The Fire crab is a large, tortoise-like creatures native to the island of Fiji. They have six legs, and a heavily jeweled shell. It is able to defend itself by shooting flames from its rear end when it is attacked.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 license. The Ministry of Magic states that a compotent wizard should be able to cope with this animal.
Rubeus Hagrid has somehow got the crabs and Manticores to mate, to create the hybrid Blast-Ended Skrewts.
Behind the scenes
Fire Crab
- In the first and second GBA video games based on the series, the player must hit a fire crab with Rictusempra to knock it over, then cast Flipendo to push it into a pit. It will then cease its attacks on you. In the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game), it can be knocked over with Rictusempra and pushed with Rictusempra. In the GBA version of the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire they make an appearance and they have to be splashed with water in their rear end.
- In the PC and console versions of Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets, Harry encounters the occasional fire crab in the Forbidden Forest or in secret passages around Hogwarts. To defeat one, the player can flip it onto its backside by casting Flipendo on it, allowing them to pass safely by if they can do so before it rights itself again, within twenty seconds or so.