How To Build A Lobster Holding Tank? Top 99 Best Answers

Important information about lobsters

All lobster shipments were packed live as plucked from the sea unless otherwise noted. The special packaging we include is designed to keep them cool and fresh until the time they arrive.

How long do lobsters live?

Lobsters can survive up to 48 hours without circulating salt water if properly refrigerated. Lobsters don’t have to jump out of the crate to be fresh and good to eat. However, they should be checked upon arrival. If they don’t budge, it’s best to cook them right away.

What if I don’t cook them right away?

Upon arrival, be sure to check your lobster shipment. If they don’t move, you should cook them within a few hours. Otherwise, with proper storage, they can be kept alive for another 24 hours before cooking. Just remember, the sooner you cook lobsters, the sweeter they will taste.

How to store a live lobster at home?

Simply place the lobsters in a glass or metal bowl or container. Cover loosely with the provided seaweed or wet newspaper and store in the fridge.

Now that I have a lobster, how do I cook it?

Just follow the cooking instructions below.

Are big lobsters good to eat?

Yes! Once the lobster is cooked, remove the meat from the shell and cut into small pieces. Typically, you can expect a better yield (more meat per pound) from a larger lobster.

How do I cook fresh lobster?

Boil enough water to completely cover the lobsters. Add a tablespoon of salt. Note the cooking times below. After the water has fully boiled, add the lobsters to the pot, then start the timer.

Size Time 1 – 1¼ pounds 15 minutes 1½ – 2 pounds 17 – 20 minutes 2 – 3 pounds 20 – 24 minutes 3 – 6 pounds 24 – 28 minutes 6 – 7 pounds 28 – 30 minutes 8+ pounds 4 minutes per pound

How do I cook steamed clams?

Add the clams to the simmering lobsters while the timer still has 5 minutes. Or cook/steam them alone in water with 1 tablespoon of salt for 5-7 minutes. Once they open, they’re ready to eat!

Why is shipping expensive?

The price of shipping packages reflects two things: the quality of the shellfish we ship and the overnight shipping costs associated with delivering a large, heavy package within 24 hours. A lobster feeding is always an experience and a privilege for our domestic friends and customers. We want to make sure it’s the best experience possible.

Delivery dates and times

All orders are shipped via FedEx Next Day Air. Delivery times are normally up to 3pm the following day, unless the delivery area is in a very rural area, in which case delivery time may be later in the day. Deliveries can be made up to 20:00 during the main holiday period. Orders must be placed by 8:00 am Eastern Time to be shipped the same day.

PLEASE NOTE: Orders cannot be delivered on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays or major holidays.

FedEx holiday schedule

Sanders Lobster Weather Policy

Please note that adverse weather conditions in any part of the country your package needs to be routed through may delay your package. We try to keep up to date with national weather conditions to the best of our ability. However, if you are concerned about the weather in your area, you should contact us to reschedule your delivery. If we become aware of a potential weather issue, we will do our best to contact you and consider your opinion when deciding whether to ship or postpone the order. If we cannot reach you, we will use our own judgment. If there is a possibility that the order will be delayed due to bad weather, we will not ship the order. Unfortunately due to inclement weather we are unable to issue refunds.

General Lobster FAQs

Why lobster?

If you choose lobster, you choose New England. It is the lifeblood of Maine’s economy and supports tens of thousands of jobs. Besides, it just tastes great. To sweeten the deal further, Homarus Americanus isn’t just a delicious treat; it has remarkable nutritional value. Check the nutritional value for one cup of steamed lobster meat as provided by the USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory:

Calories 129 Protein 27.55 g Total Lipids (Fat) 1.25 g Saturated Fat 0.302 g Monosaturated Fat 0.367 g Polysaturated Fat 0.493 g Cholesterol 212 mg Carbohydrate 0 Dietary Fiber 0 Sugar 0 Calcium 139 mg Iron 0.42 mg Magnesium 62 mg Phosphorus 268 mg Potassium 334 mg Sodium 705 mg7 Zinc 5.8 mg

How long do lobsters last without water?

Time is the biggest problem with retrieving lobsters from the water: once a lobster is pulled out of the water, it begins to die. Fortunately, this process takes a relatively long time compared to other seafood. We never recommend eating with a healthy live lobster for more than 48 hours. The less time lobsters spend out of the water before cooking, the better. Our shipments arrive within 24 hours. We recommend preparing your lobster the night you receive it.

What is the difference between hard shell and soft shell?

When lobsters have a hard shell, they are at their peak in their growth cycle. Their shells will be thick and full of meat. A soft-shelled lobster is one that has just outgrown its old, hard shell and has shed, or molted, into its new shell. Soft-shelled lobsters are common during the summer months as warmer temperatures encourage more activity. This leads to more molting, more feeding, and more breeding. Lobsters are hungriest when they are growing into their new shell, as most of their caloric content is used in synthesizing the new shell itself.

How much lobster is enough for one meal?

Generally, a quarter pound of meat is recommended as a serving. That’s the typical amount in an average lobster roll. For live lobster, the average meat yield is 5:1. A single 1.25-pound lobster will produce between a quarter and a third of a pound of lobster meat.

how old are the lobsters

The age of a large lobster can be roughly calculated by taking its weight and multiplying it by 4, then adding 3. For smaller lobsters, this formula is less accurate as it takes between 5 and 7 years to reach market size. Lobsters molt regularly when they are young and less frequently as they get older.

