Shrimp, jellyfish, fish, and other plankton-eaters feed on larval blue crab a number of commercial and sport fish, turtles, birds, and alligators prey on juvenile and adult blue crabs. Juveniles and adults feed on small fish, bivalves, crustaceans, plant material, detritus, and other blue crabs. Larval blue crab feed on plankton, but as they grow and settle to the bottom, their diet expands. Live 3 to 4 years.īlue crabs are opportunistic feeders, eating whatever food is available. Assisted by winds and tides, post-larval blue crabs migrate back into shallower, less saline waters in middle and upper estuaries where they grow and mature. Crabs grow by molting-their hard shell restricts growth, so they must shed it to increase in size. Tides transport newly hatched larvae from estuaries to adjacent continental shelf waters where they molt several times. A female can carry up to 3.5 million fertilized eggs. At this stage, the female is known as a “sponge” or “berry” crab. As the fertilized eggs develop, the female moves them to their underside and carries them until they are fully developed. Females move to saltier coastal Gulf and estuarine waters to spawn. The female stores the sperm in receptacles for several months. After mating, the male stays to protect the female until her new shell hardens. Explore a wide range of the best blue crab eggs on AliExpress to find one that suits you Besides good quality brands, you’ll also find plenty of discounts when you shop for blue crab eggs during big sales. Mate in brackish waters of the upper estuary just after the female molts, while her shell is still soft. The female will lay up to two million eggs in a spongy mass that starts off an orange color, but gets closer to black as it comes time for the crabs to hatch. Typically mature after 12 months and can mate and spawn almost year round, with peak activity in spring and summer. Females are typically found in the higher salinity waters of coastal lakes and bays, while males can tolerate extremely low salinities and can be found in many tidally-influenced freshwater bodies. They often hide in structure such as marsh and sea grass or oyster reefs, or bury in soft mud bottoms for protection from predators. Bottom dwellers, adult blue crabs are found in practically every bottom type from mud flats in the shallow waters of the Gulf to grass beds in almost fresh estuarine waters. On the Coast: Blue crabs are common in Georgia’s coastal waters and brightly-colored, floating crab pot buoys can be seen along most waterways.Range from the northern Atlantic coast through the Gulf of Mexico down through most South America's eastern coast. Chesapeake Bay, North Carolina, and Louisiana support the largest blue crab fisheries. Interesting Facts: The blue crab’s scientific name, Callinectes sapidus, translates to “savory beautiful swimmer.” Blue crabs almost always walk sideways, clearing a path with their sharp lateral spines, but when they swim they use their paddle-like rear legs for propulsion. Bring the water to a rolling boil, and add the crabs. I like to also add some vinegar and some beer. Add crab boil or other seasoning to the pot.
Predators: Fish, sharks, rays, and sea turtles.Ĭonservation Status: No legal status but loss of habitat combined with the blue crab’s popularity as a food for humans may lead to reduced populations. You can approximate this by adding ¾ cup of salt to every gallon of fresh water. Female crabs store sperm and will use it to fertilize multiple spawnings. The eggs hatch into planktonic larva and migrate back nearshore into estuaries.
One female may carry as many as eight million eggs. Two to nine months later the female migrates offshore to release her eggs. Male holds onto a female until her final molt, after which they mate. Size: Can reach nine inches in carapace (shell) width.įood: Bivalves, crustaceans, fish, worms, plants, detritus, and dead fish and plants.īreeding: Mate in brackish water from February to November.
Habitat: Nearshore, including beaches, marshes, bays, and estuaries.ĭescription: A large swimming crab with a gray/green or gray/blue carapace and large, blue claws, which are tipped with red in the female. Range/Geographical Distribution: Along the coast from Massachusetts to Uruguay.
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