The Harry Potter Compendium
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The Fire Crab is a large, turtle-like crab creature native to the island of Fiji[1]. It has six legs, and a heavily jewelled shell, with different colours[1]. It is able to defend itself by shooting flames from its rear end when it is attacked[1]. The Fire Crab is a protected species, and a reservation has been created to protect this species from Muggles, who would value the jewelled shell, and wizards who use the shells as cauldrons. Fire Crabs are sold and exported as pets, but the owners require a special licence. The Ministry of Magic states that a competent wizard should be able to cope with this animal[3]. Fifth years, for their Care of Magical Creatures O.W.L., had to demonstrate how to feed and clean out a Fire Crab without sustaining serious burns[4].

File:Pottermore Fire Crab.jpg

Fire Crab

Different fire crab variants exist, which can be identfied by the jewels in their shells. Noted variants include shells fitted with rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.[5]

Rubeus Hagrid was somehow able to get Fire Crabs and Manticores to mate, creating the hybrid Blast-Ended Skrewts.[6]

Behind the scenes[]

File:Fire crab.png

The first try to create a Fire Crab appears in the left corner of this scene in Sorcerer's Stone for PC

  • In the PC version of Sorcerer's Stone, Harry encounters a Fire Turtle in the Fire Seed Caves in the Forbidden Forest. The Fire Turtle appears to be an early version of the Fire Crab. Its look is likely due to the 'first-time creation'.
  • In the DS, PSP and IOS versions of LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, fire crabs are an enemy that can't be killed, but can be stunned using Stupefy. They also appear in the following game.
  • Although in the video games their shells are multi-coloured, the Fire Crab that appears on Pottermore has clear jewels in its shell.

See also[]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]


Care of Magical Creatures
The Monster Book
Professors: Silvanus Kettleburn · Rubeus Hagrid · Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank (substitute teacher)
Textbooks: The Monster Book of Monsters · Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts: Hagrid's Hut · Forbidden Forest · Care of Magical Creatures classroom
Creatures studied: Hippogriffs · Flobberworms · Salamanders · Blast-Ended Skrewts · Nifflers · Unicorns · Thestrals · Bowtruckles · Crups · Fire crabs · Knarls · Kneazles · Porlocks



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