LEARN MORE: READ OUR BLOG

The first thing you should do after receiving your order from Main Lobster Now is to open the package and check that everything you ordered is there and the lobsters are alive. Be sure to handle the package and the lobsters with care. If something is missing or wrong with the order, please take photos and contact our customer service.

How to store your live lobster in the fridge

Live lobsters are perishable and must be dealt with promptly. It’s best to cook lobsters the day they arrive, but they can be stored for up to two days if needed.

If you need to store them when they arrive, wrap the lobsters in damp paper and store them with ice packs or in the fridge, keeping them as cold as possible — but don’t freeze them.

If your fridge is big enough, store the lobsters in the shipping box and place them in the fridge. If you must remove them from the container, cover your lobsters with a damp cloth until you are ready to cook them. Lobsters will die if they dry out and can only last so long in the fridge.

Lobsters stored this way remain sluggish and soggy, but need to be cooked within 24 to 48 hours — after which time, your fresh seafood investment probably won’t be as fresh.

You risk a dead lobster and a lost meal if you delay your lobster’s rendezvous with your pots and pans.

Some handling tips to keep in mind when handling live lobster:

Don’t put lobsters in tap water. They are saltwater creatures and freshwater will kill them.

Do not seal lobsters in an airtight container.

Don’t keep lobsters in standing water.

Prepare to cook live lobsters

Your lobsters will arrive with thick rubber bands around their claws. Fishermen place these on the lobsters after removing the lobsters from the traps. You can leave the rubber bands on until the lobster is done. This protects you from being ripped with a claw – live lobsters are lively.

To pick up a lobster, grab it by the body – not by the claws or tail. If you pick up the lobster, it’s likely to curl its tail and try to hit you with its claws. Keep your fingers away from the underside of the tail. It has edges that you can cut when the lobster flicks its tail.

Euthanize live lobsters

Killing a lobster is a necessary step in the preparation process that can be stressful for some people. The University of Maine Lobster Institute has asked many questions about whether cooking a lobster is humane. Their studies revealed that a lobster has a primitive nervous system similar to that of an insect. In order to feel pain, an animal must have a complex nervous system.

However, there are ways to euthanize lobsters so they don’t tail-twitch while cooking. We recommend minimizing a lobster’s movements or spasms in boiling water by cooling it first. To do this, it must be placed in the freezer for 30 minutes. If it’s still active after 30 minutes, keep it in the freezer for a while longer.

introduction

CHAPTER 1: How Do You Find Quality Lobster?

CHAPTER 2: Learn the Parts of a Maine Lobster

CHAPTER 3: Delicious Lobster Recipes

CHAPTER 4: Tips for handling and storing live lobsters

CHAPTER 5: Handling frozen lobsters

CHAPTER 6: How to crack a lobster

cooling unit

filter system

Water Test Kit

water conditioner

Pellet food for lobsters

Warnings Never use copper, brass, bronze, lead, or zinc tubing in your lobster tank as the metals are toxic to lobsters. Use stainless steel or PVC tubing instead.

Tips Look out for foam on the surface of the water, which indicates a wounded or dying lobster.

Choosing a lobster from an aquarium when you go to a restaurant or grocery store is one way to ensure you’re getting the freshest, juiciest lobster meat available. The only way to improve it would be to pull one straight out of the ocean. You can get that fresh lobster flavor at home by raising lobsters in your own tank. Lobsters are very low maintenance animals (you usually don’t even need to feed them) and you can set up a lobster tank much like a fish tank.

Choose the right tank size for your lobsters. Set up a tank large enough to hold twice the gallons of water for the weight of your lobsters. For example, if you put five 1-pound lobsters in the tank, it should be big enough to hold 10 gallons of water (more if you expect the lobsters to grow).

Attach a refrigeration unit or chiller to the tank to keep the water extremely cold, which will keep your lobsters healthy and less of a risk of cannibalism. Keep the water between 40 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Choose the right equipment to maintain your lobster tank. Install a gravity filtration system (to degas and oxygenate the water), biological filters (to remove waste matter), and a submersible pump (to move the water through the filtration system).

Maintain the water composition. Use a commercial sea salt blend to keep the water salinity at around 30 to 35 parts per million. Condition municipal water added to the tank to remove chlorine and other minerals commonly found in domestic or groundwater. Use natural seawater whenever possible. Maintain a pH between 6.5 and 8.5 with water changes and chemical adjustments.

Examine the lobsters for health reasons. Don’t add lobsters with missing appendages or cracked shells or membranes, as they will likely be eaten by the other lobsters. Tie all the lobster claws together with rubber bands. Keep lobsters (lobsters that have recently skinned their shells) separate from the other lobsters until the shell has had a chance to harden (usually a few days).

Keep the tank clean by doing a 10 to 15 percent water change weekly. Always condition the water before adding it to the tank. Check the filters two to three times a week and rinse them out if necessary. Replace the filters if they are worn or damaged. Use a test kit to check the water composition at least once a week.

As a general rule, do not feed the lobsters; As long as the water is kept at the right temperature, adult lobsters can survive for several months without food. If you are raising chickens (juvenile lobsters), feed the lobsters pellet food from your pet store. Use a settling tank (one that allows leftover food and waste to settle to the bottom of the tank) if you need to feed the lobsters.

Remove the lobsters from the tank for consumption once they have reached the desired size or appear to have stopped growing.

Americans love seafood, so it should come as no surprise that statistics show that more than half of them eat seafood about twice a week. Lobsters in particular have always been a favored delicacy due to their flavorful meat inside and the adventure of navigating their tough and intimidating exoskeleton. For some people, however, a love of lobster isn’t just about its taste, but rather the whimsical charm they can add to a home aquarium. Therefore, many ask the question: Can you keep a lobster as a pet?

Yes, you can keep a lobster as a pet. Some of the most popular lobsters to keep as pets are the crinoid squat lobster, blue crayfish, and reef lobster. As long as you provide the right living conditions, you can keep colorful lobsters alive and well in your reef tank. Lobsters are relatively easy to breed as long as you understand the living conditions of the particular species you are trying to breed. This article introduces some of the best lobster species to keep as pets and provides an overview of the ideal living conditions for each.

Get to know lobster

If you decide to keep a lobster as a pet, you need to take extra care to ensure it grows properly. In particular, you must provide additional supplements to replenish your lobster’s mineral needs that it would naturally obtain from the wild. Depending on the species you want to raise, you will need to provide these supplements:

Calcium: Lobsters need this mineral for their exoskeleton. The corals in your tank also benefit from a steady supply of calcium

Lobsters need this mineral for their exoskeleton. Corals in your aquarium also benefit from a steady supply of calcium. Iodine: This nutrient is another important ingredient for healthy lobster shells. Algae, which your lobsters feed on, also needs iodine to thrive

This nutrient is another essential ingredient for healthy lobster shells. Algae, which your lobsters feed on, also needs iodine to thrive. Magnesium: Your aquarium needs adequate levels of magnesium to balance its calcium and alkalinity. Without this nutrient, the two nutrients become useless

Your aquarium needs adequate levels of magnesium to balance its calcium and alkalinity. Without this nutrient, the two nutrients become useless strontium: lobsters use strontium for their tissues and organs. Hard corals that you keep in your reef aquarium also need this nutrient to be able to properly absorb calcium

Lobsters use strontium for their tissues and organs. Hard corals that you keep in your reef aquarium also need this nutrient to be able to properly absorb calcium. Trace Elements: These additional nutrients occur naturally in tiny amounts in seawater, but are still necessary for healthy growth

Providing all of these nutrients is essential to the overall goal of creating an ideal environment for your lobster. They need the right water conditions rich in minerals to survive in captivity. Depending on your aquarium setup and the number of organisms you keep, your nutrients can quickly become depleted. Be sure to keep track of your supplements to maintain an ideal environment for your lobster.

What kind of lobster can I keep as a pet?

Lobsters come in different species and have different requirements to breed them properly. You can keep them at home just as you would if you were keeping fish with the right setup. In general, you need to provide specific supplements to help them grow and maintain the following water conditions:

Temperature: 22.22-25.56°C (72-78°F)

72-78°F (22.22-25.56°C) pH: 8.1-8.4

8.1-8.4 Alkalinity (dKH): 8-12

8-12 Salinity (SG): 1.023-1.025

Here’s a closer look at specific lobster species you can breed.

Crinoid Squat Lobster

Allogalathea elegans is a species of lobster that you can keep in a marine aquarium. You may have heard that they are colorful kings of the ocean, which might explain why elegant is in their scientific name. These colors can be uniform or alternate across their teardrop-shaped body.

Crinoid squat lobsters are small species and relatively low maintenance. You can find them for sale at aquarium specialty stores between half and one and a half inches. They eventually grow up to two centimeters. Despite its maximum size, ten gallons of water is the minimum tank size you’ll need if you intend to keep this species of lobster as a pet.

Debelius’ Reef Lobster

Enoplometopus debelius is another species of lobster that you can easily keep in an indoor aquarium. Native to Hawaii and the Indo-Pacific West, they are small species that can grow to five inches tall. These species usually come in orange, purple, lavender, and white colors, so you may find them for sale at seafood stores as purple or orange reef lobsters.

Their colorful spots against a light body can make a vibrant addition to your reef aquarium. Note, however, that this species has a semi-aggressive temperament. Its natural behavior can harm other small fish and invertebrates you are raising.

Hawaiian Red Reef Lobster

Enoplometopus occidentalisa is another species of reef lobster that you can raise in an aquarium. In the right conditions, it can grow up to two inches tall. This species shares many of the requirements for the previously mentioned type of lobster, including their diet and supplements for proper growth.

Perhaps your deciding factor in choosing between reef crabs to keep as pets is your preferred color and aesthetics for your aquarium. As the name suggests, this species is red. Female Hawaiian red reef lobsters can appear larger than males because of their tails. Some stores may sell them as hairy reef lobsters due to their hairy appearance.

Blue Crawfish

Panulirus versicolor is an Indonesian lobster species with a striking blue color that highlights its legs and tail. You need to keep this large species in a tank big enough to hold its maximum size when fully grown. You can buy a blue crayfish from an aquarium store, and they start at between one and five inches tall. It can grow to a foot and two inches in the right conditions.

