Alaskan king crabs have two stages of development. In the first stage of development P. camtschaticus are free-swimming zoea. Zoea are very small and do not resemble the adult crab. During 3 to 4 months, the zoea molt 5 times. After the fifth molt the larval zoea begin to resemble the adult form, they are about 1/8 of an inch at this point, and adopt a benthic, or bottom dwelling, lifestyle.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis