I have to point out the elephant in the room..

DarthKrab · Post by **DarthKrab** » Fri Mar 11, 2016 1:49 pm

And it's me! I can't imagine what it's like to be stuck in a room you can't escape and to have some giant being randomly coming in to look at you. I would be scared for sure!

My question is simple. How long did it take your first crabs to warm up to you? I ask about yor first crabs because the sight of other hermits not being afraid of this giant thing reaching in the tank might convince new hermits that it's okay to act normal and not go into defense.

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Tala · Post by **Tala** » Fri Mar 11, 2016 2:34 pm

We got our first crabs in November so we haven't been doing it very long, but out of the 10 we've gotten over the last few months there has been ONE who doesn't seem to mind when we showed up to peek in the tank (we miss him! he's finally down for a molt and there's significantly less activity in the tank nowadays

). I redid the tank the other day and added a lot more plants and things thinking they may feel more hidden and more comfortable moving about when we're close by (it hasn't worked yet

haha).

Sorry I don't have a terribly helpful response since we're pretty new at this but it seems to be different depending on the crab? We've got some that just kinda slip into their shells and peek out at us, some that calmly move away toward a spot with more hidey holes, and some that kick it in reverse and run away as fast as they can backwards. And one little guy who just couldn't deal when he first got here and would collapse into his shell the second he saw us regardless of what he was doing (which was honestly pretty funny, but also incredibly sad and we made a point not to sneak up on him anymore.

CallaLily · Post by **CallaLily** » Fri Mar 11, 2016 4:30 pm

Some of my crabs still take off at the sight of me, others could care less. Length of time they've been with me does not seem to play a role.

Crabinski · Post by **Crabinski** » Fri Mar 11, 2016 4:42 pm

I'm with @CallaLily on this one: it's really down to the individual crab. King Felix the Pale has been with me going on 8 years, is one tough PP (just ask his tankmates), was never afraid of me and doesn't flinch when I'm near the tank or even have my hands in to swap out food, etc...he just watches and supervises. The other three display varying levels of dread when I'm too close, anything from trying to make themselves smaller (fat chance, Big Enzo) to backpedaling to slamming back into the shell.

marandashermies · Post by **marandashermies** » Fri Mar 11, 2016 6:14 pm

I have a couple that run for the hills when they see me but most of mine start to adjust to me after having them for about a month and or their first molt is over.

I also have a couple that it depends on their mood. At times they care less if I am there, other times they run reverse into a hide. Every crab is different and I think it really depends on how they feel that day!

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Candie · Post by **Candie** » Fri Mar 11, 2016 7:01 pm

My first crab which I've had for 2 months (new at this) used to hide in her shell if I made the slightest movement, now she is more comfortable with me, she still hides in her shell if I open the tank but if it's late at night she gets curious and comes to see me. Also when I got her if i moved her to pick up old food she would hide for 20 mins now she likes playing on my floor and climbing on my hands

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DarthKrab · Post by **DarthKrab** » Tue Mar 15, 2016 9:43 am

Crabinski wrote:I'm with @CallaLily on this one: it's really down to the individual crab. King Felix the Pale has been with me going on 8 years, is one tough PP (just ask his tankmates), was never afraid of me and doesn't flinch when I'm near the tank or even have my hands in to swap out food, etc...he just watches and supervises. The other three display varying levels of dread when I'm too close, anything from trying to make themselves smaller (fat chance, Big Enzo) to backpedaling to slamming back into the shell.

Thanks guys! All of this makes sense haha. One of mine before he dug down would hide as soon as I walked in the room and wouldn't come out of his shell for like 20 mins! I even held him until he came out one night and I think it was around that time (Hard to remember lol) Zelda backpedals as if her life depends on it. Frankie only backpedals after handling her lol. Chancho goes into his shell slightly but not very much. Just enough to cover his eyes and peek out after a second :crabblush:

mool · Post by **mool** » Tue Mar 15, 2016 11:01 am

Mine still scurry whenever they see any human and I've had them for six years! In their defense, they've always been tucked away in a remote part of the house and now they are front and center in the main living area.

Once in a while, a really delicious food will lure them out when I'm present but mostly they still hide.

DarthKrab · Post by **DarthKrab** » Tue Mar 15, 2016 12:13 pm

mool wrote:Mine still scurry whenever they see any human and I've had them for six years! In their defense, they've always been tucked away in a remote part of the house and now they are front and center in the main living area.

Once in a while, a really delicious food will lure them out when I'm present but mostly they still hide.

I keep mine in the spare bedroom but I plan on putting my computer in there some day to be able to watch them without bothering them too much

HCA: Hermit Crab Association