Some pet stores may refer to this species as painted crayfish or painted crabs. Either way, you can tell these species apart from other lobsters you might keep as pets because they lack the large claws you would normally associate with such animals. They can even appear larger than you expect due to their long antennae. These lobsters use their antennae to detect and ward off predators in the wild.

Pros and Cons: Why Keep a Lobster as a Pet?

Lobsters have a unique charm that few people appreciate. Keeping them as pets is almost like raising fish. They can be relatively easy to care for, especially since they are unlike traditional pets that you need to groom, bathe, and walk. Just keep them in a tank with the right conditions. With various lobsters of different colors, you can be sure that your aquarium will be the highlight of your home.

However, be careful when keeping lobsters with fish. Many lobster species suitable for keeping as pets are omnivores, which means you risk losing smaller reef fish that you are raising. At the same time, they can compete with your fish in consuming algae, since lobsters are scavengers that usually like to feed on such foods.

Conclusion

Can you keep a lobster as a pet? Absolutely. These sea creatures are easy to raise in an aquarium with the right conditions. With the right type of lobster, you can even keep other species of fish in your setup. Popular lobster species include the crinoid squat lobster, blue crayfish, and reef lobsters, which come in a variety of colors.

Just keep in mind that lobsters require specific water conditions to thrive, which may be different from other fish you might want to keep. Make sure your fish and the lobsters you want to add to your aquarium collection are compatible. If you happen to ever decide to make a meal out of your spiny companion, make sure you do your research before eating a lobster.

air pump

cooling unit

filter

bio wheel

carbon bags

sanding the ground

Commercial sea salt mix

water

pH test strips

Test strips for nitrate

Ammonia Test Strips

lobster

Vinegar

Clean rags

Acrylic cleaning pad

Foam aquarium mat

Commercial lobster feed if required

Possibly artificial bacteria

Lobsters are marine crustaceans that thrive in cold salt water. Their meat is a delicacy, with global sales approaching a billion dollars a year. Although most people are happy to buy fully cooked lobsters from restaurants, others prefer to cook lobsters at home after they’ve been raised in a tank. While it is possible to keep lobsters in a tank, there are many rules that must be followed to keep them alive and healthy.

Set up the tank according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Paying close attention to the setup of the tank will ensure a healthy environment for your lobsters for years to come. Generally you will need a pump to circulate the water, a chiller to keep the water at 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit, a filter to remove insolubles from the tank through the use of carbon bags, and a bio wheel, to remove ammonia and nitrates, harmful substances that can kill lobsters.

Prepare salt water using 30 to 35 grams of commercial sea salt mix per liter of fresh tap water in a separate, clean container. Add a layer of sand substrate to the bottom of the tank, use the prepared saltwater to fill the tank until it reaches 2 inches from the top, and add live rock to begin building an ecosystem. After operating the aquarium for several days to a week, use pH, nitrite, and ammonia test strips to test levels in your aquarium. When the tank reaches the correct pH of 6.5 to 8.5 and does not contain any measurable levels of nitrates or ammonia, load your lobsters into the tank with 1 pound of lobster to 2 gallons of salt water.

Examine new lobsters before introducing them to the tank. Lobsters should have hard shells, free from cracks, and their antennae should be long with no signs of injury. Return weak or damaged lobsters to the store. Don’t put them in the tank.

Submerge new lobsters in a separate container with salt water from the tank and stir or rinse them before adding them to the tank. The flush, which should last a few seconds to 1 minute, removes waste and undigested food from the lobster’s internal system and removes debris from the animal’s body, keeping your tank clean and healthy.

Balance the amount of bacteria in the tank by keeping loading levels constant. An established tank will produce live bacteria in the tank’s biological filter, which will break down any contaminants thrown out by the lobsters, keeping the tank in balance. Since the amount of bacteria will rise and fall to accommodate the number of lobsters in the tank, if the number of lobsters suddenly doubles, the amount of waste that the current bacterial level has to process will also double. The bacteria will be outnumbered and everything in the tank will die. This is prevented by keeping stress levels constant. Add lobster over the course of days, not minutes. Continue to test bacterial levels twice a week using nitrate and ammonia test strips. If the ammonia level suddenly increases, add some artificial bacteria to eliminate the ammonia accumulation.

Check for foam daily. The presence of foam indicates a dead or dying lobster in the tank. Remove any wounded or dead lobsters, missing claws, legs, or other body parts from the tank. If dead organisms remain in the tank, the entire tank will be poisoned.

Don’t feed the lobsters. In cold water, lobsters can go months without food. Feeding them will pollute the tank, which could kill them. If you intend to keep your lobsters for more than a few months, you can use commercial food sparingly to avoid tank contamination.

Clean the tank weekly to ensure the water isn’t turning green, tan, or smelling bad. Use a vinegar/water solution consisting of 3 tablespoons vinegar to a pint of water with a clean rag on the outside of the tank. Do not use soaps, sprays or other chemical cleaners on any part of the tank. Clean the inside of the tank with a manufacturer-recommended acrylic cleaning pad or use a non-abrasive aquarium sponge on a handle. Although you don’t need to change the water, you do need to replace water lost through flushing or evaporation.

Replace the charcoal bag found in the filter canister every two weeks if you choose to use one bag at a time. Replace only one sachet every four weeks if you intend to use two sachets at the same time. Every time you change the charcoal bag, check that the bio wheel is spinning, the air pump is working and the water level in the tank stays about 5cm high.

Tips Add artificial bacteria to your tank when introducing new lobsters quickly, giving the real bacteria time to grow.

Warnings Do not unplug your tank for an extended period of time, do not excessively clean the tank, do not decorate the inside of the tank, reach into the tank with dirty hands, and do not place anything other than animals in the tank.

Note that our lobster storage tips apply primarily to hard-shelled lobsters. Although soft-shelled lobsters (lobsters that have shed their old shell) can be purchased locally, they are generally weak and fragile and do not store or ship well.

Live lobsters packaged and shipped

Contrary to popular belief, live lobsters are dark greenish-black or brown – they will turn the familiar bright red after cooking.

Your handpicked lobsters are wrapped live with seawater-soaked newspaper or fresh seaweed to keep them moist and frozen ice gel to keep them cold. Lobsters are shipped in an extra thick insulated cool box. Find out more about how lobsters are shipped to you and our shipping costs.

DO NOT freeze live seafood: live lobsters, clams, oysters, steamers.

Recycle your seafood cooler

The packaging container (shipping cooler) and frozen gel packs are completely reusable! save them for the beach!

My Maine lobsters just arrived on my doorstep – now what?

Do not store live lobsters in a sealed plastic bag (lobsters need to breathe).

DO NOT store live lobsters in fresh or salt water, your freezer, in plastic bags (lobsters need to breathe), or allow them to sit in melted ice. Packing them in ice creates a pool of fresh water that can suffocate them (use bags of ice or frozen gel packs instead).

Don’t put a lobster in your aquarium or see if it can swim in the pool. Serious!

Were you lucky enough to get a special delivery from LobsterAnywhere? Here’s what to do:

Immediately refrigerate lobsters and keep them cold until ready to cook (around 40 degrees Fahrenheit is best). The colder the lobster is, the lobster becomes sluggish and doesn’t move much. Don’t put them in your freezer.

Keep lobsters moist with wet newspaper or seaweed they were wrapped in. A dry lobster is an unhappy lobster.

It is best to prepare lobster on the day of delivery. See below if you can’t cook your lobsters right away.

Store lobsters in a strong paper bag or directly in the lobster pot if you’re lucky enough to get one.

When transferring, lift lobsters by the body, not the claws or tail. To handle a live lobster, pick it up by the large shell just behind its head (the carapace shell). The lobster may wag its claws, flex its tail, or show just the slightest movement.

If the lobsters are warm to the touch and smell foul, contact LobsterAnywhere.com on the day of delivery. Please note our Happy Cracking Guarantee.

How to deal with lobster.

How To Hold A Lobster Without Getting Pinched!

Lobsters will come at you with heavy rubber bands on their claws. The fisherman puts these on as soon as the lobsters are removed from their pots. These bands are designed to protect the lobsters from damaging each other.

First things first, hold the ribbons by the claws! Both claws should be banded. (It is up for debate whether the bands should be removed from the lobster before cooking.)

To hold live lobsters without getting caught by the claws, hold the lobster by the bottom of the larger body shell (called the armor plate) while allowing the lobster’s head and claws to hang down.

Be careful not to put your fingers under the tail. The shell on the underside of the tail has some sharp edges and can cut you if the lobster flips its tail like it’s swimming. That’s right, lobsters swim backwards by flipping that powerful tail. You’ve probably heard the old adage “crabs crawl sideways and lobsters swim back”.

Only pick up one lobster at a time. Follow the rule: one hand, one lobster. Don’t try to pick up multiple lobsters at once. Also, wean lobsters carefully. Don’t drop or throw them as you can easily damage them.

Lobster Rules – Dos and Don’ts When Handling Live Lobsters

Lobsters cannot survive in fresh or warm water.

TUN – Chill me when I arrive.

DO – Cook me asap, the fresher the better.

DO – Cook me even if I seem motionless. After cooking, my cock should curl under me and my meat should be firm

DO – Pick me up by the body, not by the claws or tail.

DO NOT – Remove my rubber bands from around my claws until after cooking (unless you know what you’re doing!).

DON’T – Put me in fresh or salt water, your freezer, in plastic bags (I need to breathe) or let me sit in melted ice.

Beginners should keep the lobster bands on even while cooking.

My lobsters won’t move or are damaged?

Lobsters are freshly packed to order and shipped overnight. Since they have come a long way, they may be tired. (Note that cold temperatures make lobsters sluggish.) Live lobsters move very slowly when cold, but spring to life once they begin to warm up on your kitchen counter.

Cook lobsters even if they appear motionless. This also applies if a lobster is damaged in transit or a pair of claws falls off.

In the unlikely event that a lobster has died, it is usually acceptable to cook it while it is still cold to the touch and if the other lobsters on the show are still alive. Cook them up! The lobster’s tail is the best indicator of its freshness: it should be curling under the body and slightly firm when cooked, not watery or mushy.

How long can you store and keep live lobsters before cooking?

When your live lobster arrives, how long can you store it before it needs to be cooked? What if you can’t cook your lobsters the same day?

Store live lobsters in your refrigerator, not the freezer.

Our lobsters are very hardy and will last up to 36 hours out of sea water, but we cannot guarantee this. We always recommend cooking your lobsters on the day of delivery.

You can store live lobsters in your refrigerator overnight, overnight. Keep them upright, moist and cold and you’re good to go!

The best way to keep lobsters alive for up to 24 hours is to store them in the coldest part of the fridge (usually the bottom shelf in the back or in the meat container) with damp newspaper (or fresh seaweed). Store lobsters in a loose paper bag or in the shipping container. Don’t even think about the freezer!

Check your lobsters regularly. If the lobsters are still moving you can delay cooking, but if they start to move little or not at all they need to go straight into the pot! Follow the instructions below.

Pack lobster and store in a take-out cooler

Wrap and surround the lobsters with seawater-soaked newspaper and/or seaweed and frozen gel packs. Try to pack for a snug fit as you don’t want the lobsters banging against each other in transit.

If you don’t have frozen gel packs, you can use ice packs. Double wrap the ice cream to prevent leakage. Never allow live lobsters to rest in fresh water from melted ice as this can cause osmotic shock, suffocation and death.

Boil lobster and eat later

If for some reason you find that you can’t cook the lobsters for more than a day, you can partially cook them. After par-cooking them, soak them in cold water for 3 minutes, drain and chill. You can finish cooking them up to 48 hours later.

Use a large pot with plenty of room to cook live lobsters.

Alternatively, you can boil lobster and pluck the meat. Cooked lobster meat can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 2-3 days, or for months if frozen.

Break up freshly killed lobster before storage

It’s important to disassemble a freshly shipped lobster before storing it in the refrigerator. Separate the tail and claws from the body to prevent the tail from getting mushy. As Cooks Science notes, the digestive enzymes found in the lobster’s body (hepto-pancreas) will break down the proteins in the tail, making it mushy.

Need help cooking live lobster?

Check out our guide to cooking live lobster at home.

Quick FAQs on handling live lobsters.

How powerful are lobster claws? Lobster claws are strong in the grasping direction. You can cut your finger if you’re not careful. The claw ties protect you and also prevent lobsters from injuring themselves or other lobsters. Although the claws are strong in the grasping position, they are weak in the opposite direction. We recommend leaving the ribbons on the claws until they are fully cooked. How do you hold a lobster without getting pinched? Hold the live lobster by the bottom of the larger body shell (called the carapace) while letting the lobster’s head and claws hang down. Be careful not to put your fingers under the tail. The lower part of the tail can have some sharp edges and will sometimes flip its powerful tail.

How long can lobster survive without water? A good, hard-shelled lobster can survive up to 36 hours without water if kept cool, moist, and refrigerated. Since lobsters are gill breathers, wet newspaper and/or seaweed will help keep them moist. Because lobsters are seawater creatures, never store them in freshwater. If you must use ice to keep lobsters cold, make sure the ice is double bagged. LobsterAnywhere suggests cooking your lobster on the day of receipt. How long can you store live lobsters? While lobsters can survive a day or more without water if stored in the fridge between 36 and 45 degrees, we recommend cooking them the day they arrive for the best results. If my Maine lobster dies on the way home from the grocery store, can I cook it? If not, why? The answer to your question is probably yes, unless of course the supermarket is in Belfast, ME and your home is in Berkeley, CA! Lobster meat doesn’t take long to spoil after the lobster dies. As long as there is no unusual smell, the lobster is probably fine to cook and eat. However, there are a few things to look out for to be sure. If the lobster is safe, the tail will be curled up tightly after cooking and the meat inside will be firm. If any of these conditions aren’t present, don’t take any chances! How long can you keep a cooked lobster? It is best to partially cook and reheat lobster. You can keep them refrigerated for up to three days. Maine lobsters are red when cooked; What color are they in the sea? Hue varies a little from lobster to lobster, but in the wild they are generally dark blue-green.

references

Crosby, Guy. Cooks Science: How to Unleash Flavor in 50 of Our Favorite Ingredients. American Test Kitchen, 2016.

Americans love seafood, so it should come as no surprise that statistics show that more than half of them eat seafood about twice a week. Lobsters in particular have always been a favored delicacy due to their flavorful meat inside and the adventure of navigating their tough and intimidating exoskeleton. For some people, however, a love of lobster isn’t just about its taste, but rather the whimsical charm they can add to a home aquarium. Therefore, many ask the question: Can you keep a lobster as a pet?

Yes, you can keep a lobster as a pet. Some of the most popular lobsters to keep as pets are the crinoid squat lobster, blue crayfish, and reef lobster. As long as you provide the right living conditions, you can keep colorful lobsters alive and well in your reef tank. Lobsters are relatively easy to breed as long as you understand the living conditions of the particular species you are trying to breed. This article introduces some of the best lobster species to keep as pets and provides an overview of the ideal living conditions for each.

