The difference between white crab and swimming crab

The difference between white crab and swimming crab

Swimming crab, commonly known as "white crab" in some places. Because the carapace is in the shape of a shuttle, it is called the shuttle. There are three protrusions in the center of the carapace, so it is also called "three-spotted swimming crab", which belongs to arthropods. The male navel is pointed and smooth, the claws are long and the shell surface is green; the female navel is round and has fluff, and the shell surface is ochre or spotted. The meat of swimming crab is fat and delicious, with high nutritional value and economic value, and it is suitable for temporary breeding and fattening in seawater. The carapace is spindle-shaped, almost twice as wide as it is long; the surface of the carapace is covered with fine particles, with 2 transverse ridges and 3 wart-like protrusions; the forehead has 2 sharp teeth; the front side edge has 9 sharp teeth, and the last teeth are long thorn-like and protrude outward. The claws are thick and longer than the width of the carapace; the long segments are prismatic, and the male long segments are slender, with 4 sharp spines on the front edge.

Economic Value

The crab has a lot of meat, fat, delicious taste and rich nutrition. Every 100 grams of crab contains 14 grams of protein and 2.6 grams of fat. It is mainly eaten fresh by steaming, and can also be salted to make "pistol crab" and crab sauce. The crab eggs are rinsed and dried to become "crab roe", which are all top-grade seafood.

A warm-temperate perennial large crab, it is also the largest crab in China. It is good at swimming.

They can also dig mud and sand, often lurking on the seabed or near the river mouth. They are ferocious and aggressive, have strong reproductive ability and grow fast. At the end of March, the crabs swim to shallow waters to lay eggs. The largest crab with eggs can reach 750 grams. The peak spawning period is in mid-to-late April. It usually takes 3 years from the first juvenile crab stage to maturity. Female crabs account for more than 80% of the spawning grounds near the coast, while male crabs are more common in the offshore area. The main fishing season is in April. According to veteran fishermen, the temperature during the winter or the water temperature in the wintering grounds has a great impact on the catch of swimming crabs.

The crabs are the most plump around Grain Rain. Although they can be caught in autumn, they are not plump (but male crabs are particularly plump and fat before wintering, and there is a saying that they are "male crabs in the grain stubble"). Male crabs are commonly known as "pointed navels", immature male crabs are called "cha navels", and female crabs are commonly known as "round navels". Female crabs are preferred. Large crabs with eggs are also called "pomegranate yellow". The market prices of male and female crabs vary greatly. The crab meat is white, meaty, tender, and creamy, and tastes delicious. Especially the meat of the two claw-like claws is silky and sweet, with bright crab yellow and fragrant taste. It has a unique flavor when eaten, so it has long been famous and ranks first among seafood. As Li Yu of the Qing Dynasty said, "Crabs are fresh and fat, sweet and greasy, white like jade and precious like gold. They have created the ultimate in color, fragrance and taste, and nothing can surpass them."

Every 100 grams of swimming crab meat contains 14 grams of protein, 2.6 grams of fat and other nutrients. The general way to eat it is to steam it, dip its meat in ginger vinegar juice, and serve it with fine wine, which has a unique flavor. Bai Juyi, a great poet in the Tang Dynasty, said, "Land treasures are rotten bear paws, and sea delicacies are crab claws." He put sea crab claws and bear paws on the same level. In addition to eating fresh, it can also be dried into crab rice, ground into crab sauce, pickled whole crabs (braised crabs), and made into canned food. Crab shells can be used as chitin raw materials, with considerable economic benefits.

Due to overfishing in recent years, the natural resources of swimming crabs are also decreasing. In order to meet market needs and properly protect resources, artificial breeding has been carried out in some coastal areas in recent years. It is reported that earthen ponds are the best for breeding. The structure of the pond is similar to that of intensive shrimp ponds. The area should be small or medium, with a water depth of 1.5 meters to 2 meters. The water quality should be maintained in good condition. Coarse sand and hidden places should be laid on the bottom of the pond for the crabs to live. The same size of seedlings must be stocked in the same breeding pond to avoid cannibalism. Another method is to put the captured thin crabs into earthen ponds after mating in autumn, feed them with small fish, small shellfish, etc. to promote fattening, and harvest them in early winter to supply the market.

Nutritional Value

The meat of swimming crab is tender and white, rich in protein, fat and various minerals. Swimming crabs are the strongest in the winter season, generally weighing about 250 grams, and the largest can reach 500 grams. The female crab is covered with red roe and tastes excellent. Swimming crabs can be eaten fresh, steamed, fried, or stir-fried, or cut in half and stewed with bean paste, or fried with crabs, stir-fried with rice cakes, pickles, and boiled tofu. It is a common dish on the tables of residents in coastal areas. It can also be pickled, that is, fresh swimming crabs are soaked in brine and can be eaten after a few days. It is commonly known as "fresh wind grabbing crabs". In the past, fishermen often selected live crabs with full roe because of the high yield of swimming crabs, picked the roe into a bowl, and solidified it in the wind and sun, which became "crab roe cakes". The flavor is particularly good, but the yield is small, and it is difficult for ordinary people to taste it.