Temperature Acclimation & Feeding

For some experiments, the crabs need to be acclimated to a particular temperature. This page contains some information on current temperature acclimation procedures. 

Acclimation Temperatures

This will depend on the type of experiments that you wish to run. The current acclimation temperatures are 7°C and 15°C. To ensure full temperature acclimation, the crabs will need to be kept at the assigned temperature for 21 days.

When setting aside a tank for temperature acclimation (either on a short or long-term basis) please put the laminated signs on the tank to indicate the tank is being used for acclimation purposes and the temperature it should be set at.

• • • There are extra signs down in the tank room on the cart.

    • Note: Sign examples are below.

Crab Feeding

As the crabs need to be acclimated for at least 21 days, they need to be fed to ensure they survive.

• The current feeding schedule is: they are fed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

• The crabs are fed squid (calamari) in the morning and any remainder is removed in the afternoon–making a note in the online log of how many pieces are remaining.

Preparing Squid (Calamari) for Feeding

The squid used to feed the crabs comes from Commercial Lobster (the same place the crabs do). We get a 2.5lb container of cleaned squid (no cartilage or goopy bits) for a reasonable price from them and it gets shipped here with our crab order.

• If you are running low on squid in the freezer please let the Lab Manager know so more can be ordered.

• When only 3 weeks left of prepared food pieces are in the freezer the next container of squid should be prepared.

***Video on how to prepare the squid is below.

Acclimation Log

All changes (temperature, crabs in/out, feedings, etc.) to the acclimation tanks should be recorded in a log. An example log setup is below.

• The color of the entry depends on what type of change is being made. A key is listed at the top left of the log. 

• Additionally, the number of days a particular group of crabs has been in the tank is tracked automatically once the arrival date is entered.

Adding New Animals

When new crabs arrive it is time to add them to the tanks.

• • Up to 8 crabs may be housed in a tank at any given time. Lobsters up to 4 although 2 is ideal. They are more likely to fight if there are 3 or more because they become territorial over the two back corners.

  • When new animals are come in they are all banded with the same color band to indicate the date they came in (this is indicated on the white board above the light switch). Crabs get one band on one claw *not on joint* and lobsters get one on each pincer. The two species do not have to use the same colors.

  • Crabs get placed upside down in the large nets and then the net gets put into the tank so that the air can escape from their gills. Once the bubbles stop, they can be dunked out of the net and into the tank. A small net is used to "burp" them by tapping them on the belly area while they face up. The lobsters are much better at expelling air and can simply be swayed gently under the water a few times and then released.

  • The animals need to acclimate to the tanks for at least 24 hours before experimental use.