Pinching

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 11:44 am

I want to hold my crabs, but I am afraid of how hard they will be able to pinch. They have pretty small claws, but I have heard that they can still pack a pinch.

I have held them using some of those stretch winter gloves and they haven't gone to pinch at all, and I have held them by their shells, but I get afraid when they start feelings around for my fingers with their legs.

They are E's and the biggest ones main claw is only about 1/4", if that.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 11:51 am

They can deliver quite a pinch, but they usually only pinch if they feel threatened or if they think they are about to fall.
I have only had one crab that pinched me, but I was holding him by his shell trying to take a pic, and he felt insecure and grabbed ahold. It left a red spot for a few days, but it didn't break the skin.
Just hold them in the flat of your hand and don't move too quickly. It is easier (mentally) to hold the little ones than the big ones.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 12:47 pm

I agree. They only pinch when they feel threatened. Keep your hand nice and flat. When they come out to explore, don't make any sudden moves. If a pinch does occur, do your best to remain still and DON'T try to remove the crab from your hand. The crab would rather be torn in half than let go. If you remain calm, the crab will release his grib, and you can place him back into the tank. I have six little ones, and I have only been pinched once. The little ones hurt, but the pain is manageable.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 2:53 pm

it's good to start w/ gloves.... you get the feel of their legs. the 'lil one's pinches don't hurt too much! especialy with a 1/4 " claw!

they usually only pinch when threatened. there are some 'bad' crabs tho, who will pinch for no reason.

put your hand flat on the floor and just let them crawl across your hand and then onto the floor. start w/ small exercises like this to get both of you used to handling!

Dawn · Post by **Dawn** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 3:40 pm

I had Pee Wee pinch me last weekend while I was showing him off to a friend. He's about the size of a sweetpea...with a shell. His bp (ha! big) is about 1/8" long. It was funny that he pinched the skin on my thumb..He held on pretty good. I'm sure as small as he is he was scared I was going to drop him but I was holding his shell between my thumb and forefinger so I couldnt' drop him...He didn't know.

It didn't hurt but I get the idea pretty quick that he wasn't happy with me. But the big guys can really put a pinch on you...They could break the skin if they really wanted to but I haven't had anyone do that. I've had probably 4 or 5 pinches in this last 3 years...Nothing too serious.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 4:02 pm

Thanks all! I am going to go home and take one out and let it climb over my hand from the table. Pillow for soft landing incase something happens!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 2:02 am

I heard you should put them under hot water (not really hot of course) to get them to let go when they pinch you. Is this ok or will it hurt them?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 2:08 am

I would not do that. I've heard it too, and the instructions include running warm water from a facet over them.

Three problems I see that, tap water is not declorinated, two I would think it would feak the crab out more and he'd be attached longer, and most importantly I think it would seriously stress the crab, and stress kills crabs as well as people.

The advice above is the best to follow. Stay still until they let go.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:11 am

I had a small crab pinch me once. I used to have a really bitey bird, so I'm used to holding very still. That's the best way to get them to let go. Just hold still and provide a stable spot under his legs, like your other hand, or a couch or floor, and when he feels secure enough he'll let go.

Dawn · Post by **Dawn** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:48 am

When they grab, it's generally your hand so put your hand down on a solid surface and keep it as still as you can. They'll let go quicker when they feel secure.

It's really hard when it's a big crab because they can really pinch HARD but the last time a bigger crab *got me* it lasted 30-45 seconds...Still. it felt like an hour..

Best to respect those bp's. Instead of "mind your p's and q's" it's Mind those bp's...LOL

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:35 pm

There's a lot of power in those claws thats for sure. My tiny pp latched onto the tip of my finger and dug in. Held on for a few minutes too, and it hurt a lot considering how tiny his claw was. I just set my hand down on my bed and stayed as still as possible and he let me go eventually... I think he pinched me because he was mad I had him in a kritter keeper when I was moving him to university with me

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 12:46 pm

I had a pretty big PP pinch me and it HURT but as others have said it helps NOT TO PANIC.

The pain goes away pretty quickly, and I don't think unless they are a huge crab that they can break the skin.

I have thought about it, and here is what I think I will do the next time it happens (if it ever happens again):

Use a toothpick and gently insert it between his pincher and your skin. That will force the pinchers open so you can get your hand away. Helps to have a buddy nearby to grab the crab once his pincher is forced open with the toothpick.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:12 pm

I tried that once, but the little bugger refused to let go, he dug in even deeper. He was a strong guy, that's for sure

I think all I really did by that was annoy him further and made him grab on longer.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:31 pm

Gee, Crow, what did you do? It seemed the longer I held him, the more hard he would pinch, if that was possible! How'd you finally get him "off"?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 9:51 pm

Well, it was hard to do, but really all I did was wait patiently (and painfully) until he made up his own mind that I wasn't a threat and he felt safe to let go. It wasn't that fun since he seemed to enjoy digging his claw in extra hard every now and then. Anything else (like the toothpick experiment) just seems to alarm them and makes them dig in even more.

HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Pinching

Pinching

LOl

Stable spot and hold STILL