Similarly for blue crabs, the larger the crab, the more difficult to store energy for molting. Molting is risky business. Larger animals may be at more risk, hence, they are not frequent in the population. After the females mate and migrate to spawning areas, they either remain there for the rest of their lives or move only short distances out to sea. In warmer months, males generally stay in low-salinity waters such as creeks, rivers, and upper estuaries.
Crabs bury themselves in mud in winter and emerge when temperatures rise in spring.
Food Blue crabs are classified as general scavengers, bottom carnivores, detritivores, and omnivores. Blue crabs may play a significant role in the control of benthic populations. Adult Food Adult blue crabs prefer mollusks such as oysters and hard clams as their primary food sources. The crab uses the tips of its front-most walking legs to probe the bottom for buried bivalves and to manipulate them after they are located . It will also prey on oyster spat, newly set oysters and clams, or young oysters and quahogs if other food is unavailable.