Blue Crab Molt
Callinectes sapidus
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
A perfect, empty crab shell, paper light — a shed skin, not a dead crab.
- Typical size
- 3–8 in across
- How often it turns up
- Common
- Collecting
- Usually legal to collect
- Handling
- Safe to handle
Empty molts are free to collect.
How to tell it apart
- Completely hollow and very light
- Split along the rear edge of the carapace
- Blue claw tips, red on females
Where to find these in Florida
Beaches rated very good or excellent for tidepool life. Each page shows today’s score, the best window and access details.
- Bathtub Reef Beach · Stuart
- Anne's Beach · Islamorada
- Bahia Honda State Park · Big Pine Key
- Bathtub Beach · Stuart
- Caspersen Beach · Venice
- Curry Hammock State Park · Marathon
- Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park · Key West
- Harry Harris Park · Tavernier
- Higgs Beach · Key West
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park · Key Largo
- Long Key State Park · Long Key
- Marineland Beach · Marineland
Found one?
Photograph it and BeachNut ranks the likely matches with a confidence read, then logs it to your collection with the beach and date.
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More tidepool life in the field guide
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