Some kind of Aggression!? (pic)

[Kydra]

So, I decided to check my wyze cam and I caught the tail end of... I have no idea.

A slightly larger molter just came up sometime last night. Was working last night so didn't see much. Tonight I check the camera and post-molt crab was, what looked like to me, looking at maybe getting into a new shell. I thought to myself that I never put a shell there, but things get moved around.

Briefly after the post-molter walks away. The other crab in picture waits for short time and then immediately flips right side up (at this point realized was not an empty shell and wished I had looked a few minutes sooner) then climbs like I've never seen to the very top of a branch of spider wood where he's been for over a half hour now initially rubbing claws together. Wanted to check, but didn't want to stress him more.

I just looked and he remains up, but has finally moved to a more 'comfortable'/normal spot for him. Never have seen this with them and proper diet with 28 extra shells (half buried all over and need to clean and put back in though).

Wanted to get any thoughts on this if possible? Esp since I wasn't able to see the entire incident transpire (may have interrupted if I did). What do you guys think?

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[Motörcrab]

To me it sounds like an attempted shell jacking.

By any chance do you know the sex of both crabs? This is unlikely, but I'll mention it. It's technically the wrong season for mating, but it is constant summer in our tanks. Mating usually takes place around the new moon. Then they carry the eggs until around the full moon to release them at high tide. We are currently between both phases but last summer that didn't matter with my crabs. Lol! I would try to check the one that climbed the tree for eggs. I don't think you will find any, but there is always a small chance.

[Kydra]

To me it sounds like an attempted shell jacking.

By any chance do you know the sex of both crabs? This is unlikely, but I'll mention it. It's technically the wrong season for mating, but it is constant summer in our tanks. Mating usually takes place around the new moon. Then they carry the eggs until around the full moon to release them at high tide. We are currently between both phases but last summer that didn't matter with my crabs. Lol! I would try to check the one that climbed the tree for eggs. I don't think you will find any, but there is always a small chance.

Thank you for the help! I haven't had the chance to check yet, but think it might be the shell, but not sure. I've read on here about crab behavior when another crab basically is on top of the other and kinda rocking the crab.

Last night at work, I checked in on the camera and saw they were close to each other so decided to go in break room to see how that went. Well... the 'aggressive' crab climbed on top of the slightly smaller crab that had climbed to the top in my first post and started trying to rock him/her back and forth. I immediately hit the mic button (which I never used b4 on the wyze cam) and started kinda yelling just making noise. At that point all 3 visible crabs just froze up and then the 'aggressive' crab got off the other and they all separated.

I think this behavior would be the shell jacking, correct? I'm going to disturb their schedule tonight, but am going to take out and dig up all the half buried shells, clean em up, and put back along with adding maybe 2-3 more shells around that size. Already have 28 extra shells in there which I thought was excessive.

Please correct me if I'm wrong on this behavior. I will look at some other posts as I've seen the rocking mentioned before here. Thank you!!!

[Kydra]

So I just removed 27 extra shells... couldn't find the other and didn't want to dig all over. Added a murex and another pearl turbo, but took a picture of all 3 crabs and the 2 are matching, while the shelljacker is in the pearl turbo (believe that's what it is). Just found that interesting.

Going to have to get more shells it looks like. Might just get the large turbo variety pack from Naples.

Cleaned all shells and dipped in saltwater, but figured would add another pic of their current shells.

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[Crabby7Crabber]

Pretty!

[Kydra]

And... the shelljacker moved into the new pear turbo after I left the room . Have about 20 different turbos around that size in there including another pearl turbo. Just wow. How he went right to that new shell after I cleaned and put 30 empty shells all over the tank.

Spent about 10 minutes inspecting it. Got in. Another 5 minutes feeling all around. Decided to leave the old one behind in the end. Hopefully that solves the aggression issues for now!

Thanks for the help here; including in the chat!

[Motörcrab]

Yep. You had a shell jacket for sure. They can be so picky with shells. I'm glad you had a positive out come.

The reason I brought up the mating is because that can look similar to a shell jacking as well.

[Kydra]

Yep. You had a shell jacket for sure. They can be so picky with shells. I'm glad you had a positive out come.

The reason I brought up the mating is because that can look similar to a shell jacking as well.

