Although it is resilient to overfishing, collapse of populations have occurred in some areas where there has been adverse environmental conditions and heavy fishing.

Individuals in estuaries will move to the ocean in response to fresh water from winter rains.

[4] They prefer areas with flat muddy or sandy bottoms with seagrass or algae.

[2] The color is variable, but the carapace of males is generally dark blue-green with spots overall and bands at the front, whereas females are similarly pattered but brownish and with the tips of the claws deep brownish red.

Diet is mostly small fish and other crustaceans, molluscs, worms, and less so algae and seagrass.