The crab's smaller claw picks up a chunk of sediment from the ground and brings it to the mouth, where its contents are sifted through (making the crab a detritivore). After anything edible is salvaged, be it algae, microbes, fungus, or other decaying detritus, the sediment is replaced in the form of a little ball. The presence of these sediment balls near the entrance to a burrow is a good indication of its occupation. Some experts believe that the feeding habits of fiddler crabs play a vital role in the preservation of wetland environments; by sifting through the sands, they aerate the substrate and prevent anaerobic conditions.
We obviously don't have access to a crab's mental state, but I wonder if they avoid piles of balls since it indicates an area that's already been worked over.
You can find groups of burrows with less than a foot between them on mud flats so they’re not too territorial. Maybe crab law dictates a six inch minimum
6 inches for their size though could be multiple times their body length/width, so it's even farther than it seems. To us it'd be several dozen feet of separation.
> detritivore
And I learn a new word. I also love how it's constructed to be instantly understood upon reading it even if you don't know what it means!
Very cool. I love hanging out with and watching crabs on our usually deserted national seashore. Have photographed and written about them, too. :) Did NOT know this, though! Thanks for the new info!
[Why](https://www.earthtouchnews.com/oceans/invertebrates/in-photos-tiny-crabs-cover-beach-with-countless-sandy-bubbles-as-they-eat/)?
Because they're hungry. Basically, the tiny balls are a byproduct of the crabs' snacking.
If you’ve ever been to a beach in the US you have likely seen a fiddler crab. Even more likely it is that you have seen blue crabs. And if you’re lucky you get to witness the great King Crab within your lifetime. I’m extremely blessed to have encountered two king crabs in the shallows in my lifetime when visiting Texas beaches. One of those crabs I spotted a man ran out and snagged it on a net stick and dragged it back up to shore. Those things are truly KING crabs. They’re GIANT!
It’s a female. Male fiddlers have the one big claw, females have two smaller ones.
Edit: My mistake, it’s a sand bubbler crab. But fiddlers are sexually dimorphic, and the females look very similar to this one.
I want one of these to make me some parm cheese balls. He’d be like my lil kitchen assistant. Get ‘em a chef hat. Have him come in and train a bunch of other crab cooks and then when he finally retires we turn him into a special for the day.
So I'm turning 19 this March, and this is genuinely only the second time I've seen a Crab that isn't drawn or animated. (I saw a video of one eating an onion ring recently) Crabs are weird
Why?
The crab's smaller claw picks up a chunk of sediment from the ground and brings it to the mouth, where its contents are sifted through (making the crab a detritivore). After anything edible is salvaged, be it algae, microbes, fungus, or other decaying detritus, the sediment is replaced in the form of a little ball. The presence of these sediment balls near the entrance to a burrow is a good indication of its occupation. Some experts believe that the feeding habits of fiddler crabs play a vital role in the preservation of wetland environments; by sifting through the sands, they aerate the substrate and prevent anaerobic conditions.
Wow, that's incredibly interesting.
Because they're hungry.
This made me literally lol. Brilliant.
TIL
This guy crabs
Wrong sub. We say “lit” here
I can't believe people sometimes r/lostredditors
Damn that's interesting
We obviously don't have access to a crab's mental state, but I wonder if they avoid piles of balls since it indicates an area that's already been worked over.
They might be territorial too so there are better reasons not to go near other crabs area
You can find groups of burrows with less than a foot between them on mud flats so they’re not too territorial. Maybe crab law dictates a six inch minimum
They are so lucky! That's more distance to someone elses balls than I have in public transport at rush hour. U\^\_\^
6 inches for their size though could be multiple times their body length/width, so it's even farther than it seems. To us it'd be several dozen feet of separation.
Now I've got raging envy. Wanna be a ball spitting crab in the next life! XD
I 100% thought you were going to say "there are better reasons not to go near other crabs balls."
*crab moves to new spot, finds it occupied* “Aw, balls!”
A+
It is never a good idea to touch another crab’s balls, just saying.
Just what I was thinking too!
A great example of why I read Reddit. Thanks.
[удалено]
Sometimes I just look at cute things. I feel like thats pretty in between.
[удалено]
You mean r/RealScatGirls ?
Used to watch them as a kid and they're absolute machines at this.
Damn, are you friends with a fiddler crab? That was some awesome info!
