Introducing crabs for first time!

jules_LHC · Post by **jules_LHC** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 9:18 pm

Hi guysToday I introduced my new crab to my E, who is bigger than the new crab. I put them in neutral territory and let them try to meet each other by themselves. However it seemed like my E had no interest in the new crab besides continuously crawling over the new crab (and seeming to scare it back into its shell). My E is a lonely crab too, he's had the tank to himself for almost two months since my other crabs died. I put them back in separate tanks for now because I wasn't sure if my E crawling all over the new crab would scare/stress out the new one too much. Any advice?Thanks

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 1:00 am

In this case I would give them time together each day for several days monitoring their interactions. Crawling over the little one is probably indifference rather than aggression but taking some time will probably make you feel better about the interactions. Are the two tanks close to each other? Can they see each other?

jules_LHC · Post by **jules_LHC** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:05 am

I brought them together for half the day today but wasn't able to observe them too closely, they're back in separate tanks now. I just noticed the little one upside down by the food dish while the big one was next to him, so I'm just assuming that everytime the little guy comes out the big guy crawls over him and scares him back into his shell. From my observations yesterday didn't really seem like the big guy was threatening him but when he crawls over the little guy he's so much bigger that it looks like he's enveloping him.They technically can see each other but I don't think they're looking. Still not sure if my E crawling over the new guy so much is okay...

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 11:52 am

Maybe switch them into each other's tanks? That would let the little guy explore the big tank and feel more comfortable.

jules_LHC · Post by **jules_LHC** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 12:21 pm

I could do that. I'm just afraid that the little guy might feel like he has to compete to get to the food dish, since my E has been alone for so long he's used to having the dish to himself. Should I get two dishes?

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 1:10 pm

I have two dishes in my big tank. If you have room, two dishes might be good.Maybe consider rearranging the big tank so it is new to both of them.

jenok · Post by **jenok** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:24 am

You could set the tanks together so they can see each other for a little while.

Keg · Post by **Keg** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 8:29 am

JulesI am having my own issue with introducing two crabs. It's been about two plus years now and they're still in different crabitats. But things are starting to get exciting all of a sudden.In this corner is Azazul, the sweetest eye-contact craving purple pincher in the world. Around 12 years old, she is murderous with other crabs.In the other corner, wearing an expensive african turbo is Hellboy. He has been climbing the tree in his uncovered (massively humidified) habitat to peer at Azazul, even though he almost got eviscerated in a no-holds-barred chainsaw match last time they met.Until yesterday, Azazul has been specifically and intentionally ignoring Hellboy. She knows he's there - if there's one thing a crab has, it's memory.But yesterday, Azazul turned away from the humidifier and spent the day staring directly at Hellboy, who is in the neighboring tank (in his tree). Hellboy is in the right place to be seen but for the last two days he is pointed the wrong way in the tree so he doesn't know Azazul is suddenly interested.There is some serious wanting going on here. But I am skeptical of all this active parenting. I want them to fall in love naturally.

jules_LHC · Post by **jules_LHC** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:33 am

HAHA. @Keg you are great. Currently my crabs are in the same tank and the new one is always in his shell but that's how most of my new crabs always act anyway. I know he eats and moves around when I'm not looking.

Keg · Post by **Keg** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 2:55 am

Mine are definitely acting differently the last few days.Azazul is facing in an uncharacteristic direction - as if waiting for Hellboy to climb his tree again. They were looking at each other through the glass yesterday for awhile and actually wiggling antennae at each other.I don't usually touch them. I only do it about once a year or less if there are bugs in the tat... Well, yesterday I put Hellboy in with Z. He ran around, she was in a quiet mood and didn't react. After awhile, I put Hellboy back in his tank. I feel I have to observe them carefully after the last time they met.When I put Hellboy back, he acted different. He changed shells twice and messed up his area alot. I changed the fresh water three times because he muddied it up. That may have had something to do with changing shells. But also, because he was digging. And he trampled his food dishes repeatedly. It's as if he's agitated because I lifted him. He is usually quiet and neat.****I believe that both my crabs are bored and really want another crab. But they've been alone so long, that they don't know how to act.I don't know if they can really go beyond looking at each other through the glass, but it's an improvement.Funny thing... Before this, Azazul was very interested in mirrors, but specifically ignored Hellboy.****Another observation:Hellboy is making clicking sounds. He's standing on a branch, so I'm pretty sure its vocalizing. He never did that before. I believe this is related to the new social interaction.

Keg · Post by **Keg** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 5:46 am

This a couple of hours or so after my last post.Azazel was waiting (for hours) around by the side of the tank where Hellboy would appear if he climbed his tree.Hellboy was dawdling around near the tree, but didn't climb. Just clicking. He is waring a new shell since yesterday.Finally, he climbed up the tree and Azazul has moved directly over to where he is. Hellboy is "waving" with a pointy leg. I think he's scratching the outside of the other tank. I can't quite see from this angle and distance. With all this activity/excitement, I fear he's in danger of falling. To summarize, interest is definitely taking place after two years or so.***A few minutes later, Hellboy is emitting high pitched chirps that I've never heard before. It is possible I heard them previously, but thought they were from scraping on the glass. But this time, I think it's vocalization.Azazul remains motionless, enthralled. Hellboy is very active in the tree.***I wonder how much Hellboy understands what happened when I temporarily moved him to the other crabitat? I'm fairly sure from the way he's acting that he knows I wasn't being mean to him.

jules_LHC · Post by **jules_LHC** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 7:01 am

That's kind of what's happening with me. Before I had the new crab my E was pretty lonely since his tankmates died and he completely trashed the tank every day. Now that he has a new tank mate and he just sits in a corner all day and doesn't try to interact with the new guy (the new guy is super shy though). I've tried enticing them with yummy food but they just sit in opposite corners of the tank and poop. I know they move around when I'm not looking though.

Keg · Post by **Keg** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 7:45 am

I know its not a good idea to make a big thing out of everything the crab does. But they just went back home to their favorite places. Azazul facing the humidifier and Hellboy in his cave. How and why did they agree to stop? They seemed to anticipate meeting all day. Wouldn't they continue to be obsessed if one left? Or are they talking?

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 4:21 am

@Keg, in regards to intelligence hermitcrabs as you well know are brilliant in their own way otherwise they wouldn't have survived as one species to then become several spread across the world over the ages.I think that captive hermitcrabs can and do display a certain level of inborn intelligence when it comes to problem solving ie they are magnificent escape artists and to communicating gender, age, species and readiness to mate.I think that your two are communicating together if not vocally maybe chemically, male and female hermitcrabs are said to produce different hormones to attract the opposite and because a hermitcrab is equipped with one of the most powerful senses of smell today if would not be far fetched to believe that yours are using chemical signals to talk back and forth.

Keg · Post by **Keg** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 5:45 am

The high pitched chirp... I've heard that in cats and birds. It all means the same thing:want! waaaant!Did you ever see a cartoon image of Charlie Brown standing with his head against a tree? That's what Azazul is doing right now.This tossing of dishes and trampling is just as much communication as clicks, chirps and wiggles. They're emoting all over the place.No wonder they give dreams. That's how they think it into you.