Homarus americanus

[Mack&Cass]

I was wondering whether anyone on here is or was crazy/awesome enough to keep an American lobster. I have been working the details of caging out in my head at work (and before anyone lectures me I am fully aware of the cost implications including the large tank, normal saltwater equip, dedicated chiller, etc, and the fact that I may or may not have to leave it in my will). Obviously an undertaking of this magnitude would have to wait until I am more financially stable as well as a more permanent living situation. If anybody has a picture of a set-up I would love to see it.

 

[bugmankeith]

You should ask local aquariums on how they set up their tanks, many people actually ask about lobsters as pets.

 

[blazetown]

I've secretly always wanted one but decided it was too much money and space for something I might end up just eating if I ever ran out of money.

 

[Pacmaster]

Its funny, I just picked up a tank/chiller unit off craigslist, and was thinking about either a lobster or a cabezone(rockfish from Ca coastal waters).

The unit has about a 300g tank, and was used from a restarant . . .
Pretty good deal, 250$ . . .

I dont think anything special need be done, except to make sure the water stays COLD!
Its probably a drain on the pocketbook in terms of electricity consumption . . .

I think the major prohibitve factor for most folks is simply cost involved - initial equip purchase, maintenence, and electricity usage. . .

. . . For one lobster?

 

[Mack&Cass]

$250 for a 300 gallon with a chiller!!! That would be a good deal even if it was just the tank.
A good filtration system is a must, since I imagine lobsters are messy eaters, (they tear food rather than swallowing it whole). A well-established community of substrate fauna like amphi- and copepods in the tank would benefit as well, forming a "clean-up crew". To accomplish this a refugium would be beneficial.

 

[arachyd]

You should check your state and local laws as well as the federal regulations. I know around here collecting of lobster is pretty strictly regulated.

 

[dtknow]

I dopn't think he plpans to colect one. And I;ll assume while it may be illegal to catch and keep one alive their are likely no laws that lobsters cannot be bought from a food store and kept.

 

[LeilaNami]

We want to eventually get a lobster too. Right now we've settled for crayfish.

 

[Pacmaster]

Man, I forgot about this thread, I sold that unit for $600, not bad . . .