How long does mud crab fattening take and what is the survival rate?

Mud crab fattening is a short cycle, often around two to four weeks for water crabs to fill with meat, and a bit longer for female crabs to develop roe, depending on the starting condition and water temperature. The honest issue is survival and handling, because crabs are aggressive and cannibalistic, so without individual boxes or careful pond and pen management they injure and eat each other, raising mortality. Mortality also comes from weak starting crabs, escapes and stress. Good feeding, the right system and careful handling keep losses down. Because the cycle is short, you can run many batches a year if supply and market hold. Get realistic survival expectations and the best system for your scale from your Fisheries department and experienced local farmers.