The increased susceptibility of large crabs to shell disease is
explained by their decreased molting frequency (Sandifer and
Eldridge, 1974; Vogan et al., 1999). Males were more likely to have
shell disease than females. This may be related the aggressive nature
of male crabs and mating behaviors that can damage the shell
and make it susceptible to pathogens that cause shell disease
(Vogan and Rowley, 2002).