All of us at Touch-Tank are thrilled to re-introduce our readers to one of the
most passionate marine educators that we have ever had encountered. We first met Carol Steingart on Maine’s coast searching for “Green Eggs in Sand,” the eggs of the horseshoe crab that we learned are important for migrating shore birds on their way from the southern tip of South America to the Arctic Circle. Coastal Carols most resent discovery is a “WHITE” green crab that according to every marine expert that we have asked is very rare and special green crab . Touch-Tank is convinced that you will enjoy reading about Carol’s discovery as we all follow the life of this Rare and Beautiful Green Crab.
My name is Carol Steingart. I’m an informal marine educator in Maine and came across a very unusual green crab, Carcinus maenas, while visiting Monhegan Island on September 26, 2010…a WHITE green crab! My husband and I were beachcombing for sea glass on a shore called Fish Beach when
suddenly he saw something scurry under a rock. We carefully raised the rock and found a tiny green crab, about one-inch in width, displaying unusually bright white markings. I compared the brightness of the white color to that of White-Out. Unlike a true albino, there were dark striations outlining each white section resembling a mosaic pattern. Upon further investigation, holding the crab in my hand, I quickly realized that it had just molted because the shell was very, very soft. I had an empty sandwich bag, filled it with seawater, and placed the crab inside it. (I hold a State permit to collect marine organisms for educational purposes). Once I got home to Yarmouth, I began showing the crab to various professors, marine experts, fishermen, and students. So far, I haven’t found anyone that has ever seen a green crab with such
unusually white markings as this one.
After 39 days in my home aquarium, the crab molted, revealing the same white pattern on its new carapace (shell). Throughout this period, it was suggested by Professor Larry Harris at UNH, to place white copy paper underneath the tank which may in fact have been the reason it molted white again.
Scientists who have done studies with green crabs, Carcinus maenas, have found that juveniles are highly variable in color for camouflage reasons. They often range from black to green to red to white. Once they mature to adults the color variability disappears resulting in the more common greenish-brown mottled color we are all familiar with.
My goal is to keep the crab healthy and happy through a succession of molts to observe the changes (or not) of this particularly rare colored crab.
Carol Steingart
Touch-Tank thanks Coastal Carol for sharing her discovery of this Rare and Beautiful Green Crab. AND, if you would like to experience a real Coastal Adventure, contact Carol at cvs4@juno.com and discuss the possibilities
Filed under Coastal Encounters by on . 4 Comments. 
The Bell House
Incorporated on February 25, 1892, Colonial Beach, Virginia is the “Playground on the Potomac.” Its beautiful beaches and lavish waterfront property including its most famous structure The Alexander Graham Bell house, presently the Bell House Bed and Breakfast located on Irving Street, is a must see family destination.
Only a short drive from the well traveled Route 3 “Historic Corridor” that hosts attractions including Stratford Hall, George Washington’s Birthplace, Westmoreland State Park, Historic Downtown Fredericksburg, and The Museum at Colonial Beach.
Museum at Colonial Beach
The Colonial Beach Historical Society rescued an historical house from destruction and created the Museum at Colonial Beach to tell the town rich history through artifacts, photos and other exhibits. The Museum is open to visitors from early April until the middle of December. The regular hours of operation are Saturdays and Sundays 1-4 pm and the second Friday of the month from 6-8 pm though private tours are available through appointment. Admission is free, but your generous donations help keep the doors open.
The Watermen's Room
The museum has much to offer including the Watermen’s Room, a permanent exhibit, dedicated by the founding members of the Historical Society to honor the generations of fishermen and oysterman who made their living on the waters around Colonial Beach. The surrounding waters are important to the area, so important in fact that the museums supporters reached out to Touch Tanks for Kids for help in purchasing a touch tank to demonstrate to local children and visitors alike how important the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and its sea creatures are to the continued prosperity of the “Playground on the Potomac”
Here is the email from The Museum at Colonial Beach curator, Shane Buzby, to Touch Tanks for Kids executive director, Mike Martin, explaining how the museum will secure the additional funding for their touch tank project and his subsequent post on the Touch Tanks for Kids Discussion Forum explaining how the touch tank will benefit the museum’s community.
