Crabs making holes in bentonite.

[Reinier]

Not sure if anyone here could be of assistance, but i have just built a small dam 20x30m and have sealed it with bentonite. Which works perfectly however since the crabs have moved in they've started making holes in the sides and I’ve noticed that the level is starting to drop rather quickly . Any ideas as to how i could control their numbers? or perhaps i could get some kind of crab cage? I introduced some turtles but they seem to be more interested in the frogs than the crabs. Any suggestions would be of most help. Thanks

[Byron]

Not sure if anyone here could be of assistance, but i have just built a small dam 20x30m and have sealed it with bentonite. Which works perfectly however since the crabs have moved in they've started making holes in the sides and I’ve noticed that the level is starting to drop rather quickly . Any ideas as to how i could control their numbers? or perhaps i could get some kind of crab cage? I introduced some turtles but they seem to be more interested in the frogs than the crabs. Any suggestions would be of most help. Thanks

You've got crabs! Bleak

[Byron]

Prevention is better than cure… stay away from dodgy birds

[Reinier]

LOL , I knew someone was going to throw a comment like that. Perhaps I should rephrase that to Crustaceans .

[Byron]

All I know is that Otters like crabs - you should have hung on to that bugger you hooked on the weekend.

I'm sure there must be a way of trapping them - try some raw meat as bait. We catch them in the rivers down in the EC with chokka or pilchards. It might not be a solution but should work as a form of population control.

You could probably build a couple traps out of chichen wire quite easily.

You can sell the ones you catch to bait shops.

[Reinier]

Your right, i should have keept that otter. I recon a small otter could make an awesome pet. Anyways i guess the best bet is to start using bait like you said. Thanks

[chris williams]

How's your dam/bentonite been holding out with all the summertime crabs? Hopefully you've still some water left!

[Reinier]

Luckily i caught quite a lot of them in the beginning of the season, so they haven’t really had a chance to get going. Hope it stays that way. Otherwise dam is holding up. Thanks

[Byron]

Luckily i caught quite a lot of them in the beginning of the season, so they haven’t really had a chance to get going. Hope it stays that way. Otherwise dam is holding up. Thanks

What do you do once you have caught them?

[Reinier]

Crab Bisque. Na, i release them into the Jukskei. Although i was seriously considering otherwise, One of them managed to escaped from the container and crawl under the car seat and find an opening in the car chassis, i had to strip half the car just to get the bugger out! The last thing you want in your car is a rotting crab smell.