Just How Big Do King Crabs Get? Exploring the Impressive Size of These Giant Crustaceans

With their spindly legs and large, round bodies, king crabs are truly a sight to behold. But exactly how big do these colossal crustaceans grow? As it turns out, king crabs can reach incredibly mammoth proportions, growing larger than any other species of crab on Earth.

Let’s take a closer look at the staggering dimensions king crabs can attain

Average Size of King Crabs

Most king crabs weigh between 6 to 10 pounds on average, Their leg span stretches around 5 to 6 feet across

To put that into perspective, these crabs are often wider across than the average height of an adult human male! The largest leg span recorded was almost 6 and a half feet

Of the three major species of king crabs, red king crabs tend to be the biggest, with blue king crabs slightly smaller and golden king crabs the smallest of the three. Still, even a “small” golden king crab dwarfs your average blue crab found along the East Coast.

Maximum Size of King Crabs

While 10 pounds is typical, king crabs can max out at much more impressive proportions. The very largest king crabs can weigh over 20 pounds!

The biggest red king crab ever captured weighed in at a whopping 24 pounds. Now that’s a lot of crab meat. Even experienced crab fishermen are shocked when they occasionally haul in a mega-sized crab.

In addition to their weight, the leg span of giant king crabs can extend to 8 feet or more at maximum size. Picture a crab as wide across as a small car – that’s how enormous these creatures can get.

Factors That Determine Size

Several factors play into exactly how big a king crab will grow:

• Species: As mentioned earlier, red king crabs reach larger sizes than their golden and blue cousins.

• Age: Older crabs have had more time to grow and bulk up than juvenile crabs. Male crabs in particular experience growth spurts as they mature.

• Habitat: Food availability and habitat conditions impact growth. Crabs in optimal waters with plenty of nutrients and food sources can grow bigger.

• Genetics: Some crabs are simply programmed to hit higher maximum sizes based on their natural genetic makeup.

• Sex: Male king crabs grow significantly larger than females of the same age. This pronounced sexual dimorphism is common for many crab species.

How Long It Takes King Crabs to Reach Maximum Size

Red king crabs take about 5-6 years to reach full maturity and maximum proportions. This growth rate can vary slightly based on habitat, genetics, and food availability.

Females mature faster than males, reaching adult size in 3-4 years. But males ultimately overtake them in the size department once fully grown.

Blue king crabs take around 6-7 years to hit maximum size, while golden king crabs reach maturity at 3-4 years. As you can see, red king crabs grow bigger and faster than their relatives.

Why King Crabs Grow So Large

There are a few key reasons king crabs are able to attain such mammoth sizes:

• Abundant prey in the cold, nutrient-rich waters of Alaska allow them to pack on weight and growth.

• Their lifespan averages 20-30 years, giving them lots of time to bulk up.

• Lacking significant predators as adults means they can grow largely unchecked.

• Genetic programming in the species aims for maximum size to dominate as predators.

So while king crabs start out life tiny – just a speck really at 0.13 inches long – they transform into true giants ruling the seafloor by the time they fully mature. Even the smallest legal-sized crab feels huge in your hands.

The sheer size and intimidating appearance of king crabs are precisely what made them so terrifying in monster movies like Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster. Their colossal proportions are all too real!

Size Regulations for Harvesting King Crabs

To protect juvenile crabs and breeding populations, size regulations are in place for harvesting king crabs. Only mature crabs of acceptable size can be legally caught and sold.

For red king crabs, the minimum size is 6.5 inches shell width. Blue king crabs must be at least 5.5 inches wide. And golden king crabs have a 6-inch size minimum.

Regulations help ensure crabs can fully mature and breed before being caught. This preserves stable wild stocks for generations to come.

So next time you crack open jumbo Alaskan king crab legs for dinner, take a moment to appreciate just how massive these creatures can grow beneath the waves! Their gigantic size is what makes feasting on their meat so satisfying.