SHANE M. BUZBY
Hello, my name is Shane Buzby. I am writing on behalf of The Museum at Colonial Beach Va. We are a small Beach town, located on the Potomac River in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Museum is devoted to the education of all people from children to adults. We firmly believe that a touch tank would be instrumental in the education and learning for our children especially. It would give the schoolchildren a chance to learn about nature and how to conserve our resources. We see this as a valuable asset to the Museum, which would provide field trips and special events around the touch tank. Being a small non-profit organization, we would rely on our memberships and donations to secure extra funding for any added costs. Thank you for your time. -Shane Buzby (curator)
Shane Buzby’s wonderful explanation of how a touch tank will enhance the Museum at Colonial Beach:
100 Years of the Colonial Beach School System
In today’s world, where children are more involved with television and video games, The Museum at Colonial Beach wants to reach out to the children and educate them with the utilization of a touch tank. The Museum at Colonial Beach Va, is dedicated to the education of our children, and what better way to promote education, but through a touch tank. Imagine the look in a child’s eyes as he/she touches a specimen form the touch tank, that they have only seen in a book or magazine. Being a small community, the museum is located within walking distance from the elementary school. This will enable the children to take multiple field trips to learn about our environment, the species that live in our waters, and to promote the conservation of the earth. I see a touch tank as the biggest educational tool available. Our Town is located on the Potomac River and thrives with numerous species of shellfish, crustaceans, and wildlife. The Museum wants to promote the preservation of these and the education of what these species are and how they feel and live. As our children seem less involved with nature, the museum wants to let them know what our world has to offer and through a touch tank, I feel that we can communicate with our children. After all, the children of today are the future of tomorrow. Thank You – Shane Buzby (curator)
The Museum at Colonial Beach is doing a membership drive!!! Please go to their website http://www.museumatcolonialbeach.com , and become a member of the Museum Today. Your membership is what keeps the museum doors open and will help improve the decorum with an educational touch tank!
Join the discussion at the Touch Tanks for Kids Discussion Forum and let them know how they can improve the Touch Tanks for Kids Program.
This site is created and maintained by Shannon Mae Development, Inc.
Filed under Projects for Marine Aquariums by on . Comment.
Touch Tank
- Tips on Using Educational Aquariums In The ClassroomHow an Aquarium Will Make Kids Smarter First a teaching aquarium in the classroom energizes learning, it prods learners to get involved because the tank is not an inanimate object it is a living, breathing organism, full of fellow creatures who just by their very existence teach learners about life in an ecosystem covered by […]
- How To Set up a Marine AquariumThere are many things that should be considered before setting up a marine aquarium, and there are countless resources that should be studied before taking on the challenge. Three important things to consider before undertaking this rewarding endeavor are the size of the tank, the type of filtration system, and what lighting components will work […]
- Count Sharcula Fundraising ProgramFund Your Touch Tank One person, one shark can make a difference. You’ve just been bitten. Question: Are you going to bite back? Count Sharcula is a fundraising program that is viral in nature and Count Sharcula wants to improve the health of the Oceans. The Mission of Count Sharcula: Raise Awareness of Ocean Issues […]
- Everything You Need To Know About Tropical FishA Guide of Tropical Aquarium Fish provides tropical fish tank tips for fish geeks. This informative site provides numerous links to tips and suggestions […]
- Ocean and Environmental Science Information and CurriculumHere are some useful resource, a variety of free or low-cost resources to K-12 teachers seeking ocean, and environmental science information and curriculum […]
- A Marine Aquarium Boosts Fund RaisingYou can find a marine aquarium in a cross section of museums throughout the country. Museums have unique challenges, attributes and needs, and quality educational aquariums may provide a unique solution to a museum’s funding problems. In order to create the most successful marine aquarium funding campaign possible, a museum needs support from the board. If a […]
- A Teacher’s Guide to Marine LifeOcean organisms contribute significantly to the oxygen cycle, help regulate the Earth’s climate, and some ocean organism, visit Touch-Tank and discover more […]
- Trade Show Touch TankIf your trade show displays do not meet your expectations, consider adding a touch tank.This will draw prospects to your trade show booth like bears to honey […]
- Dr. Touch Tanks Ocean GuideDr. Touch Tanks Ocean Guide supplies teachers with a versatile teaching resource that supports aquarium education. The simple sea creature illustrations, ... […]
- Lobster FundraisingNOW, because of improvements in storing, shipping, and handling, Love Maine Lobsters offers Lobster Fundraising that provides another way to fund your projects […]
