Interacting with crabs...is it safe to hold them?

[Kels1513]

I have always held my crabs in my hand and let them climb on me. I talk to them so they get comfortable and feel safe...I of course, do this not far from ground or on top of something soft just in case they fall...which I am super careful of that.

Although, I keep seeing things like they are "prey animals" and should not be held. Is this true? I would be very sad if I couldn't let them come out of the tank occasionally and let them walk on my hands!

Anyone have any ideas?

[soilentgringa]

I have always held my crabs in my hand and let them climb on me. I talk to them so they get comfortable and feel safe...I of course, do this not far from ground or on top of something soft just in case they fall...which I am super careful of that.

Although, I keep seeing things like they are "prey animals" and should not be held. Is this true? I would be very sad if I couldn't let them come out of the tank occasionally and let them walk on my hands!

Anyone have any ideas?

Hermit crabs do not possess the reasoning processes or the ability to feel love/affection like cats or dogs do.

I believe that they can come to associate us with food, but I don't think that they ever "like" us.

Some of my crabs no longer hide on approach but many do.

I don't handle my crabs for multiple reasons:

1. They're wild animals. They were captured, shipped around the world, and put in stores. They were never meant to be pets.

2. Increased activity is a sign of panic, when they're being handled or zooming across furniture or flailing when being bathed, they are in distress. They are trying to escape.

3. I just feel that if I were a small creature, something several hundred times my size picking me up would freak me out.

I only handle my crabs when placing them in the tank or if there is an emergency situation. I used to take ID pics but I have so many now that it's pointless for me to try and remember who is who.

That's just how I feel about it and I do advise against people trying to play with them. I've seen people try to make mazes for them or attempt to get them to push balls or other small objects around.





Sent from my LGMS550 using Tapatalk

[LadyJinglyJones]

Just wanted to add that talking to non-mamals isn't likely to mean anything to these animals. It make us feel like we're bonding with them, but if you think of the kinds of noises crabs make at each other, they are completely different in nature from mamilian sounds. There's no logical reason those sounds would mean anything to crabs. :dunno:

[Kels1513]

Alllright! Thanks for the support!

[LadyJinglyJones]

I hope that answer wasn't too much of a bummer: they are awfully cute, so it's tempting to treat them like little fuzzy things !

[wodesorel]

They are not prey animals in the traditional sense. While they are at the bottom of the food chain they derive safety from being in colonies and spend a lot of time out in the open. While they run from direct danger, they don't spend much time on edge like rabbits and mice do. Serious prey animals do not have long life spans.

The reasons people don't handle is the list SG gave. I personally think it is okay if people do want to interact directly, so long as the crab is not stressed or is being put in a dangerous situation. I look at Carol and how much she did with her two and I really think it comes down to personal choice with neither way being good or bad.

I am one who is all for talking to any animal. As I explained to the other customers at the pet store who gave me weird looks for babbling to a snake I was handling, it has everything to do with me and not the animal. Sure, the snake (crab, gecko, scorpion) has no clue what I am doing, but my body language and attitude is going to reflect what is coming out of my mouth, and that they will pick up on. Taking to it will keep my attention where it needs to be and keep me calm and focused on what the animal is in need of.

[soilentgringa]

They are not prey animals in the traditional sense. While they are at the bottom of the food chain they derive safety from being in colonies and spend a lot of time out in the open. While they run from direct danger, they don't spend much time on edge like rabbits and mice do. Serious prey animals do not have long life spans.

The reasons people don't handle is the list SG gave. I personally think it is okay if people do want to interact directly, so long as the crab is not stressed or is being put in a dangerous situation. I look at Carol and how much she did with her two and I really think it comes down to personal choice with neither way being good or bad.

I am one who is all for talking to any animal. As I explained to the other customers at the pet store who gave me weird looks for babbling to a snake I was handling, it has everything to do with me and not the animal. Sure, the snake (crab, gecko, scorpion) has no clue what I am doing, but my body language and attitude is going to reflect what is coming out of my mouth, and that they will pick up on. Taking to it will keep my attention where it needs to be and keep me calm and focused on what the animal is in need of.

