Crab grabbing onto other’s shell and holding on

Hollym2247 · Post by **Hollym2247** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:54 pm

Green shell is Stripes (calling Stripes he). Dappled shell is Teeny (calling Teeny her). This is how he grabs her.

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Hollym2247 · Post by **Hollym2247** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:55 pm

After I separated them, this is all the way across the 40 gallon breeder tank.

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Hollym2247 · Post by **Hollym2247** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:55 pm

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Hollym2247 · Post by **Hollym2247** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:56 pm

Here they are seconds later on a different cholla stick.

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Hollym2247 · Post by **Hollym2247** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:57 pm

Almost all these shells are the size for or a size up from Stripes.

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DragonsFly · Post by **DragonsFly** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 6:51 pm

They look like appropriate shells, but only the crabs know how good they really are (we don't know all the reasons why a crab thinks a shell is good or not). If "he" is basically chasing "her" around, while ignoring other crabs, then either he wants her shell or maybe wants to mate. You don't see him trying to shake her, or grabbing hold of any of her legs or pinchers or anything, do you?

Hollym2247 · Post by **Hollym2247** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 6:57 pm

No, he just holds her shell from behind.

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Hollym2247 · Post by **Hollym2247** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 6:57 pm

Stripes just came to Teeny in the moss pit.

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Hollym2247 · Post by **Hollym2247** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 6:58 pm

Then the new guy distracted Stripes.

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Hollym2247 · Post by **Hollym2247** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 6:58 pm

Teeny ran away

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YouTube · Post by **GotButterflies** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:19 pm

Before I read past the first paragraph I was going to say it is mating season right now. My guess is the smaller one is a female.

Hollym2247 · Post by **Hollym2247** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:38 pm

Yeah, they’ve been tank mates for a few years. And the smaller one has molted a couple times and he’s not bothering the others. The really small one in the too big black and white shell seems to try to block him but can’t do much.

How long does this behavior go on if it’s mating?

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Hollym2247 · Post by **Hollym2247** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:50 pm

DragonsFly wrote:If there are not any shells that Stripes considers appropriate, it may be that Teeny's shell is the best Stripes thinks he can do. Recently adding more crabs throws the entire dynamic of the group into chaos, so that often can result in increased aggression over resources, which would include shells, food, favorite hang-out spots, etc.

If your conditions are absolutely excellent, including large well-regulated water sources, it may also be that this is mating behavior. Have you checked to see if Teeny is carrying any eggs?

No eggs in Teeny’s shell.

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Hollym2247 · Post by **Hollym2247** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:54 pm

Now he’s messing with the new guy too. The new ones have been here since May. Should I set up the iso tank for Stripes? This is stressing me out.

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YouTube · Post by **GotButterflies** » Sun Jul 11, 2021 12:30 am

If there isn't any chirping, I wouldn't be concerned about it.

During mating; males will follow the females around to make sure no other males mate with her.

If he is getting ready to molt he might be cranky...however like I mentioned, if there isn't any chirping, or any aggression, I wouldn't be concerned.

Make sure there are plenty of shells, calcium, protein and fat sources available to him. Good luck

HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Crab grabbing onto other’s shell and holding on

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Crab grabbing onto other’s shell and holding on

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