Appreciate it and will have to look into mating behavior. I do not know the sexes of them, but something to be prepared for. Once I saw the rocking the next night, I figured it was the shell. Crazy can be so picky with so many options!

Also wanted to point out that the $20 wyze cam has been great and not sure how I would have any idea what's going on in the crabitat without it! From favorite foods to molting to now this. Def worth that purchase and would recommend to anyone.

[Motörcrab]

Yea! Having the cams is a great investment. Especially if you invest in the micro SD memory card so you can do time lapse videos! I love the fact that you can review footage then record certain times after the fact. I know I caught a bunch of silly stuff. Crabs falling from the sky, stealing food, shell swaps, and crazy wheel parties to name a few. The cams really show you how active they really are.

[Kydra]

Yea! Having the cams is a great investment. Especially if you invest in the micro SD memory card so you can do time lapse videos! I love the fact that you can review footage then record certain times after the fact. I know I caught a bunch of silly stuff. Crabs falling from the sky, stealing food, shell swaps, and crazy wheel parties to name a few. The cams really show you how active they really are.

Yup. I have videos of shell swaps and so on... fun stuff considering they're nocturnal and without the camera it would seem like pet sand all the time lol.

So the original crab trying to shell jack my other went into a new one I put in as I wrote... then the 'victim' went into the 'aggressive' crabs old shell and so far nobody in the original coveted shell that started it all lol. They have all examined it for a while, but that's about it as of now. Just ordered from Naples a variety both small and large (still pulling for the little guy as unlikely as it gets).

But, yup, I have no idea how I'd know anything without that wyze camera!

[Crabsncritters]

New to crabbies also, and grateful for your post as it helps me know what to look for when determining aggression. I had a similar concern as my littlest crab chirped the other night and I had a concern she may be threatened by a jacking.

You're totally not alone in the excitement, either! My husband and I get such a thrill from watching them eat and wag their little antennae to get a feel for things. They're such fascinating little critters, and make me so happy.

[Kydra]

New to crabbies also, and grateful for your post as it helps me know what to look for when determining aggression. I had a similar concern as my littlest crab chirped the other night and I had a concern she may be threatened by a jacking.

You're totally not alone in the excitement, either! My husband and I get such a thrill from watching them eat and wag their little antennae to get a feel for things. They're such fascinating little critters, and make me so happy.

At first I was unsure, but when I saw the rocking (thankfully by chance I guess) was able to interrupt and correct the situation with 1 shell out of 30 (crazy crabs).

Believe me, there are plenty of people at work who think I'm half crazy when I'm watching them on camera lol. Let alone my partner and family . Definitely an impulse buy on vacation that turned into something that I had no idea I'd be getting into!

Just to update this. The original aggressive shelljacker crab has lost his mind I think. I made some homemade water dishes/pools as I had new ones I thought were leaking and had placed a few large murex shells in there that were relatively heavy. While the large one was fighting for the other lightweight turbos... that same day he goes in the water and leaves his turbo behind and has been in this heavy murex ever since. I will never understand, but glad he's finally happy in his new home.

[Hermiesguardian]

At first I was unsure, but when I saw the rocking (thankfully by chance I guess) was able to interrupt and correct the situation with 1 shell out of 30 (crazy crabs).

Believe me, there are plenty of people at work who think I'm half crazy when I'm watching them on camera lol. Let alone my partner and family . Definitely an impulse buy on vacation that turned into something that I had no idea I'd be getting into!

Just to update this. The original aggressive shelljacker crab has lost his mind I think. I made some homemade water dishes/pools as I had new ones I thought were leaking and had placed a few large murex shells in there that were relatively heavy. While the large one was fighting for the other lightweight turbos... that same day he goes in the water and leaves his turbo behind and has been in this heavy murex ever since. I will never understand, but glad he's finally happy in his new home.

Crabs are weird. That's the consensus.

[Crabalicious]

Laughed out loud at how you broke it up with the mic and they all separated!

Maybe molter forgot he had roomies and was establishing hierarchy again

[Kydra]

Laughed out loud at how you broke it up with the mic and they all separated!

Maybe molter forgot he had roomies and was establishing hierarchy again

Haha. Imagine being at work in the break room and shouting random noises into your cell phone with coworkers wondering if there's something not quite right with ya . As far as I know the crabs don't speak English, but might have been better off just cursing into my phone angrily lol.