Bathyporeia spp. show two types of movement, swimming and burrowing, that may follow each other up in rapid succession. Often they seem to burrow with the dorsal side upwards. This may be associated with the breeding cycle. In deeper waters the spring rise in temperature initiates breeding, while in shallower waters it is induced by tidal phasing. Ovigerous females of B. elegans are found mainly from May to August (Watkin, 1939a, 1939b; Nicolaisen & Kanneworff, 1969; Finchham, 1971).  

 Bathyporeia shows a typical feeding position lying upside down in a small cavity in the sand, and may be considered a selective deposit feeder. It feeds by cleaning sand grains from adhering micro-organisms and detritus (Nicolaisen & Kanneworff, 1969).