Soft shelled crabs are reared for a period of few weeks till their exoskeleton gets hardened. This is called _____.

Correct option is B

Correct Answer: (b) Fattening
Explanation:
→ The post-moult period when crabs are reared to regain weight and harden exoskeleton is called fattening; for soft-shell production, crabs are held briefly to achieve desired meat condition before shell hardening.
→ Fattening improves meat yield and market quality.
Information Booster:
→ Soft-shell crabs are harvested immediately after moulting and often marketed fresh or chilled; fattening is carefully managed to avoid aggressive interactions.
Additional Information (Other Options):
(a) Folding/mudding: other culture terms; (c) Crabbing: general term for catching/raising crabs but not the specific process; (d) Mudding: pond preparation term.