Get to know lobster

If you decide to keep a lobster as a pet, you need to take extra care to ensure it grows properly. In particular, you must provide additional supplements to replenish your lobster’s mineral needs that it would naturally obtain from the wild. Depending on the species you want to raise, you will need to provide these supplements:

Calcium: Lobsters need this mineral for their exoskeleton. The corals in your tank also benefit from a steady supply of calcium

Lobsters need this mineral for their exoskeleton. Corals in your aquarium also benefit from a steady supply of calcium. Iodine: This nutrient is another important ingredient for healthy lobster shells. Algae, which your lobsters feed on, also needs iodine to thrive

This nutrient is another essential ingredient for healthy lobster shells. Algae, which your lobsters feed on, also needs iodine to thrive. Magnesium: Your aquarium needs adequate levels of magnesium to balance its calcium and alkalinity. Without this nutrient, the two nutrients become useless

Your aquarium needs adequate levels of magnesium to balance its calcium and alkalinity. Without this nutrient, the two nutrients become useless strontium: lobsters use strontium for their tissues and organs. Hard corals that you keep in your reef aquarium also need this nutrient to be able to properly absorb calcium

Lobsters use strontium for their tissues and organs. Hard corals that you keep in your reef aquarium also need this nutrient to be able to properly absorb calcium. Trace Elements: These additional nutrients occur naturally in tiny amounts in seawater, but are still necessary for healthy growth

Providing all of these nutrients is essential to the overall goal of creating an ideal environment for your lobster. They need the right water conditions rich in minerals to survive in captivity. Depending on your aquarium setup and the number of organisms you keep, your nutrients can quickly become depleted. Be sure to keep track of your supplements to maintain an ideal environment for your lobster.

What kind of lobster can I keep as a pet?

Lobsters come in different species and have different requirements to breed them properly. You can keep them at home just as you would if you were keeping fish with the right setup. In general, you need to provide specific supplements to help them grow and maintain the following water conditions:

Temperature: 22.22-25.56°C (72-78°F)

72-78°F (22.22-25.56°C) pH: 8.1-8.4

8.1-8.4 Alkalinity (dKH): 8-12

8-12 Salinity (SG): 1.023-1.025

Here’s a closer look at specific lobster species you can breed.

Crinoid Squat Lobster

Allogalathea elegans is a species of lobster that you can keep in a marine aquarium. You may have heard that they are colorful kings of the ocean, which might explain why elegant is in their scientific name. These colors can be uniform or alternate across their teardrop-shaped body.

Crinoid squat lobsters are small species and relatively low maintenance. You can find them for sale at aquarium specialty stores between half and one and a half inches. They eventually grow up to two centimeters. Despite its maximum size, ten gallons of water is the minimum tank size you’ll need if you intend to keep this species of lobster as a pet.

Debelius’ Reef Lobster

Enoplometopus debelius is another species of lobster that you can easily keep in an indoor aquarium. Native to Hawaii and the Indo-Pacific West, they are small species that can grow to five inches tall. These species usually come in orange, purple, lavender, and white colors, so you may find them for sale at seafood stores as purple or orange reef lobsters.

Their colorful spots against a light body can make a vibrant addition to your reef aquarium. Note, however, that this species has a semi-aggressive temperament. Its natural behavior can harm other small fish and invertebrates you are raising.

Hawaiian Red Reef Lobster

Enoplometopus occidentalisa is another species of reef lobster that you can raise in an aquarium. In the right conditions, it can grow up to two inches tall. This species shares many of the requirements for the previously mentioned type of lobster, including their diet and supplements for proper growth.

Perhaps your deciding factor in choosing between reef crabs to keep as pets is your preferred color and aesthetics for your aquarium. As the name suggests, this species is red. Female Hawaiian red reef lobsters can appear larger than males because of their tails. Some stores may sell them as hairy reef lobsters due to their hairy appearance.

Blue Crawfish

Panulirus versicolor is an Indonesian lobster species with a striking blue color that highlights its legs and tail. You need to keep this large species in a tank big enough to hold its maximum size when fully grown. You can buy a blue crayfish from an aquarium store, and they start at between one and five inches tall. It can grow to a foot and two inches in the right conditions.

Some pet stores may refer to this species as painted crayfish or painted crabs. Either way, you can tell these species apart from other lobsters you might keep as pets because they lack the large claws you would normally associate with such animals. They can even appear larger than you expect due to their long antennae. These lobsters use their antennae to detect and ward off predators in the wild.

Pros and Cons: Why Keep a Lobster as a Pet?

Lobsters have a unique charm that few people appreciate. Keeping them as pets is almost like raising fish. They can be relatively easy to care for, especially since they are unlike traditional pets that you need to groom, bathe, and walk. Just keep them in a tank with the right conditions. With various lobsters of different colors, you can be sure that your aquarium will be the highlight of your home.

However, be careful when keeping lobsters with fish. Many lobster species suitable for keeping as pets are omnivores, which means you risk losing smaller reef fish that you are raising. At the same time, they can compete with your fish in consuming algae, since lobsters are scavengers that usually like to feed on such foods.

Conclusion

Can you keep a lobster as a pet? Absolutely. These sea creatures are easy to raise in an aquarium with the right conditions. With the right type of lobster, you can even keep other species of fish in your setup. Popular lobster species include the crinoid squat lobster, blue crayfish, and reef lobsters, which come in a variety of colors.

Just keep in mind that lobsters require specific water conditions to thrive, which may be different from other fish you might want to keep. Make sure your fish and the lobsters you want to add to your aquarium collection are compatible. If you happen to ever decide to make a meal out of your spiny companion, make sure you do your research before eating a lobster.

cooling unit

filter system

Water Test Kit

water conditioner

Pellet food for lobsters

Warnings Never use copper, brass, bronze, lead, or zinc tubing in your lobster tank as the metals are toxic to lobsters. Use stainless steel or PVC tubing instead.

