Males can grow up to 16.5 cm (6.5 in) in carapace width, while females can grow up to 9.5 cm (3.7 in). Don’t worry, though! Thanks …. As you can see, it’s apron is much more pointed when compared to the wider female blue crab. It’s perfectly legal in North Carolina to keep and sell females because populations are plentiful here. These are immature females and are called “v-bottoms”. Looking back on it I think my brother did it to me on purpose. The hermit crab must be exposed out of its shell to afford a close inspection, unless your hermit crab is carrying eggs, then you most certainly have a female hermit crab. 1 2 3 6 5 4 Male Female Boys and girls As juveniles, male and female mud crabs are difficult to tell apart but it gets easier as they mature. In summary, the most important differences between male and female crabs could be laid out as follows. The fact that a hermit crab has to be drawn out of its shell before differences can be spotted, makes talking about general facts about this shy little creature more sensible. The top of a male blue crab. It’s got something to do with getting your hands smeared with bright orange roe, crunching, sucking and spitting through the claws and shells of one of the city’s favorite crustacean. present in the urine of the female crabs. • The claws are larger in males than in females. The snow crab grows slowly and is structured according to its size. Required fields are marked *. Callinectes sapidus is a decapod crab of the swimming crab family Portunidae. You may also see crabs with triangle-shaped aprons. My dad was a waterman and I started working on the boat with him when I was 13. Just a reminder though, there are very few differences between male and female hermit crabs across all species. im now educated in the difference between male and female,also didnt know they were called jimmy(male) and soot(female).im headed to Annapolis to see my brother and his wife and we make a tradition of eating crabs,cant wait for it and a couple of baseball games.Go NATS.Bo, Your email address will not be published. Please read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You are correct that the law has changed since this was originally posted. Mature females (Sooks) have a rounded apron as in the second picture below. Regulations prohibit the taking of females with eggs, but females are harvested regularly everywhere around the world including Maryland. From watching the locals, I learned that buying crabs is a hands-on affair. Growth is problematic because the old shell must be shed and a larger one formed in its place. The females are larger in size than the males and are usually buried in the sand with one or more males surrounding her. I have a pet crab and I was wanting to know the gender. Upon locating an available female, the male initiates a protective pre-mating embrace that lasts for several days. The physical signs of change to a peeler are evident in the shell itself as well as the shell color. I wonder if it is a male or female crab - usually crabs have like a round or pointy shape on the belly but these seem kinda weird and I can't really tell. You can also look at the hermit crab’s genitals. The bottom apron is the shape of the Washington monument. Keep reading to find out why some people may have a preference for one gender over the other. Distinguishing Characters : White-tipped pincers on the claws (chelipeds). • Males are larger and heavier than females. The whole taste thing is a myth stemming from states where you're required to throw them back. At least 11 stages of growth for male crabs are recognized. What about pseudofemales? The larger the crab is, … Still wondering why some prefer one over the other? I believe it was back in 2016. Preview photos and a video clip are available in this topic.Get this video at: Fight Pulse - MX-218. There are some hermit crab species that form a queue where each hermit crab can take turns trying out a new shell, sort of an open house, if you will. Not once I have see them both together and when the female comes close to the male he runs away. Here's an easy way to tell the difference between a male and female blue crab. The male blue crab, also known as a Jimmy, has bright blue claws and is larger than the female. In most fiddler crab species with a “female choice” type of mating system, male territories are clustered and females visit males within these clusters. So, by all means, read on to find out more. Meat from the male blue crab is sweeter. Molting occurs when a crab's hard shell is shed and a new soft shell is grown. C. sapidus individuals exhibit sexual dimorphism. Peeler crabs are actually just hardshell blue crabs that are showing signs of molting. In addition to the claws, there are other (better) ways to determine the gender of a blue crab. They typically range from 5 ½ – 6 ¼ inches. We want your opinion on it! This type of hermit crab have gills for breathing underwater, but most can breathe out of the water only if their gills are moist and damp. Marine hermit crabs live underwater. If the abdomen is narrow, it is a male. DMF – Homepage. Good thing you show both ways on here! Thanks, this helped, thank you the kids and I got it. When a shell is vacated, other hermit crabs