Simple SummaryAnimal behavior management is an important function of marine ranches, including the personality and the territoriality of animals, with relevant studies having important applications in marine ranch construction. To explore the relationship between the personality and territoriality of swimming crabs, we quantified their boldness and exploration using a behavior observation system. The behavior of crabs with different personalities was measured in a series of environments. The results showed that there was no boldness-exploratory behavioral syndrome in swimming crabs. Territorial behavior was positively correlated with boldness but not with exploration. The difference in boldness determines the behavior response of crabs in a dangerous environment, while exploration difference affects the behavior in habitat selection. Boldness and exploratory behavior explain the difference in the space utilization ability of swimming crabs with different personalities.AbstractThe boldness and exploration of animals are closely related to their territoriality, with relevant studies having important applications in wildlife conservation. The present study establishes a behavior observation system measuring the boldness and exploration of swimming crabs (Portunus trituberculatus) to clarify the relationship between boldness, exploration, and territoriality, as well as to provide a behavioral basis for the construction of marine ranching. The behavioral tests of crabs in a safe environment (predator absence), a dangerous environment (predator presence), and habitat selection (complex and simple habitat) are analyzed. A territorial behavior score is calculated as an evaluation index of territoriality. The correlation between the swimming crabs’ boldness, exploration, and territoriality is analyzed. The results show that there is no boldness-exploratory behavioral syndrome. In predator absence or presence environments, boldness is dominant in territorial behavior and positively correlates with territoriality. Exploration plays a vital role in habitat selection tests but has no significant correlation with territoriality. The experimental results preliminarily show that boldness and exploration jointly develop the difference in the space utilization ability of crabs with different personalities, improving the adaptability of swimming crabs in different conditions. The results of this study supplement the behavior rules of the dominant species of typical fishery resources in marine ranches, providing a basis for achieving animal behavior management function in marine ranches.