Pitho crab mating?

[SaltyCrew4u]

So today I walked by my tank and my female pitho was upside down on the sand and my male on on top. Mating? Afterwards it looked as if something was open underneath and she was there for a few minutes doing her thing. Any clue what could of went down? Also my male arrived missing his front smaller claw. Will it grows back? He struggles trying to pull off my bubble algae.

 

[19Mateo83]

The claw should grow back as it molts…. Now as far as crabs doing it missionary…Not too sure about that one lol

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

The claw should grow back as it molts…. Now as far as crabs doing it missionary…Not too sure about that one lol

How often do they molt?

 

[19Mateo83]

No real way to tell for sure but they molt as they grow so if it’s healthy and is eating it shouldn’t take too long.

 

[Dr. D]

They’re just “wrestling,” as my parents used to say.

 

[RyAndBlue]

Out pitho crabs did this too yesterday, except our female (who was twice the size of this male) actually stalked him, picked him up, and kept him from leaving. While together, both crabs had their flaps out and moving. This kept going for several minutes, while remaining completely still aside from the flap motion. Afterwards, she pinned him to the sand with her front left leg (she's missing a claw, we don't know what happened since we got her only a couple weeks ago) and began to eat some hair algae. He managed to crawl away after a little while, and she moved on and attempted to stalk another male, but no "jumping" like she did with the first male.

All of our males (3 total) were only introduced yesterday morning. And the poor male that got jumped was already missing three limbs.

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

Out pitho crabs did this too yesterday, except our female (who was twice the size of this male) actually stalked him, picked him up, and kept him from leaving. While together, both crabs had their flaps out and moving. This kept going for several minutes, while remaining completely still aside from the flap motion. Afterwards, she pinned him to the sand with her front left leg (she's missing a claw, we don't know what happened since we got her only a couple weeks ago) and began to eat some hair algae. He managed to crawl away after a little while, and she moved on and attempted to stalk another male, but no "jumping" like she did with the first male.

All of our males (3 total) were only introduced yesterday morning. And the poor male that got jumped was already missing three limbs.

Savage crabs! I guess we'll wait and see. I could use some more. My current aren't touching my bubble algae.