How to keep a Crayfish Alive??

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    Posted: 23 Dec 2011 at 6:42am
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No doubt this has been asked before...especially at this time of year!
 
I was looking at heading in to Oceans on the way home to pick up a live Cray for the christmas BBQ. Is there any way that I can keep it alive for the big day?
 
Or would it be better for me just to buy a cooked one?
 
Cheers
Looking forward to to fishing freedom on the Jet ski..and maybe even catching a fish :-)
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Tinky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Dec 2011 at 6:48am
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Just keep them cool in a chilly bin, and they will be fine. Just have a towel/cloth between the crays and whatever you use to keep em cold. They send them airfreight overseas like that.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Catchelot Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Dec 2011 at 8:06am
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Or in a fridge they will last several days. You can normally see their gill rakers moving.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Panga Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Dec 2011 at 8:16am
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Originally posted by Tinky Tinky wrote:

Just keep them cool in a chilly bin, and they will be fine. Just have a towel/cloth between the crays and whatever you use to keep em cold. They send them airfreight overseas like that.
Good advice.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Standard Deluxe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Dec 2011 at 8:22am
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You'll also have to lock the fridge to stop the missus eating it while your out.  Best buy two and keep the spare in your beer fridge.

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote IGAB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Dec 2011 at 8:36am
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Originally posted by Standard Deluxe Standard Deluxe wrote:

You'll also have to lock the fridge to stop the missus eating it while your out.  Best buy two and keep the spare in your beer fridge.

The wife doesn't eat seafood, so alright there!
 
Thanks all for the info.....
 
Merry Christmas
Looking forward to to fishing freedom on the Jet ski..and maybe even catching a fish :-)
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote CanadianJohn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Dec 2011 at 9:33am
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if they are the same as lobsters they will start to breath out of water by 72 hours. can't reverse the process though  as they will then drown! just have to keep them very chilled.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote bazza Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Dec 2011 at 10:00am
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Have heard that providing the freezer temp is not too low they
can be kept there then when they are taken out a month or two
later they "come alive"
 
Not absolutely sure it is factual but was told it has to do with their
ability to hibernate in near freezing conditions.
 
Anyone here know if it is a fact or not?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Bushpig Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Dec 2011 at 10:29am
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Not.

By definition a freezer is below freezing point and they would die. Otherwise they are in a fridge and as above will live for several days, but not months
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Ab_Fab Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Dec 2011 at 10:35am
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Have heard that adding some seaweed with them in the fridge helps keep them alive longer. Not sure why but is something I heard from a local Maori

Seems to be backed up by this blog

"You can keep lobsters alive for a day or so in the refrigerator. We store them in a paper bag, covered with seaweed. They can also be stored alive in an open container, covered with seaweed, or a seawater-soaked towel or newspaper (can you take a bottle or towel to the grocery store and ask the person at the fish counter to give you some seawater? ). Don't store them in a closed container. And whatever you do, don't put them in fresh water — they'll expire very quickly.

If the lobsters are quite lively when you buy them, you should be able to keep them alive in the refrigerator for as long as 48 hours. If their claws hang limply and their tails do not curl under when you pick them up, they may not have the stamina to survive nearly as long"

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Cigar Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Dec 2011 at 4:31pm
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I heard a story (may have even been on here) about someone finding one under their hedge a week or so after they had dumped their catch on the lawn. It was still alive, and had eaten the grass around it down to the dirt.

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ThomasW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Dec 2011 at 4:37pm
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I kept a few in my chilly bin overnight, one of the buggers started to eat a Butterfish, another got into a pack of prawns I had for bait. Greedy little buggers they are. 

Also heard them waking about inside the bin throughout the night. 

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote green guy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Dec 2011 at 9:39pm
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Wrap them in wet news paper (salt water) and in the fridge
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Jonny rotten Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Dec 2011 at 9:55pm
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we get them sent to us in a polly box with ice pacs and straw....them seem to last ages dont know why the straw tho
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote brown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Dec 2011 at 10:04pm
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for export we used to blast freeze them to slow metabolism, wrap them in wood wool (that was soaked in salt water) then inside polystyrene chilly boxes. by the time they got to the restaurants in japan they would be jumping out of the boxes
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote skidoggg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Dec 2011 at 12:00am
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best way is to keep em in karps cage fighting arena...
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