After two months trapped within it's shell, the hatchling needs too much oxygen and needs to come out. Once the hatchling are out, the mother will often carefully pick them up in her mouth and carry them to the water. If a hatchling can't get out, the mother will gently pick the egg up in her mouth and crack the shell, encouraging the hatchling to come out. Hatchling's generally stay near their mother as they grow, but eventually spread out, sometimes getting eaten by other crocodiles. Those that survive reach maturity after 5 to 15 years.
Males generally grow to be larger than females.
Habitat Crocodiles are prominent and widespread occupants of tropical and subtropical aquatic habitats. They are important to the ecosystems they live in because they keep fish populations in line through selective hunting, and they recycle nutrients. They are also heavily affected by habitat loss and the pollution of aquatic habitats. Crocodiles can live a long time in the wild and sometimes live in the same place for decades. Crocodiles depend upon wetland habitats.