what is a good source for cheap crabs for feeding my octopus

[JRocha]

I have an octopus and he seems to love live crabs. he will not eat the 3 damsels I put in for him but will attack any crab that goes into his tank. I am looking to buy a big group of live crabs for him but everyone charges like 5 dollars a crab. I want something cheap and healthy to feed Squidward. Any ideas?

 

[sfsuphysics]

IIRC, one particular cephalomiester would go catch crabs by the bay.

 

[GreshamH]

cheapest is the ocean (little rock crabs, etc)

 

[JAR]

Go buy a crab trap or a ring an get some cat food or chicken parts.
Drop it in the bay and you got crabs!
You may need a fishing license and you can't keep dungeness.
you can get sand crabs at the beach at low tide also.
now that I think about it you can turn over a rock at low tide in the bay and find crabs.

 

[tuberider]

IIRC if it is a man made structure yo do not need a fishing license, that's why the jetty in HMB always has people on it, they think they are going to be able to catch a bunch of fish for free

 

[JAR]

My boat is a man made structure!
What a rip off!
I never should have bought that damn license.

 

[GreshamH]

guys, small little crabs from the tidepools/reef/rocks Not legal size eating crabs

 

[Erick]

When I was a kid in socal we used to catch those on the jetties, a piece of fishing line and some meat, the crabs usually don't let go.

 

[JRocha]

Will I get in trouble for taking these little guys, since they are so small? Or is it ok. I just started up a small brakish system to keep some fiddlers alive and feed them well so squidward gets a healthy and clean diet. Not too fond of crabs from the bay since a person is not supposed to eat it too many from there so not sure if that would be a godd idea. I might go hit up Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica by some rocks I know. I only live 5 minutes away to the beach so I will go hunting there. But would really like to know if I will get in trouble for pulling these small crabs out. Swuidward's head is only 1" so I can't imagine getting him anything bigger than his head.

 

[tuberider]

Try the jetty in HMB, it's loaded and you won't get a hard time from people since the folks on the jetty are from out of town

 

[JRocha]

Try the jetty in HMB, it's loaded and you won't get a hard time from people since the folks on the jetty are from out of town

nice. I think I might do that tomarrow since I am on my last fiddler crab for him. I also live in Pacifica so HMB is really close to me. Thanks

 

[Thales]

Go to an intertidal area at low tide and start flipping rocks. There will be Hemigrapsus under there that will be easy to catch by hand. The crab pictured above is a Pachygrapsus and are fast.
Take the damsels out - odds are they will start picking at the octo.

 

[GreshamH]

fast? Guess that is relative. Caught those all my life... big ones are fast, but he doesn't want those puppies

 

[aalhait]

JAR,

I can suggest another cheaper way of catching "crabs" but let's not go there...

:*

 

[northbay-reefer]

Will I get in trouble for taking these little guys, since they are so small? Or is it ok. I just started up a small brakish system to keep some fiddlers alive and feed them well so squidward gets a healthy and clean diet. Not too fond of crabs from the bay since a person is not supposed to eat it too many from there so not sure if that would be a godd idea. I might go hit up Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica by some rocks I know. I only live 5 minutes away to the beach so I will go hunting there. But would really like to know if I will get in trouble for pulling these small crabs out. Swuidward's head is only 1" so I can't imagine getting him anything bigger than his head.

You will only get in trouble if you get caught so I wouldn't worry about it at all .....LOL

Another way you can do it is put your octopus on a leash and then take him out and drop him into the bay every night for dinner

 

[cowl400]

i've been around the oakland airport area and couldn't find any crabs. i think you need a license no matter where you go. there was some 'fishing cop' or something that stopped and asked if i needed any help when i was by the side of the road at a pier so i think they do check up on people. i did see a really scary stingray though.

 

[JRocha]

thanks for the suggestions but I have yet to try this even though I should. we have been feeding him mostly fiddlers and red claw crabs, a few saltwater red crabs, and a nassurus snail. There's always tomarrow.