Crabs Full ???

[swamp snorkler]

Originally Posted by AceArcher

If you wan't full crabs don't keep the one's that look like a shiny new penny. You want to keep those that have a little moss and algae growing on the shell.

Also you can distinguish crabs that are getting close to their next molt (which is when they are going to be fullest) by looking for white / pink / or red sign on there last swimming fin.

Basically you look at that very edge of that last fin in the back of the crab... if it looks just uniformly blue/green then it in the beginning / middle of the molt cycle.

if it has a white line on the outside edge its about 2 weeks away from molting and going to be very full.

if it has a pinkish or reddish line along the outside edge its 2-4 days away from molting and is going to be as full as its ever gonna get in that shell.

you can see that progression on the bottom of this set of pictures from left to right. green , white sign, pink sign, red sign.

This. C
Crabs also need current to molt to help get rid of it shell and to help the new shell harden.