Crabs Are Shedding (Pics)

[PhilK]

So I must be doing something right, because when I woke up today there was an empty crab shell and a brand new crab sitting next to it looking very proud indeed. I went to watch TV and came back 3 hours later and there was another one that had shed! This was a much fresher shed and the crab has a weird purpley/maroon colour to it. Amazing that they shed and harden up in the water.

Here are some photos.

This is the shed from the first crab. Second shed I broke while picking up. Can anybody sex this crab?

This crab is the proud owner of the above shed

This crab is the one that shed more recently. Note the odd colour. He also had the added job of regenerating three legs on one side.

Some comparison pics between the two

Two of the others that were out and about at the time of photos

One of my clean up crew. (Sheldon)

 

[thedude]

just going on what i know about blue crabs back here on the east coast of the USA it's a female

 

[PhilK]

The male's have a pointier 'flap' thing, right?

 

[thedude]

you are correct

 

[dtknow]

Male. that is

 

[PhilK]

Yeah I thought it was male too... All mine seem to be male.... :?

 

[Mod_Box]

i thought with crabs female or male, you had to pull the flap back to tell.

 

[PhilK]

Nope you tell by the shape of the flap.

 

[Mod_Box]

op, ya, thats true. thats my bad.

 

[PhilK]

Another one shed this morning!

 

[tin man]

are you guys talking about the flap thats almost directly in the center of the crab?

 

[Mina]

Congrats on the moults! They are adorable, they always look so grumpy.

 

[REAL]

I use to go out to the beach and catch a bunch of salt water crabs and get a gallon of salt water for them.

After I bring them home they would slowly start dying off though, they would eat but my biggest problem was getting more clean salt water.

Btw SALT + Water does NOT equal salt water hahaha.....
That was when I was like 9 years old.

I know better know...

you gotta add sugar too!

jk

 

[Malhavoc's]

I use to go out to the beach and catch a bunch of salt water crabs and get a gallon of salt water for them.

After I bring them home they would slowly start dying off though, they would eat but my biggest problem was getting more clean salt water.

Btw SALT + Water does NOT equal salt water hahaha.....
That was when I was like 9 years old.

I know better know...

you gotta add sugar too!

jk

No its preseasoning

 

[problemchildx]

That's very cool!

How often are they shedding?

 

[PhilK]

In the last two days, 3 have shed. One other one shed about 2 months ago.