HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So, I finally caved and bought the large crab at Petco today. He is a male PP and very social every time I pick him up. He is about the size of my hand and enjoys wrapping his legs around it and sits like that staring at me. I couldn't walk away from him AGAIN. I'll have to get pictures of him tomorrow, let's hope he changes out of the stupid painted shell before then. He is a very large crab, but I'm not sure what a jumbo would be considered. Like I said, he's the size of my hand, but I'm 5 foot tall and 100lbs so that's not saying to much.
Anyways, enough with the background of how I fell in love. I brought him home to meet the tank mates and all was well until he saw my largest E. He is not really that big to be honest. He's probably a medium sized crab, but he was defiantly the big guy in the tank before I purchased Jack today. Jack and the E who has so name still meet up in the middle of my tank, and my E makes himself look a little bigger by spreading his legs out, so Jack does the same. It doesn't end there though, Jack takes his BP and hits my E on the top of his head so naturally my E retreats inside his shell that is poor fitted like every E shell. I was so scared to just leave them be, so I picked my E up and stuck him in the moss pit. I then picked up Jack and scolded him. He sat in my hand while I pet his little neck area and watched me. I put him back down and he scurried away into a log. My E is now on the net in my tank, and Jack, the big guy, is in the fake plastic plants. I don't know if I should leave them be, or be worried. It's been a few hours since the event happened, but there paths haven't crossed since and I'm worried. I would never in a million years return Jack, because it was love at first sight, but he might need to go into a different tank by himself if he can't get along. I have a 40 I'm setting up for a few of my guys, and a 15 gallon I could put him in. I would rather him not be Isolated though. What do you guys think? Any help would be much appreciated!

Crabs are social animals, which means they have to establish ranks and see who's who in the tank. It's normal, and doesnt usually lead to violence, but I'd keep an eye on them. I've had a large PP repeatedly attack a strawberry until I was forced to seperate them. Jut provide more food then usual, and maybe something they really like and make sure there's lots of shells for both of them. Some crabs take awhile to understand that they don't have to fight to survive anymore, and they panic a little when they're introduced to new crabs
Good luck!

RockyGurly wrote:Crabs are social animals, which means they have to establish ranks and see who's who in the tank. It's normal, and doesnt usually lead to violence, but I'd keep an eye on them. I've had a large PP repeatedly attack a strawberry until I was forced to seperate them. Jut provide more food then usual, and maybe something they really like and make sure there's lots of shells for both of them. Some crabs take awhile to understand that they don't have to fight to survive anymore, and they panic a little when they're introduced to new crabs
Good luck!

I added a second shell shop today. I only have whale eye shells that would be perfect fits for him as of right now though. I need to purchase some turbos that would fit him better. I also added a third food bowl. Hopefully it helps. Jack is just so sweet, I never would have imagined him doing that. The worst part is that he was going back at him with his BP right before I snatched my E out of the tank! He was with E's and PP's in the tank at petco who were much smaller then him. I really hope it's just that whole 'dominance' in the tank thing.

Here are two pictures of him crawling around. I'll get better ones eventually.

Maybe Jack is aware of the crazy E ways of socialization and decided to show the your E that he was not in the mood?
Now that they have their order of dominance taken care of, your E and Jack should be fine. As is with any new introductions to a crab family, you should always keep an eye on the going on's, play tank police for a little bit, it sounds as if they are just being crabs.
I think iso would be good if Jack needs to destress though, not for bonking your E on his head.
He is a very handsome crab!

Bonking or punching or poking is very gentle play with them remeber that exoskeleton? It's pinching or trying to force a crab out of its shell or pullin limbs off that can be dangerous.
Mine still punch eachother, and they're all well acquainted! They never hurt eachother, just making sure other crabs know where they stand so keep an eye on them, but unless they start engaging in realy agressive behaviour, let them get to know eachother in their own way

Something very similar happened to me moments ago.
Have E living with me
Just bought today, a new PP (Only 15-20% larger than E) [I Believe I'll name him Mark Wahlberg]
PP checked out the tank, then met the E in the middle.
They had a shoving match with their large and small pincers. Puffing up to one another to seem larger. It seemed like more of a dance really.
The also kicked out a leg, the right or left front leg. And held it in the air while they shoved one another. Really making it seem like a fight/dance.
My E, altho smaller, would not back down, and eventually the new PP turned and walked away leaving my E slightly confused.
I expect this to happen again tonight.
(Its noon here now, bedtime normally--they are all asleep now)