# Coconut crabs, won't you come out tonight? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 21, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coconut-crabs-wont-you-come-out-tonight/460841 "2008-08-21T20:01:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coconut-crabs-wont-you-come-out-tonight/460841/21 "2008-08-22T15:50:58Z")
[QUOTE=blondebear] When the Long Beach Aquarium first opened, they had spider crabs on display. For some reason, they were losing/shedding their legs. The staff person said they hadn’t figured out why. One poor creature was down to just 4 legs. It was one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen. I haven’t been back since. I hope they figured it out before all the crabs died. ☹ [/QUOTE] My WAG, the night watchman had a fondness for crab legs. “Surely they won’t notice if I just take one or two at a time”. Anyone else think this was going to be a recipe thread? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coconut-crabs-wont-you-come-out-tonight/460841/22 "2008-08-22T16:07:13Z")
I couldn’t help thinking how tasty the coconut crabs looked at the Long Beach Aquarium. Or the other crabs, for that matter. Also, the large tank of anchovies. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coconut-crabs-wont-you-come-out-tonight/460841/23 "2008-08-22T16:32:09Z")
That is the greatest thing ever. I’d adopt one in a heartbeat, except it probably wouldn’t get along too well with the ferrets. Also, I’d be surprised if it could be litterbox-trained, and I fear crab poo. Speaking of ferrets, Wikipedia claims that the coconut crab has some surprising affinities: > [@](#): > > It is also called the robber crab or palm thief, because some coconut crabs are rumored to steal shiny items such as pots and silverware from houses and tents. That’s adorable. So they’ll not only tear your soul apart, they’ll mug you at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![dactylic\_hexameter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@dactylic\_hexameter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dactylic_hexameter)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coconut-crabs-wont-you-come-out-tonight/460841/24 "2008-08-22T20:01:54Z")
**Terrifel** - If you like the idea of crabs stealing things, you would love this (children’s) [book](http://www.amazon.com/Kermit-Hermit-Bill-Peet/dp/0395296072/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219435214&sr=8-1) . ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coconut-crabs-wont-you-come-out-tonight/460841/25 "2008-08-22T20:28:11Z")
[QUOTE=thelurkinghorror] Note that wikipedia says the largest _land-living_ arthropod. There are worse horrors that lie in the depths. These might not look as creepy, and are less likely to eat you in your sleep due to their aquatic physiology, but I’m sure you can appreciate a [12 foot leg span](http://www.vincelewis.net/spider.html). [/QUOTE] I’m most creeped out by this bit: > [@](#): > > Their long legs enable them to move quite quickly and stalk their prey… > > …They move along the Ocean floor very slowly… So they _can_ move very quickly, but they _don’t_? They’re just toying with us! ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coconut-crabs-wont-you-come-out-tonight/460841/26 "2008-08-22T21:29:25Z")
[QUOTE=dactylic hexameter] **Terrifel** - If you like the idea of crabs stealing things, you would love this (children’s) [book](http://www.amazon.com/Kermit-Hermit-Bill-Peet/dp/0395296072/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219435214&sr=8-1) . [/QUOTE] Thanks! I see that my local library has a copy (several, in fact-- frankly more than one might expect, really. But I guess it’s never too early to start indoctrinating the kids with anthropomorphic crab fiction). > [@Mangetout](#): > > I’m most creeped out by this bit: > > So they can move very quickly, but they don’t? They’re just toying with us! I think it probably has more to do with the fact that any one part of the ocean floor is pretty much like any other part. So what’s the hurry? That whale carcass will still be around when you finally get there. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coconut-crabs-wont-you-come-out-tonight/460841/27 "2008-08-22T21:41:58Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] So they _can_ move very quickly, but they _don’t_? They’re just toying with us! [/QUOTE] I mostly linked to that for the pictures, the actual text is pretty uninformed, although there are corrections sent in by others below. Still I would take what is said with a grain of salt. …However if we assume that it is accurate, perhaps at the depth that they live in, the pressure limits movement speed? I would love for you to get your hands on one. I want a full report of their edibility in the future! ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coconut-crabs-wont-you-come-out-tonight/460841/28 "2008-08-22T21:59:39Z")
At the bottom of the wiki page there is a link to the Crab Street Journal but I momentarily thought it said “crab street _justice_”. I could definitely see these crabs being capable of some street justice! ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coconut-crabs-wont-you-come-out-tonight/460841/29 "2008-08-23T03:10:47Z")
[QUOTE=jackdavinci] At the bottom of the wiki page there is a link to the Crab Street Journal but I momentarily thought it said “crab street _justice_”. I could definitely see these crabs being capable of some street justice! [/QUOTE] “He’s a giant crab on the wrong side of the law. She’s a gritty detective with nothing to lose. They fight crime. — L.A. Claw, on FOX!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coconut-crabs-wont-you-come-out-tonight/460841.md?page=1)