I want one of these as a pet, it would be like the land hermit crabs, start out with a small one, train it as it grows, it would be a great way to look into arthropod intelligence...

 

Interesting, what are those black spots on its back?

What is the average life span of those? I seem to remember that some arthropods can get really old.

The coconut crab, Birgus latro, is a species of terrestrial hermit crab, also known as the robber crab or palm thief. It is the largest land-living arthropod in the world, and is probably at the upper size limit for terrestrial animals with exoskeletons in recent Earth atmosphere, with a weight of up to 4.1 kg (9.0 lb). It can grow to up to 1 m (3 ft) in length from leg to leg.

/snip/

The larvae are planktonic for 3-4 wk before settling to the sea floor and entering a gastropod shell. Sexual maturity is reached after about 5 yr, and the total lifespan may be over 60 yr.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_crab

...Sexual maturity is reached after about 5 yr, and the total lifespan may be over 60 yr.

Okay, but how long until it is ready for the pot?

 

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/crab

 

Unfortunately for this crab, it's to tasty for its own good so the species' survival is threatened:

 

Adult coconut crabs have no known predators apart from other coconut crabs and people. Its large size and the quality of its meat mean the coconut crab is extensively hunted and is rare on islands with a human population. The coconut crab is eaten by Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders and is considered a delicacy and an aphrodisiac, and intensive hunting has threatened the species' survival in some areas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_crab#Relationship_with_human_beings

 

Maybe we should start farms and sell them both as pets and food.

Maybe we should start farms and sell them both as pets and food.

 

Heh, a petting zoo with crabs! That's a brilliant idea, actually. Very educational too.

 

We can also make a TV show about the crab farm: Least Deadly Catch, where a bunch of lazy people fill up a basket with crabs and swear a lot, then go back to napping in the sun.

Be a good lesson for kids that the food on the table comes from animal and vegetable sources rather than a supermarket

 

The SFN All you can eat Crab Shack and Petting Zoo

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately for this crab, it's to tasty for its own good so the species' survival is threatened:

 

Adult coconut crabs have no known predators apart from other coconut crabs and people. Its large size and the quality of its meat mean the coconut crab is extensively hunted and is rare on islands with a human population. The coconut crab is eaten by Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders and is considered a delicacy and an aphrodisiac, and intensive hunting has threatened the species' survival in some areas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_crab#Relationship_with_human_beings

 

Maybe we should start farms and sell them both as pets and food.

 

 

I have considerable experience in captive breeding of crustaceans, the planktonic larvae is a bit of a challenge but not that difficult to overcome, I see a bright future in giant land crab ranching...

The crab pictured in the OP is a gravid female...