• Fasting/Purging: Crabs are usually kept in clean water without food for 12 to 24 hours before packing. This purging process cleans their system and increases survival rates during transport.
• Grading: Crabs are sorted by size and weight (e.g., small, medium, large, extra large) to ensure uniform packaging and quality control.
• Tying Claws: All claws and walking legs must be securely tied to prevent injury to other crabs or handlers. This is a critical step as untied crabs can harm each other, leading to lost limbs and mortality.
• Condition Check: Only healthy, active, hard-shelled crabs with all limbs intact should be selected for export.

Packaging Material :

• Primary Container: Common options include bamboo baskets or HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) crates.
• Moisture Source: Moist materials such as sawdust, shredded damp paper, or seaweed are often used within the primary container to maintain a humid environment.
• Outer Packaging: The primary container is placed inside a sturdy export carton or a thermocol (styrofoam) box.
• Temperature Control: Ice packs or gel coolants are strategically placed (usually in the outer box) to maintain a cool temperature (typically 18-25°C, but not freezing).
• Ventilation: The packaging must allow for adequate airflow to ensure the crabs can breathe.

• Prepare the Box: Line the transport container (e.g., thermocol box) with the damp packing material.
• Layer the Crabs: Stack the individually tied crabs neatly in layers, often in columns, ensuring they fit snugly to minimize movement but are not crushed.
• Add Cooling/Moisture: Add more moist material or ice packs between layers if necessary, though careful placement of external ice packs is more common to avoid direct contact that could freeze the crabs.
• Seal and Label: Securely seal the box and apply all necessary shipping and health certification labels for export compliance (e.g., FSSAI, MPEDA, EIA Health Certificate).

• Temperature: The ideal transport temperature for live mud crabs is typically between 18-25°C.
• Timeframe: Transport time should be minimized, typically a maximum of 24 to 48 hours, to ensure a high survival rate (around 95% is a standard goal)