I talk to mine all the time! We always say hello and goodbye to them when entering and exiting the house, and I chat to them while cleaning the tank or watching them.

I wish I could let them wander around the house for a bit because the temps are fine where we live, but the cats would probably play a crab version of air hockey with them.



Sent from my LGMS550 using Tapatalk

[Kels1513]

Thank you all for your input Very interesting opinions. I am happy I asked, however, I may not wholly agree with some of you.

I agree that it is all about your "vibration" and what you are giving off (body language.) When I hold Chester he does not run in panic...he will just sit there and stare at me...or slowly climb on my arm. Sometimes he eats popcorn out of my hand.

Respectfully, I think even when you speak a different language and are a different species and they may not understand our specific words, however, they are still living creatures and feel our energies. If I'm wrong, then I am wrong, but I think all beings should be treated with love! (I don't mean smothering) I will not treat my two like a "number."

So be it, "they are wild animals...they were never meant to be in captivity"...BUT They are in MY house, in great conditions (thanks to all of you experts!) and they will be loved.

Also, didn't we all start out as "wild?"

[aussieJJDude]

Unless you happen to be raised by wolves, I'd say no... Many domesticated animal species did not happen overnight, for example the common cat is a direct result through years of 'mutualistic symbiosis', where humans had a small rodent problem due to storage of grains, which lead to a concentrated food source for the cats; but still considered 'wild'. Fast forward a few thousand years and you have some resemblance to the common cat like we see today.

If we were ever able to recreate this, we need to have a few thousand years of captive lineage to observe any change in their view towards us. None of us treat our crabs as numbers; thats why we are all here. However, to keep them at their happiest, we have a hands off approach.

[wodesorel]

Some animals go faster than others. I look at leopard geckos who are maybe 100 years in captivity if that, and they are fairly domesticated and warm up to people fast even though they are terrified screamers as hatchlings. Once they equate a person with food they make eye contact and are quite demanding! In some ways snakes are similar but they never quite seem to be as comfortable with human interaction, you can tell they just tolerate it. Bettas would be another.

HOWEVER, domestication only occurs over generations in captivity. Crabs would only tolerate or possibly be tamed by us. Like squirrels and chipmunk and deer who are used to being fed by people. Or the city dwelling coyotes and foxes who are wild but have lost their fear.

And hey, like I sort of have to treat mine like numbers because I have so many. It doesn't mean that I want any less for them or think of them any less than my other pets. It's just they are what they are, hermit crabs doing their crabby thing, and I'll bust my rear to give them the best life I can since they are under my care. But I treat most of my undomesticated or barely domesticated pets the same, so as to not unduly stress them. They need food and a good environment, not me!

[LadyJinglyJones]

Unless you happen to be raised by wolves, I'd say no...

My father tells people I was raised by wolves (at restaurants, no less).... but I suppose that isn't quite what you meant.

But Wode is right about bettas. .. they have such a willingness to interact with humans, their captive breeding really shows! I taught mine a few simple tricks, and guests were amazed at how 'cuddly' he was towards me. Parrot fish can be the same way. Even wild caught dwarf amazonian cichlids have enough innate curiosity to learn to engage with their owners.

And my fat tail (similar to a leopard gecko) seems to regard me as his personal servant.

So I agree that taming animals is a thing... but I don't recognize any tame behaviour from my crabs. They just aren't about that life, I guess.

[wodesorel]

It's weird how some animals are always fearful but others adapt quickly.

I have a golden gecko I rescued from a bad owner, but not abusive. They are all wild caught. I've had her nearly two years and she has never settled down or learned I was harmless during that time. Thank heavens she is a little pig and always wants to eat, or the times she escaped I never would have caught her. Her stomach led her back into her tank! Apparently this is normal for the species.

On the flip side is my native grey tree frog that ended up with me due to being in my house too long in winter. She has adapted so well that when she sees me, her feeding response is so strong she does a food lunge into mid air because she knows I mean dinner is on the way.