HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I've had my crabs for six months. Me and my family went together and got 4 crabs. One of those 4 turned out to be an E which to begin I thought he was an E so I got really excited. My dad picked him after Greg pinched the woman who was helping us. Then I knew for sure he was an E because he started making noises one night. He was just sitting in the food bowl when I ran to the tat. Now I see them more often and Greg often picks on a PP named Tina. He will stand in front Of her and push her over. I thought it was an accident at first then he got closer and did it again.... Any suggestions for a mean E?

Sounds like dominance. Showing he is rhe boss. Keep an eye on it and if it goes further than feeler fights and shoving you will need to intervene.

A lot of E's can be jerks sometimes. I have 2 "jerks" but I still love them to bits.


Crabbing for 2 years-still obsessed! 6 total crustacean kids. Gave up trying to tell them apart but I love them all.

KellyCrabbieLove wrote:Sounds like dominance. Showing he is rhe boss. Keep an eye on it and if it goes further than feeler fights and shoving you will need to intervene.

I agree. This sounds like a typical dominance display. They should work it out on their own. I wouldn't intervene unless he was obviously trying to steal a shell or pinching. Like Kelly suggests, just keep a close eye on them just in case.

kweeden wrote: Then I knew for sure he was an E because he started making noises one night.

I'm pretty sure all species chirp. I don't have experience with exotics but I know for sure both PPs and Es do chirp.

My biggest loud mouth is a PP and megmaholm only has PPS and there is always chirping. Hers are just noisy.lol

E's look distinctively different from PP's. Their claws will be smaller -- they won't have the big purple claw, just 2 small ones, and their eyes are bigger where PPs have round eyes, E's have more elongated eyes () < shaped like that as opposed to > o that.
Also, they tend to be more brownish if I'm not mistaken.

KellyCrabbieLove wrote:My biggest loud mouth is a PP and megmaholm only has PPS and there is always chirping. Hers are just noisy.lol

Yes...yes they are. I used to worry, now I just yell at them to shut up so I can watch TV in peace.

megmaholm wrote: Yes...yes they are. I used to worry, now I just yell at them to shut up so I can watch TV in peace.

Hahaha!