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Mitten crab Gallery

"I caught a mitten crab! One more and I'm ready for winter!" —New Horizons

The mitten crab (シャンハイガニ, Shanhaigani?) is a new fish introduced in New Leaf.

Quick Answers

What is the best season to catch a mitten crab in ACNH? toggle section
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH), mitten crabs are best caught in the fall, from September to November in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, they are active from March to May, and can be found in rivers.
Provided by: Fandom
Why is the mitten crab called the 'Shanghai crab'? toggle section
The mitten crab is called the 'Shanghai crab' due to its frequent use in Chinese cuisine, especially in Shanghai. This name highlights its culinary importance. Native to eastern Asia, from Korea to Fujian, the mitten crab hatches in the ocean and migrates to rivers.
Provided by: Fandom
How is the mitten crab used in Animal Crossing: New Leaf? toggle section
In Animal Crossing: New Leaf, players can catch the mitten crab and donate it to the museum. The museum sign explains its role in Chinese cuisine and its breeding habits. The mitten crab is also known as the Shanghai crab.
Provided by: Fandom
How do you donate a mitten crab in Animal Crossing: New Horizons? toggle section
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, donate a mitten crab by catching it and taking it to Blathers at the museum. Speak to him to complete the donation, and he will share details about the mitten crab, also known as the shanghai crab.
Provided by: Fandom
What makes the mitten crab unique in Animal Crossing? toggle section
In Animal Crossing, the mitten crab is unique for its breeding habits, hatching in the ocean and moving up rivers, unlike salmon. In "New Horizons," players can get a Mitten Crab Model by giving C.J. three mitten crabs, which then arrives by mail. Known also as the "Shanghai crab," it is popular in Chinese cuisine.
Provided by: Fandom

Capture quotes[]

"I caught a mitten crab! I'm smitten, crab!" —New Leaf
"I caught a mitten crab! One more and I'm ready for winter!" —New Horizons


Donation to the museum[]

In New Leaf[]

After donating a mitten crab, the sign in the museum reads:

Officially known as the mitten crab, they also go by the name "shanghai crab." They are commonly used in Chinese dishes, which is how most people become familiar with them. Their breeding habits are the complete opposite of salmon in that they hatch in the ocean first. They then move up rivers when they reach adult size, returning to the ocean in order to spawn.

In New Horizons[]

Upon donation or selecting "Tell me about this!", Blathers the curator will say:

"The mitten crab was named for its impossibly adorable and fuzzy pincers. These cute crustaceans embark quite the journey. They're first born in brackish waters. Then they mature in freshwater. Finally, they travel to the ocean to create more mitten crabs! Hoo! How I delight in the thought of thousands of tiny mittened crabs scuttling about! "

Encyclopedia information[]

New Leaf[]

Fish
Encyclopedia Information
Mitten crab
"I caught a mitten crab! I'm smitten, crab!"
Size 3.35 inches
Habitat River
Season Fall


New Horizons[]

Fish
Encyclopedia Information
Mitten Crab NH
"I caught a mitten crab! One more and I'm ready for winter!"
Habitat River
Months active (north) September to November
Months active (south) March to May



Further information[]

A Chinese mitten crab in real life

A Chinese mitten crab in real life


Main article: Chinese mitten crab on Wikipedia

The mitten crab is a medium-sized burrowing crab, named for its furry claws that look like mittens, that is native in the coastal estuaries of eastern Asia from Korea in the north to the Fujian province of China in the south. Mitten crabs usually live in fresh water, but they return to the sea to breed. Females spend the winter in the deep ocean, before returning to more brackish water in spring to hatch their eggs. Juvenile crabs then move upstream into the fresh water of rivers.

In other languages[]

Mitten crab
Language Name Translation
Japan Japanese シャンハイガニ (Shanhaigani) -
France French Crabe chinois -
Spain Spanish Cangrejo de Shanghái -
Germany German Wollhandkrabbe -
Italy Italian Granchio guantato -
The Netherlands Dutch Wolhandkrab -
China Chinese 中华绒螯蟹/中華絨螯蟹 (Zhōnghuáróngáoxiè) -
South Korea Korean 참게 (Chamge) -


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