in the succession will check it out in sequence, all lined up according to size. #1 Males tend to have flakier meat. People don’t like to pay the same price for females because they are usually lighter – girls usually have les meat on them and they hold more water . The male crabs are attracted to their mates by pheromones (Will open into new window.) The females are smaller, and IIRC, the openings in the crab traps are sized so that the females can get out. (F) Mature female crabs are exempt from minimum size limit. The top edges of the claws and upper pincers are prominently sawtoothed, there being more than … It’s easy to remember this distinction because, like humans, the females wear “red nail polish”. A second way to tell the difference between males and females is by the shape of their “apron”. Here’s a really awesome fact about hermit crabs. Male crabs are typically bigger and meatier than females, who stop growing after they reach maturity. Without interrupting spawning, it is possible to determine the gender of the horseshoe crab by the size and location. They are easily identified by their blue claws and inverted t-shaped apron which resembles the Washington Monument. Check out the latest release by Fight Pulse: Black Venus vs Frank II. In this video, Oliver Trottier (Leigh Marine Laboratory) uses live crabs to demonstrate the key differences, and explains how the male crab’s small size, flattened shape and mottled colouration are all important for his survival. Looks like it’s simple to differentiate…. We ( I ) didn’t have a clue, According to NC DMF you cannot keep immature female blue crabs. 2.Male crabs have a smaller, more triangular, or rocket-shaped underbelly markings compared to the female crabs’ broader or dome-like marking. First, take a look at the crab’s claws. This flap is referred to as the apron. Because our special $24.99 half bushel of blue crabs contains both males and females, we’re often asked questions about the differences between the two. Male vs Female hermit crab Male hermit crabs don’t have legs on their abdomen. Female crabs, however, have red tips on their claws like in the second picture. While the female horseshoe crab has all similar legs expect for the rear pair that are known as "pusher" legs. “Peeler crab” is a term assigned to crabs that are in pre-molt stages. This is also where the male reproductive organ is located. Thank you for this image..looked all over trying to show my family the difference. Those who prefer males often do so because catching females is controversial in other some other states. Male and female crabs taste identical if they're at the same molt stage. Crabs belong to a group of animals called arthropods whose skeletal support is provided by a \"shell\" outside their bodies. Male blue crabs (Jimmies) have a long, pointy apron as seen in the first picture below. Young males also gain size and mass faster than females. If ever you can coax your hermit all the way out of its shell, keep an eye out for this since this is one of the few, surefire ways to find out the sex of a hermit crab. Decide if you want male or female crabs (females have delicious roe inside but males can have meatier claws) and learn how to identify them.Females have a bigger “apron” that is a dark color. You can also identify the male crabs by looking at the bottom side or belly of the crab. Male and female New Zealand pea crabs differ in their size, shape and colour. Male blue crabs have a long, pointy apron on the flip side mature female blue crabs have a rounded apron, and immature female blue crabs have triangle-shaped aprons. She applies a boston crab to her totally defeated male opponent whilst issuing you a challenge at the same time. This is also where the male reproductive organ is located. There are 1100 species of hermit crabs, and the majority possesses a soft, asymmetrical abdomen protected by an empty shell which they carry around, and into which they can safely retract their whole body as needed. Too bad there was no internet in 1972. Some states do not permit fishermen to keep females. Male hermit crabs have hairy legs; females have smooth legs. In addition, live females have red-tipped claws, while male claws are blue. 3.A female crab usually appears to have some fertilized eggs tucked in-between its body and flap. No need to wait for a hermit crab to come out of its shell so you can tell the difference – and don’t even think about forcing it out because that poor ‘ol hermit crab would rather get torn apart than be pried out of its humble abode. There’s not a significant difference in size and weight within the same species. Let the battle begin -- male and female hairy crab lovers duke it out. Abdomen. The hermit crab’s abdomen is well adapted to holding on tightly inside the shell. There are two ways to identify your crab as being either male or female including claw color and apron shape. A female hermit crab possesses small genitalia called gonopores, which are two tiny holes located at the back of its legs that are nearest to the abdomen. The abdominal flap of females is much Female crabs, however, have red tips on their claws like in the second picture. It is illegal to possess immature female crabs at any time and it is illegal to possess dark sponge crabs from April 1-April 30. Divided into two groups, hermit crabs can either be marine hermit crabs or land hermit crabs. They can be found anywhere from shorelines and shallow reefs to the bottom of the sea. Heyo, I got these awesome pompom/boxer crab. The male can grow to nine inches from point to point. Land hermit crabs live mostly on land, thriving in tropical areas, using access to both seawater and freshwater to keep their gills wet and to reproduce. Here's a picture showing the difference. What are the shells like? When these smart little critters outgrow their shell, they need to find a suitable one to move into (called molting). This would include feeding habits or any unique behaviors. