Fear of shellfish (ostraconophobia)

Ostraconophobia is a fear of shellfish, such as prawns, crabs, mussels and oysters. It might be about eating them, touching them or simply seeing them on a fish counter. If the fear means eating much less or losing weight, speak to a GP.

About this phobia

The name is linked to the Greek ostrakon, meaning shell. It is rare and found mainly on lists of phobias, and it can overlap with simply avoiding a food you dislike. It is also worth separating from a shellfish allergy, which is a medical matter for a GP.

What it feels like

• Avoiding seafood restaurants or the fish aisle
• Worry about shellfish being hidden in a dish
• Discomfort at the look of shells, claws or legs

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Could my fear be an allergy instead?

Some people avoid shellfish after a bad reaction, which may point to an allergy rather than a phobia. If you have had symptoms after eating shellfish, see a GP to check.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices