Crayfish?

[PeterCaulf]

I've seen some very attractive freshwater crayfish - great fun to watch - that I imagine would add a nice new dimension to my tank. Can anyone please tell me:

1. Are they suitable for a community tank?

2. Are they easy to keep?

3. Are they useful? ie do they scavenge on leftovers, or eat snails, algae etc

4. What problems are associated with them?

I have a well-planted Juwel 70 with drfitwood and rock proving plenty of hideaways. It is stocked with 4 Guppies, 6 Platies, 16 Tetras and four corys, so inch-for-inch, I'm about up to my limit on fish.

Many Thanks, Pete

 

[Seed]

I've seen some very attractive freshwater crayfish - great fun to watch - that I imagine would add a nice new dimension to my tank. Can anyone please tell me:

1. Are they suitable for a community tank?

2. Are they easy to keep?

3. Are they useful? ie do they scavenge on leftovers, or eat snails, algae etc

4. What problems are associated with them?

I have a well-planted Juwel 70 with drfitwood and rock proving plenty of hideaways. It is stocked with 4 Guppies, 6 Platies, 16 Tetras and four corys, so inch-for-inch, I'm about up to my limit on fish.

Many Thanks, Pete

There is a guy on this forum who knows a bit more than me, but I can answer some of these. My friend bought one not too long ago and I have one now as well.

1. No, in my opinion they are not suitable for a community tank. They are likely to eat your other fish. I am personally having good luck with hatchetfish, but those stay at the top of the tank. Slow fish, or aggressive/curious ones will probably end up as a meal. They are nocturnal animals, and may opportunistically make a meal of their tankmates when they are resting.

2. Mine is a breeze to keep. They can eat a variety of foods. They are dirty though IMO. They poo a lot, produce a lot of waste etc so take that into account. The literature suggests that they prefer elevated pH (7.8 ) or so and that acidic water is bad for their exoskeleton. According to the literature, they can survive over a great range of temperatures. I keep mine at 74 degrees and 7.8 pH, buffered to maintain consistency.

3. In my experience, they eat everything, including other denizens of the tank. My friend lost fish within days of introducing his. I did my research first so haven't had to deal with that myself. Usefullness in the terms that you mean it, maybe not so much. But they are interesting and already I have observed a broad range of behaviors. I like to watch mine. Oh, the place I bought mine from used them in snail infested tanks specifically for that purpose, apparently they do eat snails. I have not witnessed this personally.

4. Other than what I have above, I would say that some species are very aggressive. Not aggressive like fish, this is... a whole different thing. I would describe it as grumpy or crotchety. They are territorial. They need a lot of hiding places, rocks are good for this. Some can get quite large, 15 inches or so, some a lot smaller, so be sure what species you are buying first. They molt, so don't have a heart attack when it looks like it's dead on the bottom of the tank (I had this happen lol).

 

[raptorrex]

I've seen some very attractive freshwater crayfish - great fun to watch - that I imagine would add a nice new dimension to my tank. Can anyone please tell me:

1. Are they suitable for a community tank?

2. Are they easy to keep?

3. Are they useful? ie do they scavenge on leftovers, or eat snails, algae etc

4. What problems are associated with them?

I have a well-planted Juwel 70 with drfitwood and rock proving plenty of hideaways. It is stocked with 4 Guppies, 6 Platies, 16 Tetras and four corys, so inch-for-inch, I'm about up to my limit on fish.

Many Thanks, Pete

1, No, not really, there do seem to be ways of keeping these guys, Blue lobster/Australian Redclaw, in community's but it is not to be recommended. not to mention that your tank is way too small for even contemplating this.
2, they are a doddle to keep, 20ukg of fullly cycled water, some caves and hides. an airstone or two, add a tight fitting lid and a heater and you are off.
3,they eat anything, though many forget that these guys are not predictors they are not even carnivores. so a veg based diet is to be recommended. but they will polish off snails. not much cop at algae though.
4, problems, they are prone to bacterial infection. the, common, practice of treating them as a carnivore often leads to failed moults and excessive aggression. they need high o2 content in the water, or they tend to pack their little spotter red hanky and leave. but the biggest problem with these guys is they are so enthralling, it is often hard to get anything else done.

ps, a PH of 7 is fine for these guys, though they are happy up to 9, 8.5 is the recommended max. temp should be between 72 and 85, ish, though the upper end is for breeding. keeping them below 70 results in restricted growth, problems breeding. it does however greatly reduce the chances of any bacterial infection. light should be low level but on for a minimum of 12 hours per day, this is extended to 14 for breeding.

 

[Seed]

Just out of curiosity, how often do you feed yours? I've been feeding mine once a day, right before I shut his light off. I generally feed it spirulina discs, and suppliment that with cucumber or other vegetable material. I haven't fed it meat yet, but I suppose I should.

 

[raptorrex]

Just out of curiosity, how often do you feed yours? I've been feeding mine once a day, right before I shut his light off. I generally feed it spirulina discs, and suppliment that with cucumber or other vegetable material. I haven't fed it meat yet, but I suppose I should.

every two days is fine, and no accept for treats, yu need not feed meat.

 

[OscarWilde]

I have a 2 Red Claw crayfish or "Blue Lobsters."

Absolutely love these guys. I know some people have had problems with losing fish but I never have. They do try it on but are rather slow. I would not reccomend keeping them with bottom feeders allthough that said i have sucessfuly kept one in a tank with a Common plec.

I am getting hepfuly getting two Queen Arabesque plecs however and will not risk that combination.

If you are in the UK these are the only species you can legally keep. Very good article here:

[URL="http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=432"]http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=432[/URL]

Mine eats Flake food left by the fish, Cat fish pellets, Peas, Courgette and just about anything else that goes in the tank.

Good luck!

 

[jemb86]

Hi, we've set up a tank today after my other half fell in love with a blue lobster today!!
My only concern is I love neon's, rummy-nose's etc (pretty fish) I've been reading this website
all night and have read really good things and really bad things about these!!
I've read loads about only keeping them in species tanks, now are species tanks only lobsters
or can you keep other lobstery type fish in with them, if this is the case what are these other fishes???

 

[rabbut]

Species tank means just to one type of fish in there, be it lobster or neon, you wouldn't mix in any others.

They are cracking fish these, but a pain to catch I'll tell you. Larger ones have a nasty nip, so avoid moving them if you can, and if you do move them, keep you fingers away form their jaws

Make sure the tank is fully cycled, or cloned from an existing mature tank (sufficient mature media to support your fish added) before adding these. Though I don't claim to know a great deal about them, I belive they don't like poor water quality (like any fish realy...but more so with these than some others)

All the best
Rabbut

 

[jemb86]

should we get one or two of the lobsters??
thanks for your last message great help