HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Is it possible for a crab to have a personality change. One of my once friendliest crabs,Dwebble came up from a molt and now is scared of me. When I saw him again after a month of being down I did try to pick him up to give him a bath. Since he wouldn't let go from the log I let him be but now every time he sees me he runs off to hide. I did notice he changed shells and maybe he didn't want me to see him do that but this is the same crab that let me watch him change between shells 5 times in a row. I caught him napping today on the shell shop hammock,he didn't see me but I think he would have found another napping spot if he did. Has this ever happened to anyone? Can I win back his trust?

I know this might seem like a dumb question, but are you positive its ths same crab? they all kinda look alike, its easy to confuse them sometimes...

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My Marley did the same thing in Jan/Feb and she still runs and hides...not a clue

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I've had my little pals for a year and a half now. The entire time parker had always been a scaredy crab. Every time I would walk by, he would hide in his shell for at least a few minutes before slowly coming out to check if the coast was clear.

Very recently, we moved the tank from the spare room to the living room and I've noticed he doesn't hide as much. Still hides, but if he's hanging from something he won't just fall into his shell and onto the sub at the same time like he used to.

Hoping he gets a little more acclimated to having hoomanz walk by and admire him and his pals

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I've had my crabs forever and I don't handle mine. Mine hide from me too. They are prey animals. It's their instinct. I wouldn't take it personal.

Molts seem to reset their brains as well as bodies sometimes. Read your title and was wondering if it was a post molt change and yep, it was. Totally within normal limits, give him some time and he'll relearn you're safe.

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wodesorel wrote:Molts seem to reset their brains as well as bodies sometimes. Read your title and was wondering if it was a post molt change and yep, it was. Totally within normal limits, give him some time and he'll relearn you're safe.

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Wow. That is very, very different from anything I even considered as an explanation.

On the plus side, maybe some of my shy crabs will become more outgoing after a molt...

My 2 new crabs are always running away and hiding. But I have Grabby Girl and she loves to watch us vacuum! She's also is out and about most of the day!


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Da_Stos208 wrote:I know this might seem like a dumb question, but are you positive its ths same crab? they all kinda look alike, its easy to confuse them sometimes...

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Yep. I write down what shells they change into and he's Dwebble. Also it helps that he's my most grey crab. He did get some color back post molt though. They don't like carrots so I'm trying to see what else I can give them to have a color boost

wodesorel wrote:Molts seem to reset their brains as well as bodies sometimes. Read your title and was wondering if it was a post molt change and yep, it was. Totally within normal limits, give him some time and he'll relearn you're safe.

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Thank you it was just upsetting because he was so chill before. His previous owner handled his crabs so it was nice to have crabs that wouldn't only come out deep at night and the the moment they saw me.

It happened to my most friendly and outgoing crab back when I started, and after talking to others here I had found out it wasn't exactly rare, but it doesn't happen too often. Mine got "right" after his next molt, thankfully.

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wodesorel wrote:It happened to my most friendly and outgoing crab back when I started, and after talking to others here I had found out it wasn't exactly rare, but it doesn't happen too often. Mine got "right" after his next molt, thankfully.

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Oh that's good! Dwebble is starting to become less shy around me but still not how he was before. Hopefully it won't happen with my other crab who's down for a molt. Tamatoa was the only one who decided not to molt along with her friends and she's really a gentle giant(biggest crab in the tank but definitely still medium sized for a PP).
She would always just do her crabby thijngs no matter who was watching!

I've owned crabs a while and have had some since they were babies and they all act like a seagull's swooping down on them every time I stop in front of the tank to see what they're doing. It's instinct to pretend to be a rock whenever anything un-crab-ular moves and I'm guessing the glass tank interferes with their ability to smell me coming too so they can't be sure what I am. So.. better safe than sorry. I have wondered on occasion if it's a thrill to be scared too. Without any predators, my crabs live a pretty sedate life.

wodesorel wrote:Molts seem to reset their brains as well as bodies sometimes. Read your title and was wondering if it was a post molt change and yep, it was. Totally within normal limits, give him some time and he'll relearn you're safe.

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Oh! That is so good to hear, my Bella recently came up from her first molt and it's been the same. Before she was great at being handled, wouldn't care if I had my hands in the tank to change out food, etc. Now she runs if I come near and chirps like all get-out if I pick her up.