HCA: Hermit Crab Association

When I pick up my crabs to give them some couch time at night, I put me finger lightly, on their big and small pincher and they press with resistence against my finger. Has anyone else ever experienced this? Every one of my crabs do this. I wonder if they're playing with me or saying "don't do that, I don't like it!". Any thougts?

I know other people have had that happen with their crabs before, no idea if they don't like it or what. As for me, haven't done that with my crabs, though I did see one crab sucker punch another one in the face once. I like to think of that as a fist bump gone wrong.

I think if they really didn't like you doing that, they'd pinch you....especially since it's their big PINCHER!

Maybe it's a new secret crabby handshake!

That's the reason I got Draco! when I held him in the pet store, he waved his claw at me an then started pushing my thumb I've seen crabs do it to eachother too, I believe it's just a pushing match of some sort, to establish territories and ranks or to settle squabbles they don't always pinch when they have problems with eachother I geuss