Started By
Message

Keeping crawfish alive

Posted on 5/9/19 at 12:24 pm
Posted by LSUTIGERTAILG8ER
Chance of Rain....NEVER!!
Member since Nov 2007
1743 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 12:24 pm
You pick up your sack(s) early am...
You aren’t boiling til later that evening...
What’s your pro tips to keeping your mud bugs kicking until washing time?
This post was edited on 5/11/19 at 4:03 am
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
15134 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 12:36 pm to
I have a spare fridge in my man cave and remove the bottom drawers and shelf and put the sack in it to keep them cold before getting the boil ready.

If only for a couple hours, I'll take a 48 qt. ice chest, dump the crawfish in it and toss some ice over them and leave the drain open so water doesn't collect in the bottom.

Usually one bag of ice scattered among the crawfish will suffice for a few hours time.


ETA: I boiled a sack a few weeks ago and it was at least 3 hours from the time I picked them up to boil time and I did the ice chest and ice method. I only had 2 dead crawfish in a 35 lb. sack.
This post was edited on 5/9/19 at 12:39 pm
Posted by al_cajun
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2017
2442 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 12:41 pm to
Put them in a cooler, cover with ice and leave a very small crack for air. They can stay like this for a couple days.
Posted by SaDaTayMoses
Member since Oct 2005
4320 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 12:54 pm to
keep sack in shade. hose down every 4-5 hours.
if multiple days, keep in shade, put a bag of ice or 2 on them and cover with big beach blanket
Posted by Fight4LSU
Kenner
Member since Jul 2005
9756 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 1:10 pm to
Lay the sack in the shade and cover with a dripping wet beach towel.
Posted by SmokedBrisket2018
Member since Jun 2018
1522 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 1:16 pm to
Large ice chest.
Piece of cardboard on top of the sack.
Cover with ice.
Lid cracked.
Drain plug open.
Posted by s14suspense
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2007
14693 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 1:28 pm to
quote:


Large ice chest.
Piece of cardboard on top of the sack.
Cover with ice.
Lid cracked.
Drain plug open.


This is basically what I do for picking up sacks on a Saturday afternoon to boil 24hrs later.
Posted by OldHickory
New Orleans
Member since Apr 2012
10602 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 1:42 pm to
But don’t they get cold this way?
Posted by SmokedBrisket2018
Member since Jun 2018
1522 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 1:44 pm to
quote:

But don’t they get cold this way?


What exactly do you mean?
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
15134 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 1:50 pm to
Cold air sinks, hot air rises. The cold air produced by the ice on top of the crawfish will easily cool the ice chest and as long as the drain is open, the water escapes.
Posted by bigberg2000
houston, from chalmette
Member since Sep 2005
70038 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 2:11 pm to
I was told to leave them in the sack inside the ice chest and ice as if left able to roam the will begin to kill each other. Not sure if this is a real thing or not but I generally dont take them out of the sack until I am ready to really clean them.
Posted by fastedLSU
BR
Member since Sep 2007
4477 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 2:30 pm to
Unless you have a fridge or walk in just make sure you keep ice on them and we’ll drained. Have kept them on the concrete covered in ice for several days
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
15134 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 2:33 pm to
quote:

Have kept them on the concrete covered in ice for several days


Posted by OldHickory
New Orleans
Member since Apr 2012
10602 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 3:07 pm to
quote:

quote: But don’t they get cold this way? What exactly do you mean?


Mama says when the little crawfishes get ice put on dem, dey get chilly from the cold.
Posted by sjmabry
Texas
Member since Aug 2013
18500 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 3:46 pm to
quote:

I generally dont take them out of the sack until I am ready to really clean them.
Correct
Posted by Nguyener
Kame House
Member since Mar 2013
20603 posts
Posted on 5/9/19 at 6:31 pm to
Put a sack in an ice chest. But 2 bags of ice flat on top. Pop the drain open on the ice chest.
Posted by fastedLSU
BR
Member since Sep 2007
4477 posts
Posted on 5/10/19 at 8:54 am to
Brought 20 sacks to the beach in college and boiled several times. Kept them covered in ice under a car port. That was the only option. Laugh away
Posted by SUB
Member since Jan 2001
Member since Jan 2009
20843 posts
Posted on 5/10/19 at 9:20 am to
quote:

Put a sack in an ice chest. But 2 bags of ice flat on top. Pop the drain open on the ice chest.


This is what I do, but I have seen others do the wet towel with ice. Many on here claim that crawfish need water every once in a while.

Just make sure to keep them in the sack until you are ready to clean them and boil them.
Posted by GeauxTigers0107
South Louisiana
Member since Oct 2009
9729 posts
Posted on 5/10/19 at 9:25 am to
quote:

I have a spare fridge in my man cave and remove the bottom drawers and shelf and put the sack in it to keep them cold before getting the boil ready.



Same. I just put the sack in a cheap aluminum turkey roasting pan to catch any runoff.
Posted by kew48
Covington Louisiana
Member since Sep 2006
1105 posts
Posted on 5/10/19 at 10:07 am to
If you purge them you will kill them !! They are fresh water critters !
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitterInstagram