Spider crabs seem to prefer quiet waters where currents are weak, turbulence is at a minimum and salinity is high. They belong to a group of crabs distinctive for their pronounced rostrum. Spider crabs have a rather cosmopolitan diet, feeding on a variety of organisms including algae, worms, sponges, and surprisingly, hard shelled echinoderms such as sea urchins. The chief predator of spider crabs are bottom dwelling fish such as cod. Egg bearing female spider crabs are found from early June to early September.
New eggs are bright orange, but turn brown as they develop and mature.
Development takes about 25 days. Once the eggs hatch and the larval crabs are released they develop quickly - about 9 days. During this 9 day period the young crabs are part of the plankton community, after going through the larval stages they settle to the bottom and take up the benthic habits of adults. If you find more send us your list.