HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hey all,
I am a new crabbie. I have 2 crabs at the moment. I still dont know what kind they are (that will be a separate post). I think they are PP's. But I am so afraid to hold them. I know that they can be sweet and gentle but I am afraid of the claws! How often do they pinch? Why do they pinch? and does it hurt when they pinch? I just feel bad holding them by the shells and putting them back down in the tank when they start coming out.

Well, if you are scared to hold them, then don't! Some crabbers say handling the crabs stress them anyways. And for additional information:

• they can pinch whenever they want
• they pinch when they are frightened, or when they think they might fall
• the pinch can barely hurt sometimes, or it can draw blood

You can try holding them by their shell with your dominant hand and then allowing their back legs to sit on your opposite hand. They virtually can't pinch you and you are giving them reassurance that they will not fall.

Being so new, I feel silly answering a question, but I'll do it anyway I've held mine quite a bit & never been pinched yet. With mine, as long as they feel secure, they're great! I let them crawl all over me & haven't had an issue. Of course, I haven't held any of the new ones yet since they just got here yesterday, so I might eat my words - lol! To start with, I did exactly what was suggested; holding them with dominant hand & letting them "feel around" your other hand with their legs until you both get used to the feeling--it's quite weird @ first!

Their legs feel wierd! I will try holding them and letting them feel my hand. So, is it not good to handle them?

That's still debatable. I prefer not to handle my crabs, but others like to. It's your choice, really. Research it for yourself, get some background info, and then decide.

Since I'm so new to this, I'm sort of getting a consensus from everyone on handling. I like to take them out for "exercise" sometimes (which may be a no-no ) I share the crabs w/my daughter (7) who likes to exercise & watch them, but is extremely gentle & careful w/them too. It's a great learning experience for her (okay, & me too!!) Plus we give them TONS of "quiet time" & they seem to enjoy getting "out & about" every once in a while. I'm trying to get them to eat from my hand; no luck thus far!

Hey, look, I have a signature now!

I have some crabs that I hold and some crabs I don't. It all depends on you and your crabs. My large PP, Wrigley, will pinch as soon as I pick him up. Most others, like my E's, love to walk up my arm and across my shoulders. I even had Juicy Lucy (E) walk up my hair onto the top of my head! Goofy [smilie=crazy.gif]

I don't handle my crabs. They are (contrary to what pet stores will tell you) very sensitive animals and there are a lot of ways to stress them out. One of them that may or may not stress them is handling. I prefer to be on the safe side and not handle my crabs. I myself am a bit afraid of handling mine. I'm not afraid of the crabs themselves though, I'm afraid of dropping them or stressing them out. Just my 2 cents.

Time for my scientific answer! The amount of pain in the pinch is generally proportional to the size of the crab!

After I got pinched the first time, and I and my husband are very hands on people, okay. But after that same crab pinched me a 4th time and really drew some blood, that was it.

So whenever I handled him I wore a light weight sock on my hand. They just seem to go for the hand, not your arm or any other parts of your body. After a number of times with the glove on my left hand, he started to go on my right hand, with no pinching.

Whenever I hold a new crab, I wear my little white sock glove, until we are both comfortable with each other.

By the way, as one of my larger crabs is now crawling on my shirt, I haven't been pinched since!

So they cant pinch through a sock?

No, the sock is too thick to cause any infliction. Just don't use any smelly socks!

Kilimanjaro wrote:No, the sock is too thick to cause any infliction. Just don't use any smelly socks!

LOL. Ok! Cool. I will try holding them with a sock on. When I take them out of the tat they crawl around so I know they dont mind being around me. Thanks guys!!

Another little trick in addition to the sock. Maybe not for your sons right now, but I tend to do it almost naturally.

If you're dealing with a crab that might be a little skittish, put it on your palm with the skin tight. Best way to describe it is palm side up, while trying to position your fingers as far away from the palm as you are able to and with your fingers as spread apart as possible. It's because of the ways our hands are when in a relaxed position, especially between the fingers and really especially the loose skin between the thumb and the 1st finger.

I'm passing this on because sometimes when a child is injured or scared, he won't go near what upset him. This way your son can be Master of his Destiny!

Good luck!!