As long as you replace the ice as needed, you can store crawfish on ice for several days without killing them–but keep in mind that the fresher they are, the better the flavor will be. If you plan on storing them for more than two days, rotate the sack daily to keep them at peak condition.

As a rule of thumb, you will need about 3 to 5 pounds of crawfish per guest if they are the main protein of the meal. There's no greater catastrophe than not having enough crawfish for everyone!

Explanation: A crawfish, due to its specialized gills which enable it to breathe normal air, can survive for several days outside water as long as their gills are moist. If they live in humid conditions, they can survive for months.

How many pounds of crawfish are in a sack? Each bag on average weighs between 28 to 35 lbs and is typically enough crayfish for 12 or less people, depending on how many other fixings you may have with your crayfish boil.