Bringing on cock crab

[lumpsucker]

Cock crab are about to start their second peel in the next few weeks up here I am led to believe. Has anybody tried tanking the hardbacks before they peel? If so, what sort of success or failure have had and what setup have you used?
what's the magic formula and what's the minimum you can get away with to keep them alive through the process?

 

[topbanana]

You won't bring on any crab thats not started peeling, I've had crab that have been 'sloppy' go back over once tanked.

 

[berwick]

Not sure about this one mate. If they havent started to peel will you not have to feed them?

Topbanana what is 'sloppy'? Sorry to hijack a thread. Reason I ask is I have found several big male crabs recently that, when taking a foot leg section off, have not had a soft leg underneath nor white sinew but the remaining section of leg looks solid pink inside. Is this 'sloppy' and a sign they are at very start of process?

Struggle to find the big uns in peel for some reason (bit of a new at collecting). Found a number of big soft back males recently and the ones as described above but never in process of peeling.

 

[shaun]

Doesnt work, dont waste your time. If it worked everyone would do it.

 

[lumpsucker]

Cheers for the answers lads

 

[topbanana]

Not sure about this one mate. If they havent started to peel will you not have to feed them?

Topbanana what is 'sloppy'? Sorry to hijack a thread. Reason I ask is I have found several big male crabs recently that, when taking a foot leg section off, have not had a soft leg underneath nor white sinew but the remaining section of leg looks solid pink inside. Is this 'sloppy' and a sign they are at very start of process?

Struggle to find the big uns in peel for some reason (bit of a new at collecting). Found a number of big soft back males recently and the ones as described above but never in process of peeling.

'Sloppy' is the term I use when crabs are just starting to peel and there's a faint leg starting show underneath the old one. I've took these in the past and they've just went back over (stopped peeling) when tanked off.