Lobsters from the supermarket

[walnutsofamerica]

in my biology class there is an empty fish tank, about 20ish gallons (apprx. 4ft across 2 ft high and 1 ft back). I want to go to a supermarket, buy a lobster, get it set up in the classroom and leave instructions for its care along with a supply of food. the problem is i do not know how to care for a lobster. How do you care for a lobster that you'd buy at a supermarket, what do they eat, tank requirements, anything and everything one should know about keeping a pet lobster please? thanks.

[aquawolf]

Welcome to TRT!!!

The following links are the best I could find to try to steer you in the right direction. Of course, most sites out there are dealing with the care in cooking them side of things.

http://www.neaq.org/animals_and_exhi...ster/index.php

http://www.lobsterinstitute.org/index.php?page=29

HTH

[Fat Tony]

also, the lobsters you get at the market are cold water species, meaning they like the water 65 or below.

[Loverotties]

It will cost alot to set up a cold tank like that!Need a big chiller to get the water down to 60.

[aquawolf]

It might just be a whole lot easier to raise the water temp to 212 for about 20 minutes or so and then let the class "dissect" the results with drawn butter and lemon juice.

[Alittlefishy]

Originally Posted by aquawolf

It might just be a whole lot easier to raise the water temp to 212 for about 20 minutes or so and then let the class "dissect" the results with drawn butter and lemon juice.

And some nice tiger prawns for comparison as well. bwahahaha

[tlgreve]

I think its a wonderful idea to try to save a lobster from being dinner, especially with recent news about the old one over 100 years old - I'd feel bad about eating something thats lived that long. I don't eat lobster, so I couldn't tell about the taste, but can agree it would make a fine living study. That said, you will need that chiller they were talking about, but might be able to get a used one off e-bay or even find a used lobster tank on there (I've seen them!)