crabs strange butt-hatch!!

[kat and james]

ok this may seem like a really weird question, but the other day i was looking into the tank and noticed these funny light coloured spore type things floating around, which the fish were going crazy over!
i looked around trying to find the source, and noticed the crab sitting in it's usual hidy hole with this funny hatch on the area that i would imagine to be its butt, opening and closing.. really strange.. this hatch would open, and inside was sort of whitish fluffy stuff, the crab then used its claws to pull at this stuff, then it would close the hatch and do it again!!

my question is.. what was it doing..?? the only thing we can figure is that it was laying eggs or something.. do crabs even do that?? i have no male crab (if this is what it was doing), should i get one..?? not really too sure as to what to do?? if anything!!

thanks guys!

 

[Synirr]

Hmm... it sure sounds like your crab is carrying eggs, yes, but I'm no expert on crabs. Maybe you could do a Google search on it? Just search for "<your type of crab here> eggs" and see what comes up

 

[Dorkhedeos]

she is getting rid of her eggs. that flap holds the eggs. only females have this flap. i can post a picture of a male and female crab the next time i go fishing if you want.

Edit: oh yeah, i think most crabs can store the stuff for a year, so a male isnt necessary everytime it has eggs.

 

[kat and james]

wicked.. thanks for confirming my thoughts!! was pretty crazy to watch.. i did manage to get a pic of her doing it. should i get a friend for her, she did have one, but sadly he popped his little socks, or should i say claws
thanks again guys!! oh yea i will take a look on google also! i'll let you know!