Tips Look out for foam on the surface of the water, which indicates a wounded or dying lobster.

Choosing a lobster from an aquarium when you go to a restaurant or grocery store is one way to ensure you’re getting the freshest, juiciest lobster meat available. The only way to improve it would be to pull one straight out of the ocean. You can get that fresh lobster flavor at home by raising lobsters in your own tank. Lobsters are very low maintenance animals (you usually don’t even need to feed them) and you can set up a lobster tank much like a fish tank.

Choose the right tank size for your lobsters. Set up a tank large enough to hold twice the gallons of water for the weight of your lobsters. For example, if you put five 1-pound lobsters in the tank, it should be big enough to hold 10 gallons of water (more if you expect the lobsters to grow).

Attach a refrigeration unit or chiller to the tank to keep the water extremely cold, which will keep your lobsters healthy and less of a risk of cannibalism. Keep the water between 40 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Choose the right equipment to maintain your lobster tank. Install a gravity filtration system (to degas and oxygenate the water), biological filters (to remove waste matter), and a submersible pump (to move the water through the filtration system).

Maintain the water composition. Use a commercial sea salt blend to keep the water salinity at around 30 to 35 parts per million. Condition municipal water added to the tank to remove chlorine and other minerals commonly found in domestic or groundwater. Use natural seawater whenever possible. Maintain a pH between 6.5 and 8.5 with water changes and chemical adjustments.

Examine the lobsters for health reasons. Don’t add lobsters with missing appendages or cracked shells or membranes, as they will likely be eaten by the other lobsters. Tie all the lobster claws together with rubber bands. Keep lobsters (lobsters that have recently skinned their shells) separate from the other lobsters until the shell has had a chance to harden (usually a few days).

Keep the tank clean by doing a 10 to 15 percent water change weekly. Always condition the water before adding it to the tank. Check the filters two to three times a week and rinse them out if necessary. Replace the filters if they are worn or damaged. Use a test kit to check the water composition at least once a week.

As a general rule, do not feed the lobsters; As long as the water is kept at the right temperature, adult lobsters can survive for several months without food. If you are raising chickens (juvenile lobsters), feed the lobsters pellet food from your pet store. Use a settling tank (one that allows leftover food and waste to settle to the bottom of the tank) if you need to feed the lobsters.

Remove the lobsters from the tank for consumption once they have reached the desired size or appear to have stopped growing.

The first thing you should do after receiving your order from Main Lobster Now is to open the package and check that everything you ordered is there and the lobsters are alive. Be sure to handle the package and the lobsters with care. If something is missing or wrong with the order, please take photos and contact our customer service.

How to store your live lobster in the fridge

Live lobsters are perishable and must be dealt with promptly. It’s best to cook lobsters the day they arrive, but they can be stored for up to two days if needed.

If you need to store them when they arrive, wrap the lobsters in damp paper and store them with ice packs or in the fridge, keeping them as cold as possible — but don’t freeze them.

If your fridge is big enough, store the lobsters in the shipping box and place them in the fridge. If you must remove them from the container, cover your lobsters with a damp cloth until you are ready to cook them. Lobsters will die if they dry out and can only last so long in the fridge.

Lobsters stored this way remain sluggish and soggy, but need to be cooked within 24 to 48 hours — after which time, your fresh seafood investment probably won’t be as fresh.

You risk a dead lobster and a lost meal if you delay your lobster’s rendezvous with your pots and pans.

Some handling tips to keep in mind when handling live lobster:

Don’t put lobsters in tap water. They are saltwater creatures and freshwater will kill them.

Do not seal lobsters in an airtight container.

Don’t keep lobsters in standing water.

Prepare to cook live lobsters

Your lobsters will arrive with thick rubber bands around their claws. Fishermen place these on the lobsters after removing the lobsters from the traps. You can leave the rubber bands on until the lobster is done. This protects you from being ripped with a claw – live lobsters are lively.

To pick up a lobster, grab it by the body – not by the claws or tail. If you pick up the lobster, it’s likely to curl its tail and try to hit you with its claws. Keep your fingers away from the underside of the tail. It has edges that you can cut when the lobster flicks its tail.

Euthanize live lobsters

Killing a lobster is a necessary step in the preparation process that can be stressful for some people. The University of Maine Lobster Institute has asked many questions about whether cooking a lobster is humane. Their studies revealed that a lobster has a primitive nervous system similar to that of an insect. In order to feel pain, an animal must have a complex nervous system.

However, there are ways to euthanize lobsters so they don’t tail-twitch while cooking. We recommend minimizing a lobster’s movements or spasms in boiling water by cooling it first. To do this, it must be placed in the freezer for 30 minutes. If it’s still active after 30 minutes, keep it in the freezer for a while longer.

introduction

CHAPTER 1: How Do You Find Quality Lobster?

CHAPTER 2: Learn the Parts of a Maine Lobster

CHAPTER 3: Delicious Lobster Recipes

CHAPTER 4: Tips for handling and storing live lobsters

CHAPTER 5: Handling frozen lobsters

CHAPTER 6: How to crack a lobster