Whether you are considering getting a freshwater or land crab as a pet or simply out of curiosity, you may be searching for the answer to the question, “How long do crabs live?”
When it comes to their lifespan, the answers can be elusive. Some species of crabs can live for 10 years or more. Whereas most common species (that we keep as pets) are generally able to live for 2 – 5 years at most.
As you can see there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. After all, there are many factors that will influence how long crabs live. Their lifespan can be affected by their diet, temperature, humidity, and stressful environment in general.
It is absolutely crucial to know these things because, with a little luck and care, you can enjoy them for a long time!
Determining Your Crab’s Lifespan
To know the crab’s potential lifespan, you need to identify the species in the first place. For example,
Thai Devil crabs if cared for properly are likely to survive for 8 years. However, Thai Micro Crabs can barely live past 1.5 years.
Interesting fact: The title on ‘longest-lived crab’ goes to The Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi), which may live for up to 100 years! These crabs can grow really huge – with a leg span of 13 feet (4 meters) and weight more than 40 pounds (20 kg).
| Typical Lifespans of Pet Crabs in Captivity | |
| Species | Lifespan |
| Pom Pom Crab | up to 1 year |
| Thai Micro Crab | up to 1.5 years |
| Vampire crab | up to 2 years |
| Tangerine-head crab | up to 2 years |
| Red Devil crab | up to 2 years |
| Blue Leg Hermit Crab | up to 2 years |
| Fiddler crab | up to 2.5 years |
| Red claw crab | up to 2.5 years |
| Matano Crab | up to 3 years |
| Marble crab | up to 3 years |
| Emerald crab | up to 4 years |
| Red Mangrove crab | up to 4 years |
| Tanganyika сrabs |
up to 5 years |
| Arrow crab | up to 5 years |
| Sally Lightfoot Crab | up to 5 years |
| Boxer Crab | up to 5 years |
| Porcelain Anemone crab | up to 5 years |
| Chinese mitten crab |
up to 5 years |
| Spider Crab |
up to 5 years |
| Red Apple Crab | up to 6 years |
| Thai Devil Crab | up to 8 years |
| Potamon Potamios | up to 8 years |
| Black land crab | up to 8 years |
| Rainbow Crab | up to 8 years |
| Halloween hermit crabs | up to 8 years |
| Halloween Moon Crabs | up to 8 years |
| Panther Crab | up to 10 years |
Main Factors that Determine How Long Crabs Live
Crabs are adaptable animals that live in both water and land. These crustaceans have been in existence for millions of years and adapt well to any environment.
Nonetheless, it does not mean that they will a long life if you put them to their limits.
Interesting fact: Crabs’ evolution started in the shallow seas of the Paleozoic Era (approximately 540-248 million years ago). They become as we know them today about 50 million years ago. They are many times older than the latest common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees.
Genetics
As with any living organism, a crab’s lifespan is affected `by several genetic factors including:
- physical size,
- metabolism,
- age of reproductive maturity,
- length of reproductive viability.
For example, large species with low metabolism usually live longer. In addition, the early age of reproduction and/or frequent reproductions often lead to physical exhaustion that also reduces lifespan.
Gender
In most crab species, females live longer than males since males tend to be more aggressive and territorial.
In males, aggressive competition is usually due to mating opportunities. Frequent fighting leads to injuries and high-stress levels. Injured crabs become an easy target and are prone to die more often.
Nutrition
Most crab species are scavengers. They are also classified as opportunistic omnivores. It means that they will eat just about any food they manage to find whether it’s dead or alive (both meat and plants).
Unfortunately, this is one of the beginner’s traps for those who keep them as pets.
Although crabs can eat almost anything, it does not mean that they do not have preferences. Some species lean more towards the herbivore side (such as leaf litter, fruits, seeds, seedlings, the detritus of decomposing plants, and benthic algae), whereas others are more carnivore and required a high-protein diet.
Be sure to properly research the ideal diet of your new pet crab. Inappropriate nutrition will affect their health. Balanced food will result in a longer lifespan.
| Crabs use a large amount of calcium in forming their shell structure. They need some sort of calcium supplement to help keep their shell strong and healthy. Calcium will prevent shells from deteriorating. |
Related articles:
- What Do Crabs Eat and How to Feed Them?
- Crabs and Molting Process.
- How to Supplement Shrimp and Snails with Calcium.
Tank Quality (Care and Maintenance)
Generally, crabs are easy to care for pets. Due to their hardy nature, these crustaceans can tolerate varied ranges of temperature and water parameters.
Nonetheless, crabs are also pretty messy animals and produce a lot of waste. So, a clean tank with enough space will also go a long way to keeping them healthy and happy.
Dirty living conditions can dramatically shorten a crab’s life. Therefore, to reach their maximum lifespan, we have to do research and learn more about their care essentials – from special housing (temperature, humidity, substrate, etc.) to food and other supplies.
Stressors
Do not take it lightly. Actually, stress is a killer, literally. Crabs that regularly undergo stress are more susceptible to sickness, disease, and failed molting.
In Conclusion
The lifespan of crabs depends on their species, their diet, and other aspects of their environment.
The lifespan of a pet is something that is usually taken into consideration when thinking about whether or not to get one. Knowing their lifespan will let you give them the best because your pet snails can live for a long time with proper care.
- Not all crabs live for the same amount of time.
- On average, land and aquatic crabs live for 2 – 5 years in captivity.
- Wild crabs often have shorter lifespans than pet crabs because of predation.
- Food availability, temperature conditions, gender, and other factors affect crab’s lifespans.