Strawberry keeps pinching me?

[shanedaman112]

Hia! I know it's been forever since I've been on >.< sorry about that. Anywho, we have a new medium sized pp (or indo, can't really tell...) named strawberry. Named by my brother because he is red (he's not actually a straw). Anyway, He just finished his first molt (yay :D) so I picked him up after a few hours, and he reached out and pinched me with his small pincher several times, then clamped down for a long time, then let go, and so I put him back. A couple days later I picked him up for a second time, and for a second time he did it again! It wasn't because he was hungry surely. I'm quite confused, I didn't think crabs actually pinched anyone unless they were in very bad conditions. On top of that why his small pincher? If you guys have any ideas please share them with me :/ Also, I've been picking up my crabs every few days and letting them climb on me for awhile so they might not be as scared of me. Thanks :)

[Emily]

Its difficult to say, for a few reasons.
I think #1 is most likely.

1. He might not like being picked up, but he doesn't see you as enough of a threat to use his big pincher. Sometimes crabs personalities are against your wants, which means that you just don't pick them up. As much as we like to think they they are "our pets", they are not captivated animals by any means. Remember, you're over 200 times his size, in the wild, you're the predator, not his friend.

2. He might think you're food or he smells food. They have very sensitive feelers
3. He might feel threatened. While the big pincher is a powerful tool, it is unwieldy, maybe he thought it was easier with his small pincher.

[shanedaman112]

True... I suppose he might just be scared of me. I wonder then how I can get my crabs to like me :( they all run away from me just like they do if you have just bought them, but they all molted by now so... I don't get it >-<

[CallaLily]

They also sometimes grab on if they don't feel secure. Your hand was just closest/easiest for him to grab.

Keep in mind they are wild animals. Some may get used to your presence but others duck and run no matter how long they've been in your care. Decide on a crab by crab basis who to handle regularly (if you so choose) and who to let be.

[Emily]

Anything good takes time. Try to remember some things, and ask yourself some questions.

1. Am I touching them gently?
2. Do I pick them up too often?
3. Do I handle them in a secure way or a way that makes them feel secure?
5. What kind of animal are they and do these animals typically get held?
6. Do these animals need space?

This goes for any pet.
Something we often forget is that the experience of having a pet means that sometimes the pet sets the rules, and not us. Be patient, and understand that hermit crabs are shy in general, and no two crabs are ever the same. Pushing a crab to like you may give you the opposite effect, so maybe look instead of touch for a bit, and instead of holding them, offer them treats like sardines or unflavoured popcorn.

I don't mean to sound all gruff and stuff, but that's the best advice I can give. Good luck.

[CallaLily]

Anything good takes time. Try to remember some things, and ask yourself some questions.

1. Am I touching them gently?
2. Do I pick them up too often?
3. Do I handle them in a secure way or a way that makes them feel secure?
5. What kind of animal are they and do these animals typically get held?
6. Do these animals need space?

This goes for any pet.
Something we often forget is that the experience of having a pet means that sometimes the pet sets the rules, and not us. Be patient, and understand that hermit crabs are shy in general, and no two crabs are ever the same. Pushing a crab to like you may give you the opposite effect, so maybe look instead of touch for a bit, and instead of holding them, offer them treats like sardines or unflavoured popcorn.

I don't mean to sound all gruff and stuff, but that's the best advice I can give. Good luck.

You don't sound gruff. This is very good advice!

[shanedaman112]

Thank you! I'll definitely do that :)

[Lburns]

Mine love popcorn. I have one crab that is extremely shy. I had to hold her plus a piece of popcorn in the palm of my hand for 10 minutes before she finally came out to say hi. I was trying to see if she was a boy or girl. After 2 months of having her, this is the only way she would let me look. I haven't handled her since as it seems to really stress her. I have one crab that isn't bothered by anything so I can handle her as often as I like. And another who tolerates me but doesn't seem to enjoy being handled. You kind of have to figure out their personality and go from there. But, a tasty favorite treat in your hand might help them relax. Mine never actually eat it out of my hand but they do seem less stressed if I offer food when I hold them.

[shanedaman112]

Haha, I suppose I just gotta crack the code! also, just out of curiosity... what do you mean when you say you found your crab batman "as a stray"? I know that's off subject but I just noticed it and it kinda confused me >u<

[Lburns]

We found Batman wandering around outside my son's preschool in the grass. After some debate, no one wanted to take her home. One other Mom suggested just putting her back. I knew absolutely zero about hermit crabs!!! Never in a million years would I have thought I would own any!! But, I figured she wouldn't fair well if she was just let go so I volunteered to take her. I went straight to the pet store. Of course just about everything they told me to buy and do for her was wrong. I read and researched and now feel like I've given her a pretty nice home. Crazy, huh??!!! She's thrived since day 1 so must not have been loose very long. I figure someone abandoned her outside the preschool knowing some kid and his poor mom would take pity on her. She was in a painted shell so was definitely someone's pet. That was Sept. 2014. She's the one I was referring to that doesn't care what I do to her. I sometimes hold her right up to my face and talk to her. She doesn't retreat into her shell or try to run. She just looks at me and waves her antennas. She'll always be my favorite!! I think she's grateful I rescued her. She was missing a walking leg when I found her but regenerated that after her first molt. I absolutely adore all my crabs. Who knew!!

[shanedaman112]

Wow she regenerated a full leg after just one molt, wow. I suppose our crabbies have a sense of thankfulness after reading that :3

[StarWarsHermitCrab]

If Strawberry keeps pinching you just leave him alone.
My hermit crab Violet is shy and pinchy, which is not a good combination,
I just leave her alone.

Some hermit crabs just don't like being bothered.