tinyyellowflowers-blog asked:
Hello! A five year old friend of mine recently visited your aquarium, and after discussing his visit we have questions for you!
How big are kelp crabs? He says they hide in kelp from predators — which predators? What do they eat? What is their life cycle like? Are there any other fun kelp crabs facts you can share?
Thank you so much for working to have an aquarium that reflects the whole ecosystem, and not just charismatic fauna (although the kelp crab now has at least two more people who think it’s charismatic).
Hi! Kelp crabs are definitely charismatic in their own way 🙂
Most kelp crabs don’t get too big—maybe the size of an adult hand. They mainly eat algae, but they also supplement their diet with other invertebrates like mussels, barnacles, bryozoans, etc—especially when algae cover decreases in the winter.
Sea otters love to eat them! So do seabirds like gulls and some fish. One fun fact is kelp crabs, like other crabs, start their lives as tiny, free-swimming larvae.
Welcome to the kelp crab fan club! 🦀
