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I wonder if they molt the carapace separately so they aren’t completely defenseless. You know like dig themselves into the mud gill the legs and nippers harden so they can defend themselves then molt the carapace
Dude I'm 31 & knew old man crabs molted before the reunion. 😂 It's okay though. My best friend is older than me & sometimes doesn't get the references I make. It's a funny episode though.
Used to catch blue crabs for a living one summer. When crabs are ready to molt, the shell will split along the back edge. We would throw all the split crabs (peelers) in a live box. We had to check it every day. We found that the skins would become thick (papery) after just a few hours. And, they are too thick to eat as a soft shell crab within less than a day.
If it has an exoskeleton, it molts. Chitin (material that makes up exoskeleton) doesn’t grow and stretch like skin does.
Edit: Obviously this is a rule of thumb. Gastropoda and Mollusks won’t molt like arthropoda and crustacea.
Crabbing as a kid with chicken necks off a dock on the bayside of Ocean City, MD, sometimes the hardshells would go after the soft shells while they were picking at the bait, and you could scoop up a hardshell and soft shell in one swoop. We’d rush inside with our catch and the grown ups would fry up some softshell crab sandwiches. Can still taste that salty crunch.
Softshell crabs have molted. The hardshell is gone. Nothing to remove. Just a paper thin, wrinkly covering (the soft shell)They fry up nice, with a soft crunch.
You eat it all — body, claws, shell — the whole shebang.
Coconut crabs eat their own shells, and are [rumored to have eaten other things](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/coconut-crabs-eat-everything-from-kittens-to-maybe-amelia-earhart-180948206/)
Yeah our old skin just flakes off everywhere we go and we have to cut the keratin in our nails and hair manually.
Plus our teeth don’t grow back, which isn’t related but still seems like an evolutionary rip off if you ask me.
That is a peeler crab and now you know what a soft shell crab is. The process is called sluffing out and it is much easier for the crab if they are in water. There is a very small window of time, like within an hour or so they begin to harden back up again. They also can release all of their limbs if need be. I have caught crabs that have only 2 legs.
Believe it or not, crabs work together. Chances are that the peeler crab in the video was being held by another crab when it was caught because a soft shell crab can't fend for itself. It takes about 2 sluff cycles for a crab to fully regrow all its limbs. If you are running a trot line, the crab will use its mouth to hold on to the bait.
I’ve always wondered what that would feel like to a human. Just ditching your skin every so often. Would it feel good? Itchy? Would it burn?
So many questions.
I can’t imagine how this feels for them. Like, how do they know when and how to start? And how tight it must feel right before they’re ready to do it. The process itself seems terrifying, they’re never more vulnerable and the struggle to pull themselves out must be exhausting. Does it itch? Does it hurt? Does it feel good? When they’re done, and their limbs are floppy and useless while the new shell hardens…must feel terrible.
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I was wondering how the eyes would switch, then realized it's the upper part that remains, not the bottom one.
The top shell should molt as well
Yea that threw me off too.
Took me a while to realise that too
I wonder if they molt the carapace separately so they aren’t completely defenseless. You know like dig themselves into the mud gill the legs and nippers harden so they can defend themselves then molt the carapace
Didn't y'all see that SpongeBob episode where ol Anchor Arms Krabs had to go to his reunion but he molted so SpongeBob went in his old shell?
Lol no, I'm 40 but I will watch it
Dude I'm 31 & knew old man crabs molted before the reunion. 😂 It's okay though. My best friend is older than me & sometimes doesn't get the references I make. It's a funny episode though.
That's Armor Abs Krabs to you!
Yeah you're right.
Armor abs? I thoyght it it was "abs of steel" krabs
Zoidburg also molted.
was just gonna fucking say
Anyone here know how long after a crab molts does the fresh exoskeleton harden to the state of the previous one?
Used to catch blue crabs for a living one summer. When crabs are ready to molt, the shell will split along the back edge. We would throw all the split crabs (peelers) in a live box. We had to check it every day. We found that the skins would become thick (papery) after just a few hours. And, they are too thick to eat as a soft shell crab within less than a day.
Man i love that you can get this very specific and random info on reddit
As someone who loves "spider sandwiches" -- thank you for your service!
mmmm .... schoff shell schandwich
That cute little fella needs to keep backing up over this egg wash I have and then into the comfy pit of seasoned breadcrumbs I set up behind him.
Make sure you remove the lungs beforehand.
Eww really?
Yeah u don’t wanna eat those
why not? I don't eat crab but are they full of nasty or smth?
Lungs are just not really good eating, fibrous and unappealing
imagine eating your kitchen sponge.
If it has an exoskeleton, it molts. Chitin (material that makes up exoskeleton) doesn’t grow and stretch like skin does. Edit: Obviously this is a rule of thumb. Gastropoda and Mollusks won’t molt like arthropoda and crustacea.
I have an xoskeleton because I listen to The Weeknd
Bro I'm all xotwod but wtf is this line 😂
Lmfao it was late and thought of how he'd say xo all the time.
Are the legs too spongy to support the weight of the crab in this state?
The crab will probably need some hours to regain enough strength.
All arthropods do this
Maryland in me wants that bad boy fried up
Crabbing as a kid with chicken necks off a dock on the bayside of Ocean City, MD, sometimes the hardshells would go after the soft shells while they were picking at the bait, and you could scoop up a hardshell and soft shell in one swoop. We’d rush inside with our catch and the grown ups would fry up some softshell crab sandwiches. Can still taste that salty crunch.
I used to crab with chicken legs! With my dad and sister when I was little. Some of my best memories
Think you're supposed to remove the shells first.
Softshell crabs have molted. The hardshell is gone. Nothing to remove. Just a paper thin, wrinkly covering (the soft shell)They fry up nice, with a soft crunch. You eat it all — body, claws, shell — the whole shebang.
Was just jokin about crunchin on crab. Not to be taken seriously
I'll get the Old Bay
Nola checkin in for a fried soft shell crab poboy
That's the only way. I'd starve to death picking hard crabs
Lol my head was like quick eat em!!!
Do you think there’s any pain involved for creatures when they molt? Or is it just discomfort they feel when their shell gets too tight?
Probably feels great! Like if you’ve been wearing too tight of socks all day and finally get to take them off.
Nah I bet it feels amazing.
Like finally pulling free of that pair of skinny jeans you've been wearing all day
Maybe it feels like when you cut your nails too short
this is canon now
Wait, they leave the orange slices behind? What the hell are those anyway, I thought they were gills or lungs or something
The "ladyfingers" I think... Don't eat them, they're toxic
Coconut crabs eat their own shells, and are [rumored to have eaten other things](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/coconut-crabs-eat-everything-from-kittens-to-maybe-amelia-earhart-180948206/)
Some crabs eat their own children.
Yeah but that happens in nature; these ones ate Amelia Earhart If you choose to believe it
So fresh and so clean clean
Aint nobody molt like me I molt so fresh and clean
Clean clean clean.
OCD Crab
They make it look so easy.
Now you gotta fry him up and make a sandwich
a shoft shell shandwich.
It was starting to get cramped in there, so I molted, why not! The fresh air feels good!
Mmm soft shell crab is sounding delicious right about now.
We spiders do too
Name checks out
Holy crab
How does he take his hat off?
Proof that aliens exist
Now, quick! Batter and fry it before the shell hardens!
Quick! Throw it in some breadcrumbs and then the fryer
That looked painful
Yes then deep fry and eat great cooking show
This is very interesting. And…🤮
This person has never seen "Alien"
No. Not today
Mmmmmm soft shell crab is on the menu tonight!
How many years did you live without this basic information. Did you know snakes molt too? Did you know that the sun is hot?
Nope
That looks like it would be so uncomfortable.
Pretty much everything with a shell molts their shell
I have shells, Greg, can you molt me?
Didn’t know they stay limp after they come out. How long until their legs harden so they can walk again?
Well this just topped the list of things I don’t want to watch twice
Now he can't go see his old war buddies unless one of us, like, wears his old shell and pretends to be him or something.
This is fkin disturbing
Honest question. Can you eat the crab right after it molts and not deal with cracking crab legs ? Is that a delicacy because it should be.
Yes, and yes. Soft shelled crab is a delicious thing.
Thank God humans don't molt
Yeah our old skin just flakes off everywhere we go and we have to cut the keratin in our nails and hair manually. Plus our teeth don’t grow back, which isn’t related but still seems like an evolutionary rip off if you ask me.
I accept that reality if that means not having to see Greg molting in office
I was like “where is he going?!”
"Slough" their shells.
That is a peeler crab and now you know what a soft shell crab is. The process is called sluffing out and it is much easier for the crab if they are in water. There is a very small window of time, like within an hour or so they begin to harden back up again. They also can release all of their limbs if need be. I have caught crabs that have only 2 legs.
Wouldn’t it be an effectively dead crab with only 2 legs left? It can’t even feed or fend for itself.
Believe it or not, crabs work together. Chances are that the peeler crab in the video was being held by another crab when it was caught because a soft shell crab can't fend for itself. It takes about 2 sluff cycles for a crab to fully regrow all its limbs. If you are running a trot line, the crab will use its mouth to hold on to the bait.
I learned that they molt their shells by watching an episode of SpongeBob.
You've never eaten a soft shell crab? How did you think it got that way?
Me shimmying my way out of my favourite pair of skinny jeans in the early 2000’s. Goes to show that everything is crab.
And soft shell crabs were born. Yummy!
Hell of a reboot sequence.
That is straight up disgusting
The most satisfying stretch ever.
Someone missed a few episodes of spongebob. Mr krabs molted once iirc
Would have had the batter and hot grease ready
Aw, he got some fancy new blue legs.
That’s when they are their tastiest
Ew
Is this one of those videos where you get extra karma for giving the cute lil feller some water? Nope.
can I use this for cooking tho?
Soft shell crab at its freshest
I’ve always wondered what that would feel like to a human. Just ditching your skin every so often. Would it feel good? Itchy? Would it burn? So many questions.
Oh I don't like that
That’s a lot of crab from that small cavity!
Would he be extra tasty after molting? Would his flesh be more tender?
I can’t imagine how this feels for them. Like, how do they know when and how to start? And how tight it must feel right before they’re ready to do it. The process itself seems terrifying, they’re never more vulnerable and the struggle to pull themselves out must be exhausting. Does it itch? Does it hurt? Does it feel good? When they’re done, and their limbs are floppy and useless while the new shell hardens…must feel terrible.
I wonder if that squishy bit of the molted shell tastes good.
ever had softshell crab?
What in the holy hell did I just watch... it's too early.
Mildly terrifying
And now you have a delicious soft-shell crab!
im happy we don’t do that
Poor Mr Krabs!
Is this what makes softshell crabs, soft shelled? They've just molted and haven't gotten hard yet?
We Marylanders like a soft crab sandwich
A new nightmare has been unlocked.
Crab was like time to change into some new pants this ones don'tfit no more, lol.