Aquatic life is one of the most amusing parts of nature.While a large portion of oceans remains undiscovered, the breathtaking wonders of the marine ecosystem that we witness leave us astonished. One such type of animal from the aquatic side of nature is crustaceans.While crustaceans cover a vast range of species, red crabs - mostly Christmas island red crabs - will be our main focus in this article. These red crabs possess a lot of surprising attributes that will surely leave you bewildered. Let’s deep dive into the red crab lifespan, the natural habitat, the migration, and physical features. After reading about the lifespan of red claw crabs, also check out facts about the red crab habitat and the red crab geographic range.Do red crabs survive if domesticated?Domestication is quite a debated issue in the world of nature. While we won’t go over whether domestication is good for animals or not, we will discuss the effect that it has on the lifespan of a red crab.Red crabs usually live long and can survive for anywhere between 20-30 years. This amount, however, drops greatly when you place these crabs into captivity. The average lifespan of these creatures during captivity reduces significantly, by 90%. In terms of how long an average red crab survives, it is around two to two and half years when placed under captive conditions.As we know, domestication is the process when an animal is tamed to be a part of or at a farm; the quality of life that many animals receive there cannot be guaranteed. This can result in lower life spans for not just crabs but every animal in existence. We need to realize that domestication does not always guarantee that crabs can breed and reproduce exactly as they would in the wild.This further can affect the lifestyle of other red crabs in the same area and cause a low-level habitat for them. Of course, staying in the wild has its own disadvantages too but it is a known fact that red claw crabs do not survive for long in domesticated environments.Which crab breed lives the longest?Red crabs survive in their burrows and hence are also known as bottom dwellers. All major species of red crabs prefer living near the coastal island where they can get enough moisture to form their protective homes.Amongst all the types of red crabs, when we talk about Christmas island red crabs, their average lifespan is approximately 20-30 years. Red claw crabs survive only for two to two and a half years in captivity. The Atlantic deep-sea red crab lives for a good 15 years. As for the mighty red king crab, it lives for approximately 30 or more years.However, concerning which crab breed lives the longest, we have the hermit crab which can survive for around 30-70 years. The life expectancy of crabs, like that of other species, depends on the environment and habitat. Factors such as humidity, water, and predators all affect the red crab lifespan.Are red crabs found everywhere?Red crabs are native and most abundant in Australia. They exist particularly on Cocos Island and Christmas Island which are located in the Indian Ocean. Generally, the rainforest is the natural habitat for them. They reside in their protective burrows during the summer season.Red crabs have an estimated population of around 44 million. These red claw crabs can be found mainly in Christmas Island’s forests. However, they do have a migration period where they migrate to the coast in order to breed. This takes place usually during colder and wet months such as in October or November. During these months, crabs are more active and begin their migration to the coast.Red claw crabs are more area-specific than other marine animals such as fish like tuna and anchovies. These crabs cannot adapt everywhere and hence are mainly found on island shores of the Indian Ocean.How are red crabs so red in color?There exist several types of red crabs with each having distinctive features. We have Christmas Island red crabs, red king crabs, Dungeness crabs, deep-sea red crabs, and pelagic red crabs.A fascinating characteristic about crabs, in general, is that their color and patterns are based on environmental factors. Their variation in colors assists them in camouflaging and staying protected from predators. The color of red claws often complements the environment. As to why red crabs are so red, there are no exact factors that contribute to the color or pigment of crabs. Some crabs have bright red shells whereas certain crabs possess darker claws. All of this is dependent on the surroundings of the species and also depends on who these crabs mate with.Did you know?Can red crabs be eaten? Christmas Island red crabs are crustaceans which are animals that have a hard outer covering along with an exoskeleton and two pairs of antennae. Unlike other animals, crustaceans do not have a backbone. Interestingly, their exterior is similar to a shell which defends the internal and fragile body parts against injury or damage.Red crabs provide a great number of benefits to the ecosystem they occupy, but they are not edible to humans. Because these Christmas Island red crabs are considered a rare species, hunting or preying on these crabs is against the law as per local governments.One of the major benefits that these red crabs provide is that they clean up the forest floor by eating fallen leaves and other tree detritus. They also help fertilize the soil, create pathways to find food, and act as food for other animals in their ecosystem.How many miles do red crabs migrate? Christmas Island red crabs are famously known for their migration. Once every year, about 50 million of these red crabs march towards the sea for mating and breeding purposes.The climate of Christmas Island is tropical, with a monsoon season from December to April. As said before, this crab species is found only on Christmas Island or Cocos Island. Over the course of a year, Christmas Island red crabs migrate from forests to the coast. This migration is dependent on two factors: temperature and food availability.These large crabs are often found in forests during warmer months and near the coast during cooler months. This is because they follow food availability but need warmer temperatures for their metabolism in order to survive.The crab’s migration is an important process in maintaining a balanced ecosystem on Christmas Island by preventing overpopulation in one area and starvation in another.October to November is the rainy season where Christmas Island red crabs begin their migration march from their respective endemic habitats. While migrating, these red crabs have to cover a distance of 5 m (8 km).Mating is the only time red crabs are seen on the shore. At the time of migration, red crabs leave their burrows and travel to the coast for mating and spawning. This normally requires at least one female crab for every five males.Due to a large number of individuals, it is hard to tell whether crabs are male or female. However, there are some characteristics that can provide clues. Female crabs are usually larger than males and have wider claws on their front legs that help them clutch onto their eggs during mating season.How big do red claw crabs get? Red claw crabs (Perisesarma bidens), are members of the Sesarmidae family. These mini red claw crabs are native to mainly Asia and are found in mangrove swamps. These red crabs are not entirely aquatic as they are terrestrial as well. These red claw crabs are also a nocturnal species and are some of the most famous aquarium crabs. Let’s discover more about their physical features as well.As mentioned above, red claw crabs are also called mini crabs as they are much smaller than other crabs in the aquarium category. This brings us to the question of how big do these red claw crabs get? Let’s discuss this.The red claw crab has a leg span of 4 in (10.1 cm) while its carapace measures about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) in width. However, their sizes differ according to the gender of the crab, with males being bigger in size than females. Male crabs also possess bigger claws.What do red crabs eat? Red crabs are classified as two distinctive kinds: omnivores and scavengers. You can say that red crabs typically are a combination of both. They can even consume dead carcasses of whales that accumulate at the bottom of the sea.Now let’s take a look at what red crabs include in their diet. As we have discussed previously, red crabs are omnivores and often feed upon dried leaves or debris. But in the absence of food, they will eat dead animals, sea snails, or at times even their own dead kin (young crabs).The rapid growth of the human population has been a great concern for researchers as there are various consequences. One of these consequences is that it is taking a toll on the environment. Studies shows that areas with high human populations have a lower diversity of marine life and crab species.Christmas Island red crabs are also threatened due to yellow ants that are quite aggressive in behavior. These crazy ants have killed millions of Christmas Island red crabs and caused a serious decline in their population. Baby crabs are the most vulnerable to getting preyed on by whale sharks, birds, and fish.In order to solve this issue, conservationists have been proposing various solutions such as sustainable agriculture, reducing food waste, and changing diets, by including non-native giant African land snails into the diet of red crabs.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for red crab lifespan then take a look at how many legs does a crab have or spider crab size.
Aquatic life is one of the most amusing parts of nature.
