How to keep crabs alive

[cableguy]

  Hi,

  Have a question. I'm going to Easton Point in 2 weeks on a Friday but don't want to cook them until Saturday. What would be a good way to keep them alive overnight. I should be back home around 3pm on Friday and won't cook them until Saturday around 4pm. If I put them in the refrigerator will they stay alive for a day and a half? Will they suffocate without air in the fridge? or would it be better to keep them in a big cooler on ice with the plug pulled so they don't drown. If the cooler is better can I keep the lid closed?


  thanks

[dfran]

I'd keep them in the cooler....on ice.....plug pulled...and the lid propped open about an 1/8 of an inch.

[ted527]

I'd keep them in the cooler....on ice.....plug pulled...and the lid propped open about an 1/8 of an inch.

what he said.

i would throw a wet towel or newspaper on top of them with the ice on that. leave the plug out with cooler tipped to that side, crack the lid.

[mdjohn]

if you do a search - there is a long thread on it

 saves you some time 

[125blackfire]

Make sure the water doesn't cover them or they will drowned, and make sure they cant suffocate by lack of air.

[crabeezle]

try here for more info  on keeping things alive, cold, and storage and transportation...http://www.bluecrab.info/forum/index.php/board,52.0.html

[cableguy]

  cool, thanks for the info.

 I think i"m going to try to put in a large cooler with ice on them with the plug open. I'll keep the lid cracked and put a cloth between the crabs and the ice. I'll let you know how I make out.



  thanks again. 

[tattoo]

fill some empty 2 leter bottles up with water and freeze then , and put them in with the crabs , it will keep them cool and no water for them to dround in .  

[jack1747]

fill some empty 2 leter bottles up with water aqnd freeze then , and put them in with the crabs , it will keep them cool and not water for them to dround in . 

[KALknowsRAE]

Don't the crab shacks put them in refrigerators? I have a spare refrigerator in my basement just for that purpose. I catch them one day, put them in plastic buckets so they won't funk up the refrigerator, and steam the next day. I don't know how effective this is, but I put a lid on the bucket but make it slightly askew so they get a little air.

[lreops]

  Hi,

  Have a question. I'm going to Easton Point in 2 weeks on a Friday but don't want to cook them until Saturday. What would be a good way to keep them alive overnight. I should be back home around 3pm on Friday and won't cook them until Saturday around 4pm. If I put them in the refrigerator will they stay alive for a day and a half? Will they suffocate without air in the fridge? or would it be better to keep them in a big cooler on ice with the plug pulled so they don't drown. If the cooler is better can I keep the lid closed?


  thanks

http://www.bluecrab.info/forum/index.php/topic,32457.0.html

[jack1747]

Don't the crab shacks put them in refrigerators? I have a spare refrigerator in my basement just for that purpose. I catch them one day, put them in plastic buckets so they won't funk up the refrigerator, and steam the next day. I don't know how effective this is, but I put a lid on the bucket but make it slightly askew so they get a little air.

I would think a refrig would work good but I don't have a spare one.  I put the crabs in the shade and put a frozen gallon bottle or 2 on top to keep them cool. 

[tattoo]

Thats the ticket. 

[Mr. Breeze]

Don't the crab shacks put them in refrigerators? I have a spare refrigerator in my basement just for that purpose. I catch them one day, put them in plastic buckets so they won't funk up the refrigerator, and steam the next day. I don't know how effective this is, but I put a lid on the bucket but make it slightly askew so they get a little air.

The difference between the walk in refridges at a crab shack and a residential refridge are two fold.  Commercial walk in coolers have adjustable temp.  usually set at 50-52 degrees.  residential refridges are usually much colder than that.
Secondly, most walk ins are open systems, allowing for new air to enter,  a residential refridge only gets new air when you open the door.  


The cooler Idea is what we recommend  here at Coveside Crabs.

[cableguy]

  Great idea with the 2 liter bottles. that may do the trick. I have a couple of bushel baskets so I think I can break the crabs up into 2 or 3 baskets and keep the frozen 2 liters on them.



  thanks again for all the info, my in laws are coming up from Arizona and are looking forward to having crabs. 

[Dreampixels]

  Great idea with the 2 liter bottles. that may do the trick. I have a couple of bushel baskets so I think I can break the crabs up into 2 or 3 baskets and keep the frozen 2 liters on them.



  thanks again for all the info, my in laws are coming up from Arizona and are looking forward to having crabs. 

If you break the crabs up they will die........

[KALknowsRAE]

I think you can set a house fridge to 50-52. Just turn it to a warmer setting. Unlike a crab shack I only keep my crabs in the fridge until the next day, not until they are bought by someone.  I've bought live crabs before and the legs were all dried out. I said to myself, "how long have these things been in the cooler?"