Mini-pets?

Can anyone be nice enough and explain to me what minipets do? and if anything what they do?I once saw this red crab like thing following us though a mission..was that a mini pet?

They do nothing except follow you. You get one once your character reaches an age of 1 year (or you can buy one).

crab was most likely a pet which you obtain from in factions

It's just a fad, and I wish people would get over it... such a waste of money. As the The Herbalizer said, the crab would have been a real pet, belonging to one of the rangers you did the mission with.

Nonono! Never stop obsessing with minipets! I like selling them at high prices!