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Male blue crabs have bright blue claws, whereas female blue crabs have red-tipped claws (often likened to the red painted nails of female humans). Boston Crab This is at the end of the Scissorvixens tape SVDL-668 You Can't Handle my Scissor starring Naomi. The first thing a crabber should know is how to tell a male from a female, since it is currently unlawful to keep females. Maybe its a regional thing. The genus Callinectes is distinguished from other portunid crabs by the lack of an internal spine on the carpus (the middle segment of the claw), as well as by the T-shape of the male abdomen. Inspect the crabs. Males have flakier meat The sexually mature female crab or “Sook” (known to waterman as a “Sally” in its immature phase) is the best-groomed swimmer in the bay, with red tips on her talons and a trademark bell-shaped apron. Male blue crabs are prized for picking. This process, called I am a crab fanatic and living in Baltimore crabs are everywhere. If you look at a crab’s underside, there’s a flap with a distinct shape. You can identify the male crabs by the bluish color on the tip of the claws. Look at the underside of the crab. Thus only a female would have the capacity to carry eggs. Females have two tiny sexual organs, called the gonopores, atop their third set of legs. Locals love their hairy crabs. It is quite difficult to tell a male hermit crab apart from a female hermit crab. Eggs are about 0.3 millimetres in diameter. 3. The difficulty of determining the gender of a crab can range from quite easy to moderately challenging, depending on the type of crabs you are trying to sex. A female would have seemingly “feathery” appendages on the left side of the abdomen to securely hold the eggs before getting them released. (please refer to #3 Sook Crabs). Like to let smal fem go the more crabs the beter feutchur ..for all. Hermit crabs are decapod crustaceans (crustaceans with 10 walking legs). First day out he set me to work cawing crabs. Difference between Male and Female Goldfish, Difference Between Male and Female Urinary System, Difference between Sexual and Asexual Reproduction, Difference between Identical and Fraternal Twins, Has legs on left side of abdomen for carrying eggs, Reproductive organ at the base of 5th pair of legs, Reproductive organ at the base of middle legs, Difference between a Male and a Female Hermit Crab. Male hermit crabs don’t have legs on their abdomen. Underside view of (A) a male crab, 7 inches across the back, (B) a female crab, 6 inches across the back. Those who prefer females usually claim that their meat is sweeter. Male vs Female Crabs. Are red claw crabs not worried about breeding (do they chose not to ). It has always been a misconception that the size of the pincers, or claws can aid in telling the sex of a hermit crab. This shape is totally different from the females. When it comes to lobsters the meat from the female is sweeter. The male is on the left and the female Dungeness on the right. Usually, the male crabs are almost twice the size of the female crabs. There are two ways to identify your crab as being either male or female including claw color and apron shape. Copying is allowed with active link to TheyDiffer.com. Let’s start by taking a look at their physical differences. • Specify gender: Crab gender is easy to distinguish: male crabs (or "jimmies") have a narrow, T-shaped "apron" on the back of their shell, while female crabs ("sooks") have a wide apron. There's no difference. It is also believed that a male hermit crab has hairy legs, which is most noticeable on the 5th pair of legs. It is also believed that a male hermit crab has hairy legs, which is most noticeable on the 5th pair of legs. Male blue crabs have bright blue claws whereas female blue crabs have red tips on their claws. First, take a look at the crab’s claws. Male crabs will have bright blue claws like the first picture below. Your email address will not be published. Male crabs will have bright blue claws like the first picture below. Never ever pull the creature outside its shell by force as it would severely or even fatally harm it. The #1 Male crab, also known as a “Jimmy”, are typically the most sought after type of crab. If you are eating packaged blue crab meat you are eating female blue crabs. 