21/09/2026
I often explain on our walks how crabs shed their shells to grow. We sometimes find soft male crabs but usually we find male crabs carrying a smaller female under one of his legs that is either about to or has shed her shell. If she is normal way up then she is a peeler crab ( about to shed her shell), if she is upside down it means she has shed her shell and while she is soft the crabs mate. The male provides protection while she is in this very vulnerable state. Once her shell is hard again, they separate and she then develops a clump of eggs underneath her which she then protects. Fascinating creatures.
This is a nice video showing a shore crab moulting.
