• Question: do crabs bite if they do why?

    Asked by Hasafan to Lydia on 20 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Lydia Bach

      Lydia Bach answered on 20 Nov 2014:

      Hey Hasafan,

      from experience I can tell you: crabs bite… Or better they pinch with their claws. – They use their mouth parts, which are much smaller to feed rather than biting.
      Crabs have claws to catch and handle their food mostly, but also to fight for space and mates with other crabs. They can be fairly aggressive, so their claws are great to deter predators and as a defence. Especially their large crusher claw is something I try to avoid getting pinched with. Some of the shore crabs have such strong force that they can draw blood if they get your finger 🙁 That’s why I wear protective gloves when I work with crabs!

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