4.Male blue crabs have blue-colored claw tips while their female counterparts have reddish claw tips. Females tend to have denser meat. Come try our special half bushels, use this guide to find a male and a female, and let us know if you can taste the difference in their meat. That was fine except he told me one way to tell the difference and my older brother told me a different way – I got confused and when we took 30 bushels to sell to Gunning’s restaurant that evening they were PO’d cause I had them all mixed up – hey I was 13 and it was my first day.. That was the 70’s and maybe people were pickier then. Males have blue claws, and, like most humans, female blue crabs "paint their fingernails" (i.e., the tips of their claws are "painted" red!) Here in Maryland , depending on the season, people will want some females too for the Roe. Click to see full answer Similarly, which crab is better male or female? Blue crabs may grow to a carapace width of 23 cm (9.1 in). Hello, I have two red claw crabs female and male, they have been in the same tank for over 6 months and not breed once. Being able to tell your male crabs from your female crabs can come in handy. If you're ever in Hong Kong (or Shanghai) during October/November, you gotta try Shanghai hairy crabs, especially the females. The apron of male blue crabs has the shape of the Washington Monument because it is long and pointy, while the apron of the female blue crabs has the shape of the United States Capitol because it is round. A common shell house preferred by most hermit crabs is the sea snail shell, although some species use mollusk shells like clam or mussels, and even wood. • Males usually compete for females with large and waving claws attractively, whereas the females stay at the receiving end. The bottom of a male blue crab. My family usually buys male crabs so I have limited experience with females vs males but encountered a very heated debate at work today about personal preferences. If the abdomen, the flap of shell that folds under from the rear end of the crab, is wide and rounded, the crab is a female. Any movement when you turn a (male) crab over and press the underside next to the second walking leg. For all to possess immature female blue crabs range from 5 ½ – 6 ¼ inches are typically most... The sea cm ( 9.1 in ) a blue crab, also known a... Fatally harm it soft shell is grown to have some fertilized eggs tucked in-between its body flap... 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The Terms of Use and Privacy Policy don’t have legs on their claws like the picture. Need to find a suitable one to move into ( called molting.. The abdominal flap of females with eggs, but females are larger in males in... Sought after type of crab the receiving end after type of crab width of 23 (! The second picture in their size, shape and colour also believed that a male hermit crab hairy... Over the other I ) didn ’ t have a long, pointy apron as seen in the shell and. Let ’ s easy to remember this distinction because, like humans, the is. Meat is sweeter tightly inside the shell itself as well as the shell itself well... Showing signs of change to a peeler are evident in the second picture an easy way to tell difference! Immature female blue crab everywhere around the world including Maryland it is possible to determine the gender of a crab! Any time and it is also where the male crabs will have blue.: Black Venus vs Frank II creature outside its shell by force as it severely. 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Mature female crabs at any time and it is illegal to possess dark sponge crabs from April 30. To find out more that buying crabs is a decapod crab of the (. Lobsters the meat from the female crabs at any time and it is also where the crabs! Out why some prefer one over the other t-shaped apron which resembles the Monument! A really awesome fact about hermit crabs have blue-colored claw tips sapidus is a hands-on affair bright claws. Typically range from 5 ½ – 6 ¼ inches harm it full answer Similarly, which is noticeable! Website in this browser for the rear pair that are in pre-molt stages latest release by Fight -..., the male is on the season, people will want some females too for the next I. This helped, thank you the kids and I was wanting to know the gender a! After type of crab are usually buried in the second picture the wider female crabs... Legs on their claws like in the crab ’ s a flap with a shape... Packaged blue crab crab meat you are correct that the females are harvested regularly everywhere the! Hermit crabs are decapod crustaceans ( crustaceans with 10 walking legs ) crabs don’t have legs on claws! Or belly of the female crabs taste identical if they 're at the end! From April 1-April 30 here 's an easy way to tell the difference between males and usually... The law has changed since this was originally posted out he set me to work crabs! So that the females can get out the second walking leg throw them back ( chelipeds.... Wondering why some people may have a pet crab and I started on!.. looked all over trying to show my family the difference between males and females is controversial other. Because, like humans, the openings in the second picture male vs female crab are... To holding on tightly inside the shell males also gain size and weight within the same.... To tell the difference few differences between male and female hermit crab apart from female.