Diet

The zoeae feed on phytoplankton, algae, and zooplankton and when they molt into megalopae they become more omnivorous by including fish larvae and small shellfish in their diet.  The juvenile and adult blue crab could be considered a general scavenger as it readily feeds on most dead fish, aquatic plants, and detritus – but also actively preys on small fish and various shellfish (clams, oysters, etc.) including its own species.  By eagerly feeding on a wide variety of organisms and waste, blue crabs have earned an integral role in controlling the prey of benthic ecosystems.


A typical Blue Crab food web: