HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I got video!! SEE A COUPLE POSTS BELOW FOR VIDEO!

So I thought I fight was going on on the second story, and I didn't really pay attention, but when they knocked Godzilla off and into the water dish, I knew things were serious, so I took a peek. Two of my crabs (unidentified genders) were face to face on the second story. And not just facing eachother...One crab was grabbing into the opening of the other crab, so that if the other crab tried to come out, the underside of the crab covering the opening would be in his/her face!! Hard to explain...But then they fell.

They rolled onto the hammock and that's when I started recording! the crab on top came way out of his shell and bent at a really strange angle!! Like they were passing the you know what! You'll see it the video how strangely he/she is bent. It was freaky!!

The crab has since retracted, but they remain in the hammock...a tangle of legs and claws. Not fighting, just sitting there in eachother's grasp. hehehe

BUT!! I will check both crabs for eggs later (since I am not sure of the genders) and if one does have eggs, should I send them to somebody who has the setup to raise the babies? I have no intention of even trying. I am almost out of salt as it is, and we are really tight on money.

Please tell me you didn't set this one to music....

You might need to have a talk with your "kids" about the consequences of unprotected you know what...

haha, no, no music this time.

I have talked with them before, but you know kids...they never listen!

I just got another video!! They went at it again. it's rendering. The one I'm in the process of uploading to youtube is at 62%

VIDEO #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocT8po6g8jY

VIDEO #2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWdZ1IfayZU

That looks much more civilised than the way my Aussie males behavior. I think your males crabs need to give mine some etiquette lessons...

UPDATE: SHE HAS EGGS!!! I'm 100% sure she has eggs. They're pinkish-red colored. Maybe I can get video later. I don't want to stress her out. What a day!

Can I send her to anybody so they can try and raise the babies? Any suggestions? I sure as heck am not going to try to do it. I guess there is about a month until they are ready to hatch.

Edit: I just realized I am going to be out of town in about a month. So I really do need to send her to somebody. Maybe the HCP people?

so exciting! hehe

Congratulations! How very exciting! I hope you find someone to take care of the babies

Congrats!

Something must be in the air lol! First Sojmad and now you!

good luck!! thats really cool!

Thanks! I know, I thought because it was so close to Sojmad's babies that you guys would think I was making it up or something. I promise I'm not!!

I got video of the eggs when she was up walking around tonight! They look more brown than pinkish-red like I thought before. She let me see them really good!

EGG VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xar-HD2nlBY

For those of you that don't like videos, I took a still from the egg video.

I think everybody's hormones are going crazy now! I have three males guarding females in the tank right now!! This is crazy. Godzilla is guarding Cat, Gangsta is guarding Poopy, and Floyd is guarding an unnamed crab. Earlier, one of the tiny E's was guarding my big E, smiles (who I found out was female just last week!) I got video of that because it was just so cute, but I haven't rendered or uploaded it, yet. This is so exciting!

Is there actually a set mating season for hermit crabs? I think the Earth's placement in the orbit would have some effect at the equator, where most species are found, but again, is there a specific season for mating? I know this doesn't have much relevance, but my red wag platies generally mate in late spring and they deliver their young in early summer, around this time. Congratulations on being a crab grandma! That's quite an achievement.