Fire crab

Fire Crab
Species information
Eye colour	Black
Skin colour	Grey
Native to	Fiji
Distinction	Jewelled shell, shoots flames from rear end
Ministry of Magic Classification	XXX
Status	Beast

"Fire Crabs are nasty little pests that shoot hot flame out of, well... at you."

— Gilderoy Lockhart lectures on the Fire Crab.

A Fire crab

The Fire Crab is a large, turtle-like crab creature native to the island of Fiji. It has six legs, and a heavily jewelled shell, with different colours. 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 licence. The Ministry of Magic states that a competent wizard should be able to cope with this animal. 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.

Fire Crab

Different fire crab variants exist, which can be identified by the jewels in their shells. Noted variants include shells fitted with rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Rubeus Hagrid was somehow able to get Fire Crabs and Manticores to mate, creating the hybrid Blast-Ended Skrewts.

Behind the scenes

• Despite being a protected species, fire crabs appear as enemies that can be killed in many Harry Potter video games. Therefore, their role as such is likely not canon.
• In the Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets GBA and PC 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 either cease its attacks on you or be unable to attack you. In the PC versions Fire Crabs can be encountered in the Forbidden Forest, Diffindo challenge or in certain areas of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
• In the Prisoner of Azkaban game, it can be knocked over with Rictusempra and pushed with Rictusempra.
• In the GBA version of the Goblet of Fire game, they have to be splashed with water on their rear end.
• Incendio can be cast at a flipped over Fire Crab in the Gamecube version of Chamber of Secrets to kill it.
• In the PC version of Philosopher'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.

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

See also

• Blast-Ended Skrewt

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)

Fire Crab

• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game) (GBA version only)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (DS/PSP/IOS version only)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 (DS/IOS version only)
• Pottermore