Carb farming
Mud crab farming business in India with ₹50,000 investment and aim for ₹1 lakh monthly profit, using plastic containers / PVC systems / plastic drums and a 30-day fattening cycle.
Let’s break it down into reality + process + costs + scaling plan.
1. Understanding the Mud Crab Business Model
Mud crabs (Scylla serrata, Scylla olivacea) are highly valued in India and especially in export markets (Singapore, Malaysia, UAE).
There are two main methods:
- Grow-out farming (from juveniles to market size) → Takes 4–6 months.
- Crab fattening (buying thin, empty-shell crabs and fattening them for market) → 20–30 days.
Since you mentioned 30 days, you’re talking about crab fattening, which requires less time, less space, and lower risk.
2. Process of Mud Crab Fattening in Containers / PVC / Drums
Step 1 – Site & Setup
- Choose a shaded area with good ventilation.
- Use plastic drums (200–300 L), rectangular PVC tanks, or HDPE fish tanks.
- Each tank can hold 8–10 crabs (depends on size).
- Install aeration using a small air pump (like aquarium pumps but stronger).
- Maintain salinity 15–30 ppt (mix seawater with freshwater or buy seawater from suppliers near coastal areas).
Step 2 – Procurement
- Buy empty crabs (shell light, meat not full) from crab traders or coastal landing centers (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Kerala).
- Size: 500g–1kg each.
- Price: ₹400–₹500/kg (off-season can be lower).
Step 3 – Stocking
- Stock only healthy, active crabs (no missing claws if possible).
- Place individually in plastic crates inside the tank (to prevent fighting).
- Stocking density: 1 crab per compartment.
Step 4 – Feeding & Care
- Feed twice daily:
- Trash fish, small prawns, clams, snails.
- Feed rate: 5–8% of body weight/day.
- Remove uneaten food after 2–3 hours to maintain water quality.
- Change 50% of water every 2–3 days or use filtration.
Step 5 – Fattening Duration
- 20–30 days.
- During this time, crabs fill with meat and gain weight.
Step 6 – Harvest & Sale
- Sell to:
- Local seafood restaurants
- Export agents
- Coastal city markets
- Market price: ₹800–₹1,200/kg for full crabs (peak season can be higher).
3. Budget Breakdown (₹50K Initial Investment)
| Item | Qty | Unit Cost | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic drums (200L) / PVC tanks | 20 | ₹1,000 | ₹20,000 |
| Aeration setup (blower, pipes, stones) | 1 set | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 |
| Plastic crates/dividers | 20 | ₹200 | ₹4,000 |
| Initial crabs (40 kg) | 40 kg × ₹450 | ₹18,000 | ₹18,000 |
| Misc. (salt, net covers, tools) | — | — | ₹2,000 |
| Total | — | — | ₹50,000 |
4. Monthly Profit Calculation (Target ₹1 Lakh)
With ₹50K initial, your first cycle will be smaller.
Example:
- 20 tanks × 2 crabs/tank = 40 crabs (~40 kg at 1 kg each)
- Buying price: ₹450/kg → ₹18,000
- Selling price: ₹900/kg → ₹36,000
Profit per cycle = ₹18,000 (before expenses).
With two cycles/month, ~₹36,000 profit → then reinvest profits to scale.
Scaling to ₹1 Lakh/month:
- You’ll need ~120–150 kg crabs/cycle → 4× more tanks.
- Investment after scaling: ₹2–2.5 lakh.
- With 2 cycles/month:
- Buying: ₹450 × 300 kg = ₹1,35,000
- Selling: ₹900 × 300 kg = ₹2,70,000
- Profit ≈ ₹1,35,000/month.
5. Licensing & Compliance
- For local sales: Usually no special license.
- For exports: Need FSSAI, MPEDA registration, and cold storage tie-up.
6. Advantages of Container/PVC Farming
- Can be done in non-coastal areas (buy seawater or synthetic sea salt).
- Less disease spread compared to pond farming.
- Easy to manage and scale.
7. Risk & Tips
- Crabs are aggressive → keep separated.
- Water quality is critical — poor maintenance = high mortality.
- Feed only fresh, not spoiled seafood.
- Always have a buyer network ready before stocking.
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