Juveniles

Overview

One to two weeks after puerulus settle on shallow nearshore reefs, they moult into the first stage juvenile.

The juvenile life stage includes an intermediate stage known as post-puerulus. Post-puerulus are juveniles smaller than 25 mm in CL (carapace length), and have different habitat requirements, foraging patterns and behaviours than older juveniles.

“Juveniles” include all non-mature lobsters after the puerulus stage, before they undergo the whites moult/migration. These lobsters are generally 1 – 4 years of age (post hatching).

This section includes information on both post-puerulus and juveniles.