first step in building your shed tank

[jeff l]

build it where you intend to keep it. I feel like an idiot I built the tank stronger then I probably needed and I now I am having a hard time moving it

[bnorthup]

Jeff, where're ya at?       I live in Slidell.  I am starting to do the crab shedding thing too!

[tattoo]

GOOD LUCK. 

[jeff l]

I live in mandeville, let me know if you need any help, Jeff

Where do you crab? Did you make your tank yet?

[bnorthup]

I need all kinds of help. I am pitifully ignorant........  But!....   I live on the WATER in Eden Isles. Call me at home 985-646-1314   or at work 504-323-2522     or leave YOUR number (best choice) and I will call you tomorrow (12-29-06) during the day. (If you leave your number, suggest the best time)

I have 5 crabs in captivity right now....   They are so cold that they can hardly move. I need to get them out of the canal and into a heated environment....  They seem to be all males.

[jeff l]

I need all kinds of help. I am pitifully ignorant........  But!....   I live on the WATER in Eden Isles. Call me at home 985-646-1314   or at work 504-323-2522     or leave YOUR number (best choice) and I will call you tomorrow (12-29-06) during the day. (If you leave your number, suggest the best time)

I have 5 crabs in captivity right now....   They are so cold that they can hardly move. I need to get them out of the canal and into a heated environment....  They seem to be all males.

You sound like me 4 or 5 months ago. And I asked all kind of questions and I finally got how to do it. Its easy and a lot of fun once you shed a couple of crabs.

As far as your 5 crabs the first thing is to make sure they are red liners, they probably aren't (if not fire up your boiling pot)
2nd separate the crabs

3rd hope for the best I think our water temp is 50- 60's and crabs need around 70---as people have told me and have learned, crabs that shed in cold water usually hang-up and die or just get a busted shell then die.

4th heating a tank is not worth the price of a set-up or cost to run

5th An aquarium might be you best bet for a heated environment if you just want to shed a few crabs during the winter.
Call me best time 530-600 and or post any questions------good luck -Jeff

[jeff l]

Bill, I forgot 985-789-0487

[bnorthup]

The air in New Orleans is warming up right now. Getting close to 70 degrees outside air temperature. The mullet might start jumping soon, that is a sure sign of things coming to life again. This happens all the time around Lake Pontchartrain during winter. It will toggle the water temp between 50 (dormant) and 60 (alive)....  I hate the winter. The only thing good about it is the oysters. Which reminds me, I need a sack of them right now.

[crabbygramps]

 You need to try oyster gardening... That'll keep ya busy in the winter months!!!!!!!!! Do the shed thing in the summer...

[bnorthup]

I would love to try oyster gardening........ One day I will.
     Concerning crabs:    Today I brought 5 crabs into my new crab aquarium up under the back porch.  The crabs were not happy with things. They began fighting with each other. You would think that they would be grateful and understand what was going on.
    I have a question. ...  I was using crab tongs to handle these fiesty guys...  What do you guys use to handle them?   Is there a type of glove or any gentle method of moving them from one container to another?

[jeff l]

I would love to try oyster gardening........ One day I will.
     Concerning crabs:    Today I brought 5 crabs into my new crab aquarium up under the back porch.  The crabs were not happy with things. They began fighting with each other. You would think that they would be grateful and understand what was going on.
    I have a question. ...  I was using crab tongs to handle these fiesty guys...  What do you guys use to handle them?   Is there a type of glove or any gentle method of moving them from one container to another?

I think they do make some gloves; but they should calm down after a while. So you did get a aquarium?

[R D]

If they are good peelers them you should be able to handle them with your bare hands

[bnorthup]

They are not good peelers YET, but they will be. They did calm down after about a half hour. This morning I wanted to see if they would eat in this new habitat. I cut off about 1/2 inch pieces of turkey necks and dropped in 5 chunks of food. At first they were only interested in defending against this aggressor human who dared to put his hand near them. Then one by one they discovered the food and that's when their "crab-like" behavior came out. The biggest crab felt that he needed 2 chunks of food. He would secure the one piece in his right claw while stuffing his face with the other claw.......  I had to drop in 1 more piece of food for the littlest crab. Then they all ate peacefully together. After about 20 minutes they each became full and discarded about the last 1/3 of their chunk of food. Now they seem to be exploring all around the aquarium.
   I plan to put them back into the pen in the canal sometime tomorrow. When they show signs of molting I will put them in a heated tank and see if they will molt successfully.