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Mr Fiddler Crab Carrying Miss Fiddler Crab
This morning upon arriving at work I saw one of our male fiddler crabs walking semi upside down. He was carrying our female fiddler crab upside down. At first I thought she was dead and that he was carting off a meal.
When I saw her move my thoughts shifted to she's not yet dead but about to become a meal. I put my arm in the tank and touched the male on his underside until he released her. She took off pretty quick. When he tried to follow her I blocked his path with my finger. He wasn't pleased and threatened my finger with his large claw.
About a minute later he seemed to be going after her again and she didn't stick around to let him get a hold on her. I dropped food in the tank hoping it was just hunger that drove him to chase her.
Since I know little about crabs I may have interrupted them mating. However I was told by a fish store worker that fiddler crabs only mate in salt water. If that is true then I don't think they were mating.
Has anyone seen this behavior in fiddler crabs before?
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Robert W. Marda
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