented it, plus the gap was just too narrow so I flipped the overhang up out of the way and put my hand underneath, resting his shell on my palm and was raising him through the opening.

Another crab that backed away when I put my hand into the tank advanced and began using his front walking leg to kick at my hand. He did it a number of times and when I didn't retreat, he tried to pinch me! It wasn't a real pinch because he certainly could have done so if he'd wanted but he did grab my hand with multiple limbs to let me know abuse of his friends would not be tolerated.

The little guys never cease to amaze me.

[Barbara]

Cute story -- defending his pal. I have some crabs that seem to like to play with my fingers, and they wave their legs around and take hold of my fingers (like we're wrestling). They seem to be having fun. So I got a kick out of your story, which was a bit of the same kind of behavior.

[kuza]

ya I love when animals do this. There is a video online of a frog bruce willis saving another frog from a snake. It is insane!

[IBlab crab]

I think your crab was trying to climb up your hand to get out.It is natural for them when they see the lid open to try to escape by climbing something. I am sorry but crabs are not capable of thinking in this way.
IBlab crab

[kuza]

I think your crab was trying to climb up your hand to get out.It is natural for them when they see the lid open to try to escape by climbing something. I am sorry but crabs are not capable of thinking in this way.
IBlab crab

uh, yes they are very capable of this level of thinking. If frogs can, crabs can. Just watch this video and see just how advanced animal social skills really are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhLgR1In ... re=related

[Bridgitmac80]

Loved reading this story!!! Tooo cute Our crab Sebastian is so blah and does nothing until I am rearranging the tank or get him out for some reason then it's all HELLO HYPER TIME! He will run laps around the tank (literally RUN) and be so silly. And if I am cleaning his mess, he will run out, stare me down like "I just made that mess and you are messing up my mess!" or run and poke my hand and run back to watch me. He is very silly and so full of personality most days.

IBlab.......all creatures have personalities of their own. I have 2 crabs and they are as different as my children are. Since crabs are very social creatures, I am sure they would protect one another.

[Skymall007]

I def. think that they have personality and thinking skills. I believe this not just due to their different personalities, but due to the fact that they forge friendships. I actually find that most fascinating about them. Herbit and Upsidedown are always together. Sometimes Upsidedown likes to go and explore so he leaves Herbit in the hut, but when Herbit does come out, he usually stays VERY close to Upsidedown. He will even hide behind Upsidedown. They usually sleep right next to each other. I have even seen Upsidedown wake Herbit up by trying to poke him. When that didn't work, he picked Herbit up as though looking at a new shell and gently turned him over, set him down, and waited for Herbit to come out.

I think this story of a crab coming to another's defense is so sweet and cute. I love stories like these. I come to this section looking for cute stories. It sounds like your crab has a great friend. And a brave one at that!

[CrabbyAbby]

I can understand why you're skeptical Blab-crab but I do believe it was a crab standing up to a threat and not an attempt to escape.

As an inexperienced crabber in 2005 I impulse purchased 9 crabs from a horrid, air conditioned shop where more than a hundred were packed into a wood and chicken wire cage and climbing over each other, dead friends and skanky dishes. They clamored over a dry sea sponge and fought to escape out the top. When I asked for them to have water several times I was told they'd get it when the shipment that arrived "yesterday" was opened and added!!

Once home I set them up with everything they needed. Among the bunch was an aggressive crab who dismembered one that was eating, another that swapped a painted shell for a natural and made them back up and flee when he approached. I ISO'd him separately, and after a period of time hand fed and sat with him on the floor where he always ran to the other hermits tank and tried to climb the glass to get in.

When Sport finally rejoined the tank, the remaining crabs fled as they'd done before, jamming the hut to get away. He turned, walked to the wall, dug a shallow pit and sat in it. He was there maybe five minutes when the most passive of the bunch that had fearfully fled him weeks before emerged in the hut door, slowly crossed the tank to stop behind Sport who shrank in response and sat beside him. Only then did the others come out again so I do think there is some level of thought processes at play.

[Skymall007]

That is an amazing story! I find their interactions so fascinating. My most passive crab (Herbit) is unbothered by Friendlyfeat (my most aggressive). I think the passive ones are sometimes mediators.