# Lobster v. Crab **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 30, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338 "2005-08-30T22:26:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brianhogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@brianhogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianhogue)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/1 "2005-08-30T22:26:57Z")
I sent this question in to Cecil, but I wanted to see what information you forum folk could offer: My friend and I are planning to buy both a live crab and lobster, put them in a small area, and have them duel to the death. Is this possible? Will they naturally fight? Or do they need prodding with sticks? What conditions ought I set up to make this the most successful duel between two fine crustaceans. ( I am most concerned with things like the Ph of the water, salt content, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Wishbone\_Ash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Wishbone\_Ash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wishbone_Ash)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/2 "2005-08-30T22:28:54Z")
Damn, you have alot of time on your hands. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/3 "2005-08-30T22:32:25Z")
> [@brianhogue](#): > > Will they naturally fight? Or do they need prodding with > sticks? They may first need some training along the lines of “When I prod you with this stick, it means you must go fight that crab [or lobster].” ---
**Author:** ![Wishbone\_Ash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Wishbone\_Ash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wishbone_Ash)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/4 "2005-08-30T22:34:29Z")
Tell the lobster that the crab has been sleeping with his mate. That should make them go right at it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/5 "2005-08-30T22:34:54Z")
You’ll need to get them steamed. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/6 "2005-08-30T22:36:56Z")
> [@brianhogue](#): > > Or do they need prodding with > sticks? IANAMB, however you will seldom go wrong in choosing to poke with a stick. Oh wait . . . you said _prodding_, not poking. I am sure a Marine Biologist will happen by shortly. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/7 "2005-08-30T22:39:15Z")
To factually answer your question (as I have actually done this with a lobster and a blue crab) You will not need to prod them to do anything. The lobster will simply grip the body of the crab and proceed to crush and eat it. Simple as that. Also, if you are setting up a tank for this purpose then buy instant ocean from the store and aerate the tank sufficiently. I did it in a bucket with real sea water when I was in my teens in Connecticut. It was fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/8 "2005-08-30T22:45:07Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > I am sure a Marine Biologist will happen by shortly. See, I told ya! ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/9 "2005-08-30T22:51:47Z")
[Super Fan] Are dese full sized lobsters, or are dey mini lobsters? [/SF] ---
**Author:** ![brianhogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@brianhogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianhogue)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/10 "2005-08-30T22:55:36Z")
Philosopher, Thanks a bunch! B ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/11 "2005-08-30T23:02:36Z")
don’t forget to play the smother brothers’ lovely ballad of lobster and crab love. that really gets them going. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/12 "2005-08-30T23:03:31Z")
[Biggest Lobster](http://www.boingboing.net/2005/03/03/lobsters_bigger_than.html) > [@](#): > > Heaviest Crustacean: Atlantic Lobster Homarus americanus > Several records exist of individuals that weighed over 20 pounds. The record, however goes to a lobster weighing 42 pounds, 7 ounces, which was caught in 1934 and nicknamed “Mike”. [Biggest Crab](http://photoweb.lodestone.org/photo/506/en) > [@](#): > > Largest Crustacean: Giant spider crab Macrocheira kaempferi > Individuals can measure 12-14 inches across the body, with a claw span of 8-9 feet. There is a report of a crab weighing 14 pounds with a claw span of 12 feet. [Oddly enough one of the biggest shrimp is probably mean enough to kill them both](http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/) ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/13 "2005-08-30T23:11:18Z")
They’ll bicker around a little bit, but in the end the lobster only has to get a hold of the crab and it’s all over. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/14 "2005-08-30T23:26:40Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > You’ll need to get them steamed. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/15 "2005-08-30T23:28:22Z")
I wouldn’t ask Cecil. This is a question for Dr. Zoidberg. ---
**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 30, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/16 "2005-08-30T23:33:00Z")
Is the crab _prepared_? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/17 "2005-08-30T23:41:39Z")
Phlosphr: > [@](#): > > To factually answer your question (as I have actually done this with a lobster and a blue crab) I should have known that someone on this board actually tried this. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/18 "2005-08-30T23:44:12Z")
Aquaman calls winner. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/19 "2005-08-31T01:06:55Z")
I read an article (I’m not sure where) about the secret lives of lobsters - evidently the males are _very_ aggressive and will fight ala the Black Knight until they’ve lost all their legs. Also they’re extremely stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338/20 "2005-08-31T04:10:05Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > The lobster will simply grip the body of the crab and proceed to crush and eat it. Simple as that. Oh yeah? Explain [this](http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=lobster&word2=crab) then. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobster-v-crab/319338.md?page=2)