How do you tell the age of a lobster?

Answer 1

No one has yet found a way to determine the exact age of a lobster because it sheds its shell so often.
Lobsters grow by molting or shedding their shell. It takes a lobster four to seven years to grow to be one pound in weight and to become an adult. They molt, or shed their shells, about 25 times in those first years of life. An adult male lobster sheds its old shell and grows a new one twice a year and a female once, increasing about 1/2 in. and 1/3 pound each time. When molting, the lobster's body gives off a substance that softens the shell. Then, by expanding its muscles, the lobster splits the shell and steps out of it. This process takes approximately 15 minutes. The new shell, which had formed under the old one, is soft and gives the lobster no protection. It takes about eight weeks for the new shell to harden. After the old hard shell is discarded the lobster is sometimes called a “new-shell lobster” or a "shedder."

Answer 2

when you catch a lobster (very hard work by the way) you have to measure it with your gauge. The measurement is from the eye socket to the end of the thorax shell. There used to be just a minimum size, now there is a maximum size as well, the bigger lobsters are put back as they are the breeders.

The size determines the approximate age as they never stop growing. However, when they get bigger and older, they tend to remain solitary, backing into holes, thereby slowing down the growth process. They don't shed as often. When they shed, they become "soft shell", easier to eat, but a little deceiving as the shell is much bigger than the meat inside.

Lobsters are scavengers and will eat ANYTHING, including other lobsters. But when they are cannibalizing each other, they DON"T have melted butter.

Answer 3

"How can you tell the age of a lobster?
No one knows exactly, but aquarium studies suggest it takes 5 to 7 years for a lobster to gain one pound."

Answer 4

Rings on its shell and size of pincers..if its a lady one.. check out the claw varnish

Answer 5

you ask nicely and politely and with a smile.

Answer 6

Ask it.