[5] They are common in shallow water on sand in ocean beaches, but can be found in depths up to two hundred feet (61 m) deep.

[6] They are typically found in temperate or tropical waters between eleven and twenty-nine degrees Celsius with a salinity between twenty-eight and thirty-five PSU.

[6] The crabs maintain the gap by clearing the sand with their claws and hairs around their mouth area.

[6] Arenaeus cribrarius is a nocturnal and solitary organism, which only interacts with other crabs of its species when it wants to breed.

[8] The male crab, who is between molts, will select a premolt female who is expressing courtship behavior.

[9] The crab is harvested for its meat and residual proteins are used to produce fertilizers and feed for livestock.

[9] Chitin can be extracted from the crab and used in products like adhesives, cosmetics, photographic emulsions, and anticoagulants.