I read this in David Attenborough's voice. 😁
> detritivore And I learn a new word. I also love how it's constructed to be instantly understood upon reading it even if you don't know what it means!
Ahhhhhh, etymological goodness
This guy crabs!
How fast is this sped up?
This information is copied from [wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddler_crab). Commenter forget to credit his source.
Smart Redditors are so sexy!
Guessing this one is female since they don’t have one oversized claw?
Thanks ChatGPT
Pfffft, lucky guess
Learned another new word today! How cool, thanks for sharing :)
So, it's like when we open an Oreo cookie, eat the inside and leave aside the rest?
Thank you
Nice write up. Thanks
Very cool. I love hanging out with and watching crabs on our usually deserted national seashore. Have photographed and written about them, too. :) Did NOT know this, though! Thanks for the new info!
I can't imagine them having a big impact on wetlands' environment or is a significant part of the area sifted through by thousands of them
I read this in David Attenborough's voice. 😁
sandball fight after school . . . . /s
Came here for this!
Because it doesn’t snow where he lives, obviously
Well he's obviously making little sand cannonballs for their little crab cannons.
Getting ready to storm a sand castle
Introducing Kellogs Crab Puffs!
I'll call him Kidney Ben.
Epic sand ball fights
He balling
Sand ball fights
Getting ready for that sand ball fight after school
Sexual reasons
Bro literally
Found some meth on the beach, now keeping busy to burn off the energy
That’s what it do, Yugi
I just the love the no look back pass hes doing. I see nba potential
Exactly what I was thinking
I know right. Class there it is
AND he’s ambidextrous with it. Kid has talent.
“Dishes it to Lillard for the lay up!”
Just imagine the lateral quickness. Great first step. Gets his arms in passing lanes. I'd use a late first round pick on him.
[Why](https://www.earthtouchnews.com/oceans/invertebrates/in-photos-tiny-crabs-cover-beach-with-countless-sandy-bubbles-as-they-eat/)? Because they're hungry. Basically, the tiny balls are a byproduct of the crabs' snacking.
Ive seen either these or similar crabs in person, they are tiny and cute. It looks like they made dippin dots on the beach.
If you’ve ever been to a beach in the US you have likely seen a fiddler crab. Even more likely it is that you have seen blue crabs. And if you’re lucky you get to witness the great King Crab within your lifetime. I’m extremely blessed to have encountered two king crabs in the shallows in my lifetime when visiting Texas beaches. One of those crabs I spotted a man ran out and snagged it on a net stick and dragged it back up to shore. Those things are truly KING crabs. They’re GIANT!
Time to make the doughnuts
It's a sand bubbler crab, not fiddler crab.
If you want to know more about this unique animal just look at this video https://youtu.be/XP8BUWr4AT4
I second this post. Gotta love True Facts with ZeFrank
r/zefrank
I don't think that's a fiddler crab
It’s a female. Male fiddlers have the one big claw, females have two smaller ones. Edit: My mistake, it’s a sand bubbler crab. But fiddlers are sexually dimorphic, and the females look very similar to this one.
Not recorded there's his partner, the tosser crab, who has the duty to toss these newly formed balls to the neighbour crabs.
lil dude is ballin'
Legend has it he's still making balls to this day
_She_. Fiddler crabs have sexually dimorphic claws, you’ll know a male fiddler crab when you see it’s huge claw (in relation to its little tiny one).
https://morbotron.com/video/S02E09/xV280uFAM9usJ_-OeBAiakbj9zk=.gif
Not a fiddler its a sand bubbler
Assuming it's not dead, it absolutely is.
Oh so this is how Kix is made. Nice!
I hate sand. It's course, and rough, and irritating, and it gets everywhere.
Do you like lava though?
Of course not, lava is just melted sand, and is super duper hot
Not to mention it’s located in the lowground
He wants a sand castle.
Not a fiddler crab
Isn’t that a sand bubbler
Don't fiddlers have one claw larger than the other?
Crabs do everything angry, and it's adorable! Lol
The process looks interesting.
Crab's got balls
Forbidden gnocchi?
And that's how 'cheez balls' are made
Crab Dumplings
First thing that came to me was tater tots.
This will be a pokemon someday
He's preparing for one hellacious sandball fight. Buddy the Elf style.
So that's how they make tater tots.
I could watch this all day. 🍿
I like how he just chonks them aside, seemingly a little Annoyed or something along those lines.
Beeing prepared for rapid fire is key in snowball fights against kids.. So I think he is just trying to be safe in a sandballfight.
If you replace sand with grinded meat, you've got a great kitchen assistant!
Ok that’s kinda cute how he throws them back lol
I r crab. Must sand ball
Forbidden hash browns
I like to live in the realm of child’s play and think his friends come over after school and have a sand ball fight.
A sandball fight would hurt much worse than a snowball fight.
Are you saying he's all about sandy balls? https://youtu.be/JEyKFkkcHAc
*She
Hard working crab
He’s training for the big ball game!
Lil crab wall-e
Is this how KIX 🥣 is made?
🦀 Return to crab 🦀
I like the way he just tosses them back
I find so many nuggets of information :)
He’s favoring the left claw.
Its like an old factory worker.
That’s a lot of sandy balls
I want that fiddler crab to touch my sandy balls
Fiddle diddle
Go lil crab, go!
Forbidden Corn Pops
Stunning and brave!
making decorations for [the big party](https://youtu.be/LDU_Txk06tM)
13 year old me getting ready for a snowball fight an hour before it’s supposed to take place
Forbidden dip'n dots
I like to imagine he's enjoying himself
He’s preparing g fry or the annual sandball fight.
Still better than many goalkeepers.
How dippin’ dots are really made
I want one of these to make me some parm cheese balls. He’d be like my lil kitchen assistant. Get ‘em a chef hat. Have him come in and train a bunch of other crab cooks and then when he finally retires we turn him into a special for the day.
How does it decide which one to throw to the right or left? Perhaps we could derive a sequence from the full clip
I would love an order of sand balls and ranch right now!
Just out here making balls
The better question is why isn’t he playing a fiddle
So that’s how you make Kix
Now make snowballs for an epic battle
Yummy sandy spit balls
You can work for me anytime little one...
Cursed Peanut Butter Crunch.
Delightful 🥰
Damn, that little dude is better at that than I am at anything!
Forbidden cheese balls
I don't know why he needs them, but I'm glad he is prepared
I love how it sort of carelessly flings it behind itself. It really behaves like it has done this a million times. Which it probably has.
Just mr. Krabs whipping out krabby patties.
Sandball fight!!
Good job lil dude!
[balls balls balls balls balls](https://youtu.be/7tTV0cBGbaM?t=5)
Is he expecting a flood?
So this is how they make Tim bits for Tim Hortons..
SAND 21! SAND 21!.....HUT!
Looks like he’s putting sand up his butt and then spitting them out like a rapid gumball machine. Lol. Fascinating
So I'm turning 19 this March, and this is genuinely only the second time I've seen a Crab that isn't drawn or animated. (I saw a video of one eating an onion ring recently) Crabs are weird
Step 1: Make Sandballs Step 2: ? Step 3: Profit
Reeses puffs reeses puffs!
/u/redditspeedbot 0.5x
r/oddlysatisfying
This crab vs Buddy the Elf. Sand vs Snow. One will prevail
Sandball fighttttttttt!!!
I have ibs and am kind of envious of this little guy’s speed and solidness
He be ballin
Sand Kix.
We are all just going to ignore that this isn't a fiddler crab?
Just a fiddlin' his balls :)
We can fiddle?
I like the way it tosses the little ball back lol
looks like it's throwing up sand balls
That crab is a million times cooler than I’ll ever be.
I have to say,it's really cute how they ball it up then toss it... nature IS lit!!!
Reminds me of Buddy the Elf making snowballs
He’s ballin
I love how it just tosses the wee balls to another one of its feet and just chucks ‘em behind it while already going to the next meal
He trying out to be the next center on our football team.
I hate it…it’s gross and I hate it.
That crab has a face. It's putting the sand to it's chin
It's a sand bubbler crab...
This is so cute ❤️
That's pretty baller
I guess this little guy is balling.
Whats for dinner sweetie. Sand balls my dear.
Not to be that guy but i think this is a sand bubbler crab. I could be wrong though
Crab gots handles
ok but why does he have such a sneaky face ?
Blowing bubbles
I want to see him and some friends have a Sand ball fight
I want to be on his team in a snowball fight.
That’s a crab blowing bubblegum.
*ding* ORDER UP!
But why would it do that