HELP! What are my crabs doing?

[toreebcrabs]

I have two hermit crabs, for the past week the two biggest crabs keep getting in this position, the slightly bigger one gets on top of the other thats on its back and is just over top of its shell and sometimes looks like its trying to crawl into the other shell with the crab still in it, I have seperated them several times and them immediately keep going back and has literally been staying like that, not fighting, they occassionally move their legs and tentacles but thats it, and when i seperate them sometimes they start screaming at me. I dont know what is going on, ive read about surface molts but why would they be on top of each other to molt? Should I be concerned?

Im new here and dont know how to attach the pictures

[img][IMG]http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz93 ... 074034.jpg[/img][/img]

[soilentgringa]

How many shells do you have and what type are they? They're either having typical squabbles or trying to shell jack.

Gonna move this into Crab Behavior.

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[toreebcrabs]

I have 3 I believe blue claw crabs idk my parents brung them back from myrtle beach in a wire cage, I immediately went a bought a proper habitat. Two are like the same size and I have one tiny one. They were usually pretty active but now just keep staying on top of each other and haven't been eating, and if I separate them they scream at me and go right back to that position literally all day and night. So I bought I coconut shell and covered them. Idk what else to do

[curlysister]

I think SG is asking how many EXTRA empty shells you have in the crabitat with them, to choose from if they want to change shells.

[toreebcrabs]

I'm going to buy them some today. The pet stores around here had cracked broken ones, so none now

[curlysister]

Yes, they need an extra 3-5 shells per crab in the tank to choose from. So if you have 2 crabs, you will need 6-10 extra shells. Be sure to read through the shell guide before you shop, so you know what to buy.

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 24&t=92552

[Sue1208]

Two of my hermit crabs are doing the same. I have about 10 extra shells in the tank. It looks like the largest Hermie is trying to take the smaller Hermies shell and he won't fit in it. What should I do. I can't get and large shells for a few days?? Also I am having trouble finding any over 1 1/16 opening.

[PinchersAndShells]

Two of my hermit crabs are doing the same. I have about 10 extra shells in the tank. It looks like the largest Hermie is trying to take the smaller Hermies shell and he won't fit in it. What should I do. I can't get and large shells for a few days?? Also I am having trouble finding any over 1 1/16 opening.

The best thing you can do is keep an eye on them and when you see the larger crab trying to take the smaller crabs shell, use a pencil to tap the back of the larger crabs shell. This has always worked for me as it puts the crab into defense mode.

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[toreebcrabs]

OMG it worked. I had to drive almost 40 miles away to get some empty shells bc our pet store just had little broken ones, but as soon as i put the empty shells in the tank and seperated them, the bully immediately went and chose another shell and promptly got in within minutes and then by morning was under the substrate so I wonder if he is about to molt or if his new longer shell just didnt fit inside the coconut house lol, then by morning the tiniest one had found a new shell also, but the one that was being bullied is fine with his current shell for now lol.

I cant believe this was going on for over a week, I mean they didnt eat or drink, then once those new shells were added, everyone was back to being happy and they were starving lol

thanks guys so glad i found this group. I really want my crabs to survive, especially since they were captured from their natural habitat, I feel bad