Handling tips for shedder season For lobsters, molting is a continuous process. Lobsters are always either preparing for, recovering from, or actually molting - except for adults who take a bit of time off for reproduction. Great preparations take place when a lobster gets ready to shed. First, it starts to break down its old shell to soften itself up at the joints and around the edges. This makes it possible to squeeze out of the old shell later on.
Limb buds start out clear and turn pale blue, pink, and then bright red.
When a lobster is within a day or two of shedding, the limb buds turn dark blood red in color. You may also be able to recognize a premolt lobster by its dark body and the presence of a deep blue line along the edge of the carapace. That line is actually the edge of the fully formed new shell underneath the old shell. Premolt lobsters need special care because while they look and feel hardshelled on the surface, they are weak and the delicate limb buds break off easily. Next time, I'll talk about how the lobster gets out of its shell and how to handle a freshly molted lobster.