How Does A Happy Crab Act?

[NiyasCrab]

We had a single PP in a 10 gallon. Once he molted he exhibited behavior that we thought was "happy." He had a complicated tunnel system going, he was always digging, climbing, doing balancing acts, exploring, I mean he was a busy little guy even sometimes during the day and he was usually visble even if sleeping. he stopped running when we came near and we thought YAY HAPPY!

So we got him a friend and instead of putting them both in a 10 gal we got a 20L and added new stuff for them to do and brought all of the stuff that he appeared to love to climb on and dig around into new tank and thought he would be HAPPIER!!!

Now he no longer digs, hardly any digging since the move. He ignores his tree that he once had a love affair with (literally) very little climbing and, no antics and balancing acts. I understand the new guy is probably getting used to us, but we rarely see either of them. They get along well sleeping together and staying in a log together a lot. The new guy is bigger than original guy and now they both have same shells.

As far as habitat temp/humidity is the same as old tank substrate is the same and is about 6 inches deep.

Do you think when he was doing all of the digging and climbing that he was happy then or is the new calmer less active demeanor his "happy" especially since he now has a friend? I wondering maybe the digging was depression??????

I hope this question makes sense!!!!!

[HeathMcCrab]

I can't help... but I anxiously await an answer! I'm sure you're frustrated, as I know I would be.

[Jennybecca]

I just asked myself this same question today as I was running around trying to find new stuff for them!!!!
How do I actually know if they are Happy? and from who's perspective am I getting this sense of happiness from? I can only go down my check list of "needs" and toss in a bit of extras that I have had the time observe with any behavioral differences, good and bad ... outside of that... I have no idea, which is why I'm glad you asked this question!


I am anxious to hear what others might have to say

[Cassafrass1999]

I am not sure why he would be acting like that. Maybe you should fill this out for us just in case.

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?

7. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

8. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?

9. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?

10. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

11. How often do you clean the tank and how?

12. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

13. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?

14. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?

[Jennybecca]

We had a single PP in a 10 gallon. Once he molted he exhibited behavior that we thought was "happy." He had a complicated tunnel system going, he was always digging, climbing, doing balancing acts, exploring, I mean he was a busy little guy even sometimes during the day and he was usually visble even if sleeping. he stopped running when we came near and we thought YAY HAPPY!

So we got him a friend and instead of putting them both in a 10 gal we got a 20L and added new stuff for them to do and brought all of the stuff that he appeared to love to climb on and dig around into new tank and thought he would be HAPPIER!!!

Now he no longer digs, hardly any digging since the move. He ignores his tree that he once had a love affair with (literally) very little climbing and, no antics and balancing acts. I understand the new guy is probably getting used to us, but we rarely see either of them. They get along well sleeping together and staying in a log together a lot. The new guy is bigger than original guy and now they both have same shells.

As far as habitat temp/humidity is the same as old tank substrate is the same and is about 6 inches deep

Do you think when he was doing all of the digging and climbing that he was happy then or is the new calmer less active demeanor his "happy" especially since he now has a friend? I wondering maybe the digging was depression??????

I hope this question makes sense!!!!!

I will add this though~ alot of crabbies come back from molts with different attitudes. This is not uncommon. some go down being fiesty and come back up docile- or vice versa- some come back up from thier molt just the same. if this is your crabbies first molt with you, you are going to see changes throughout your years together

[Bridgitmac80]

First let me say, I don't blame you for freaking out, I did the same thing when my guys did this. We had a 29g and just moved to the 55g. Moved new stuff and old stuff in, I thought I had the most boring tank in the world and still wonder that sometimes, but it just took them time to get used to their new world. After a few days or a week, they would start climbing and such again, but I don't have anywhere near the amount of digging we used to have. I don't know if they are just content to be on the surface closer to us or what in that aspect, but my guys are always out and able to be seen unless they are molting now.

[patchouliii]

They are not sad. It's "human" to think that way though.
I think what you are seeing is your crabs getting used to their surroundings. When you first put a crab in a strange habitat "tank", they are active, running around, discovering, then they just STOP. And that is not a bad thing.
Crabs are pretty smart and they know when they are in new surroundings. You "thought" your crab was happy when he may have just been anxious since it was a new environment and now you think he isn't happy since he is no longer discovering.
One thing you could do is build levels, put in new things to stimulate the crabs like zoo animals. I had an issue with a crab that had repetitive behavior and members suggested I switch stuff around. Once I added more stimulation, the crabs are on a mission to discover again I think if you have your conditions right, then it's normal

[Jennybecca]

They are not sad. It's "human" to think that way though.
I think what you are seeing is your crabs getting used to their surroundings. When you first put a crab in a strange habitat "tank", they are active, running around, discovering, then they just STOP. And that is not a bad thing.
Crabs are pretty smart and they know when they are in new surroundings. You "thought" your crab was happy when he may have just been anxious since it was a new environment and now you think he isn't happy since he is no longer discovering.
One thing you could do is build levels, put in new things to stimulate the crabs like zoo animals. I had an issue with a crab that had repetitive behavior and members suggested I switch stuff around. Once I added more stimulation, the crabs are on a mission to discover again I think if you have your conditions right, then it's normal

I totally agree..
I have beard witness to the exuberance of a rearranging!

[NiyasCrab]

I am not sure why he would be acting like that. Maybe you should fill this out for us just in case.

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? Sand Eco moist mixture about 6.5 inches

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read? 1 on each end of tank about 75/75 usually

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? Heater on back and sometimes heating pad ( it just got cold here for the first time so I used heating pad yestareday)

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)? Treated drinking water (zoo med i think 2 drops per 8 oz) and instant ocean mix salt water 1/2 cup per gal

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? Fresh food (whatever we r eating without seasoning) and dry food mixtures from crabbage patch, oyster shells, moss.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? New to this we've had 1 pp since July and 1 pp about 3 weeks (adoption)

7. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? 20L mesh lid with Saran Wrap

8. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? 1 small 1 medium

9. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? About 10 right now

10. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? Never

11. How often do you clean the tank and how? Tank is new

12. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? I change sponge out every other day microwave for 1 minute

13. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? Yes some new climbing apparatus, a couple of logs, fake plants, coral, mushroom ( from crabbage patch)

14. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?

We don't do playtime or baths but i can tell they bathe themselves because of the sand that is in the dish. i spritz tank every now and then careful not to spray them, I remove fresh food every morning and I think that's about it. Thinking about adding light.


OK Patchoulii I will think about adding levels. I may have to contact you for help lol, I'm not confident about that but I bought the suction cups so that's a start!

[patchouliii]

I'm here to help