Soft Crabs

[Crabito]

Hello,

Iam from México.  In this Forum I learn much to the Soft Crab, thanks.
I have molting some crabs in my house. I have had problems with the crabs, they eat among them, put a cage to separete them,I do not know if I have to put the cage after they molt or when they are going to molt.  

[Steve]

I believe you need to provide suitable shelter for the molting crabs. You could try creating "caves" in your tank(s) by using bricks or some other material. The molting crabs will seek these hiding places. If you're going to isolate the crabs, then you'll want to put them in isolation when they're at the red-sign stage. After they bust, you'll have to wait several days until the shell hardens to put them back into the main population.

[Ken Bowen]

Beuno Dias Amigo. Mi llamos es Kenny. Vivo en South Corolina. My Spanish is terrible, but Im a commercial crabber. I retail my crabs in a Produce/Seafood Markit that I also own and run. I am just learning to shed crabs myself, and learning alot. Send me your e-mail and we can coverse.

[Crabito]

Hello Ken,

I glad to know people who knows about Soft Crab.
I would like to produce Soft Crab here and want to learn more.
Iam working with Callinectes Sapidus y Callinectes Rathbunae.
My e-mail is [email protected],  and  hope your e-mail.

[waterman 4456]

crabito                                                                           go to www.vims.edu/adv/pubs/index.html and order micheal j. osterlings book  manual for handling and shedding blue crabs. it has the knowledge that you seek. good luck and fair weather .

[Steve]

Osterling's book is availalbe online for free. Go to the main menu of this site (http://www.blue-crab.org) and click on "technical resources", you'll find the shedding manual there along with many other useful documents.

[Crabito]

Thank you.
I am going to print it. I read it and it  has valious and interesting  information.
I am learning much in your Forum.

[waterman4456]

crabito,
if soft shells is what your after you need to check out molting on main menu. pay close attention to molting signs.cannibalism usually occurs when crabs are kept to green.  steve great site! im still exploring it. i am a rookie with the computer but a crabber for 34 years  

[Crabito]

Waterman4456:

Thank you for comments.
Do you think the soft crabs are a good business?
If you have soft crabs, How much do you sell them?

[waterman4456]

 crabito;                                                                                     the average 5 inch hardcrab is worth about         $  0.40 the same crab soft is worth $2.15 .in the shedders season he will sell about the same amount of crabs the hard crabber will in 3 maybe 4 weeks of good crabbing making about the same profit but only using 20% of the crabs i think this makes good business sense. however some shedders will keep crabs to small and to green and sacrifice most of them for greed. i;m starting to preach so i better go. you could name your price for live jumbo soft shells right now in new york i belive.  good luck and fair weather

[crabito]

waterman 4456:

When do you dress a soft crab when they just molting (it is alive) or you frozen it and then dress it?
I have another question, one day I dressed it (cleaned) and when I lift each side of the shell and remove gills,  it leaves a gelatinous liquid that is right? Thank you.

Crabito

[waterman4456]

Crabbito

as soon as the crab sheds (molts) its shell is very soft and wrinkled, leave the crab in the water until the shell has no wrinkles and the crab can hold its legs and claws to its body when out of the water. in warm water this happens rapidly but in cool water this could take one hour or more.  warm temprature say 80 degrees cool being 65 degrees.  Letting the crabs body firm up a bit could mean the difference from medium to large.
If clean crabs stay in the refrigerator over night this gelatiness liquid is common.
waterman4456

[Crabito]

Waterman 4456:

If I leave the soft crab more time in the water does not lose its texture, and it can be hard.
The soft crab must be cleaned immediately when it molts.
I am learning how to cook the soft crab.
What is your favorite menu?
Thank you for your help.
Crabito

[waterman4456]

     crabito;  YES, If you leave them in to long thet will get hard but you don't want to take them out as soon as they shed wait untill they develope their new size but still soft not leathery. you will learn this with experience. You can refridgerate crabs and clean next day. If you are going to freeze them do it right after you clean them. I like soft crabs dipped in egg, lightly coated with flour and pan fried till crispy. I perfer the small ones. Where in mexico are you located? what type of bay,river ect. are you getting your crabs? what type of shedding system do you use?                              waterman4456

[cw4340]

CRABITO you have green peelers and  white bellies in tank  ifyou have alot of death pink lines and red lines still make for the best soft crabs with out alot of problems  but the easiest way to do this is when you see busters put them in wire rings 2ft in di our if we have alot coming alot of times well just spilt the tank with wire use one side for peelers one side for busters hope this helps take care GOD BLESS

[Crabito]

Waterman 4456:
I live in Campeche, in the Golfo de México, I am initiating and knowing about its molts.  I have the crabs in a tank, my system is open, I do not know about the filters, I would like to learn, use them. And thank you for your valuable information, I have learned much.
Crabito  

[waterman4456]

CRABITO...
I have a good working knowledge of the filters.  The bio filter is a holding tank that is about two thirds full of shells, stone, or any other material with a lot of surface area for bacteria to grow on.  This bacteria feeds on the crab waste, converting harmful amonia into harmless nitrates.  This tank also holds the water and pump for your circulation.  The mechanical filter is usually just a large wire mesh box with fiberglass insulation in it.  It sits on top of your bio filter, catching the legs, claws, etc. coming from your tanks before the water goes into the bio filter.  The protein seperater is a ten or twelve inch pvc pipe about twelve to fifteen feet long.  Water is pumped from the bio filter through an inline aspirator into the bottom of the pipe.  This bubbling action makes the protein (oils) foam up and come out the top of the pipe.  There is an outlet about six inches up from the bottom of the twelve inch pipe that allows the airated water to flow to the tanks via gravity.  This is for a closed system and  there is  a little more to it than this, but this is a good start.  For an open system, you really only need the protein seperater.  Go back to Oesterling's book and look at the illustrations.  I will try to answer any questions that you might have!

waterman4456  

[Steve]

For the bio filter, fill a tube with oyster shells, etc., like 4456 said... then dump in some Rid-X septic system treatment. The Rid-X is the same stuff that's sold for fish aquariums but it's a LOT cheaper!

Rid-X: Contains millions of bacteria and enzymes to help prevent septic backup by breaking down solid organic waste. Digests paper, fats, oils, grease, protein, and starches. 100% natural active ingredients safe for all pipes and plumbing. 1 dose of 24-ounce box good for tanks up to 1500 gallons.

Rid-X can be found in any supermarket. Got this tip from a fellow who sheds crabs up on the Potomac River... he said this stuff works wonders in a closed shedding system.

[waterman4456]

  I put 2 bushels of shells that i have had overboard for a month in the bio filter at start up then run system for 2 weeks before crabs start . do you know how long       RID-X  takes to work.  might have to try it.

[waterman4456]

    I should say that these shells go on top of the 20 bushels of shells that is already in the bio filter.