Buzz
Crayfish, also known as crawfish, crawdads, and mudbugs, are freshwater crustaceans that can easily be kept in a home aquarium. All you need to raise one of your own is a roomy tank, the right kind of food, time, and attention. Crayfish make excellent pets, and can often be seen building little hills, mounds, digging, hiding among shadowy rocks and plants, and burrowing in the gravel at the bottom of their tanks.
Guide
Preparing Your Crayfish’s Habitat
Acquiring a Crayfish You can usually acquire crayfish from aquatic stores that specialize in tropical fish, as well as certain pet shops. Before making a purchase, familiarize yourself with the various species and their specific requirements. It’s advisable to start with a solitary crayfish until you grasp how to effectively care for them.
- Crayfish typically range from $20, upwards. Rarer variants may cost $30 or more!
- In some regions, you can catch crayfish in streams or shallow bodies of water. Simply use a small net and explore under rocks until you find one suitable for adoption as a pet.
Prepare the habitat for your crayfish by setting up an adequate tank. Aim for a tank size of at least 5–10 gallons per crayfish, with larger tanks preferred for bigger crayfish. Ensure proper oxygenation with an air bubbler or bubble wall, as crayfish can drown without sufficient oxygen.
Fill the tank with optimal water conditions. Maintain a neutral pH of around 7.0 and a temperature between 70–75 °F (21–24 °C). Keep the water clean and balanced, avoiding pH-altering objects like seashells.
Regularly change the tank water. Due to crayfish waste, weekly water changes are necessary to maintain a clean environment. Drain a portion of the water and replace it with fresh water. Consider more frequent changes if your tank lacks a filter.
Create a natural habitat. Enhance the tank with rocks, plants, or PVC pipes to provide hiding spots and entertainment for your crayfish. Opt for structures like hollow rocks or enclosed containers to ensure your crayfish feels secure, especially during molting.
Feeding Your Crayfish
Introduce vegetables to complement your crayfish's diet. Occasionally, cut leaf lettuce, cabbage, zucchini, or cucumber into small strips and place them at the bottom of the tank. Peas, carrots, and sweet potatoes are also suitable options. Crayfish enjoy consuming plant matter, so don't be surprised if they quickly disappear!
EXPERT INSIGHT
Doug Ludemann
Professional Aquarist
Professional Aquarist
Ensure your crayfish is fed either daily or several times a week. Avoid leaving excess food in the tank and aim for dietary variety. A mix of meaty foods and pellets provides comprehensive nutrition.
Be cautious of overfeeding your crayfish. Offering one or two shakes of shrimp pellets or a small amount of vegetables daily is ample to keep your crayfish content. Promptly remove any uneaten food to prevent water contamination and the need for frequent changes.
Keeping Your Crayfish Safe
Ensure your crayfish's safety from other tank inhabitants. While crayfish generally coexist peacefully with small fish, some precautions are necessary. Avoid keeping multiple crayfish together and consider trimming their claws to prevent aggression.
Provide appropriate conditions for your crayfish during molting. After shedding its shell, your crayfish will consume it for nutrients. Refrain from feeding it for the first few days post-molt, and consider adding potassium iodine to the tank to prevent iodine deficiency.
EXPERT INSIGHT
Doug Ludemann
Professional Aquarist
Professional Aquarist
Use a sandy substrate in the tank to aid molting. During molting, crayfish rely on a small patch of sand on their back to orient themselves. Without this, they may become disoriented or flip upside down.
Ensure your tank is securely covered to prevent crayfish escape. Crayfish are naturally curious and can attempt to escape from uncovered tanks. Opt for a tank with a removable lid or seal openings with sponge pieces to prevent escapes without risking harm to the crayfish.
Helpful Tips
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When handling your crayfish, always grasp it underneath the arms from the backside to avoid being pinched.
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While most crayfish species only survive 2-3 years in captivity, providing proper conditions, diet, and care can extend their lifespan to 7-8 years.
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Add a generous layer of sand or gravel to the tank bottom. Crayfish enjoy digging, whether for hiding, foraging, or entertainment.
The advice provided here is based on insights from Mytour readers like yourself. If you have a helpful tip to share on Mytour, please submit it below.
- When housing multiple crayfish, ensure each has its own hiding spot with multiple entrances that won't trap them during molting. It's crucial for their safety during their vulnerable molting period.
- Regularly use liquid water testing kits to monitor ammonia, nitrites, pH, and hardness. Perform partial water changes promptly if parameters change, using dechlorinator to maintain stable conditions for these sensitive crustaceans.
- Position blanched zucchini, cucumbers, spinach, or other vegetables near crayfish hiding spots to encourage natural foraging during the day, reducing food aggression towards more passive tankmates.
- Provide safe decorations like driftwood, rock caves, and live plants to enrich the environment and make crayfish feel secure enough to explore. Rotate decor periodically to prevent territorial disputes.
- If a dominant crayfish monopolizes the best spot and bullies others, rearrange decor weekly to reset territorial claims and ensure fair access to prime spots.
- When introducing new crayfish or tankmates, closely monitor for aggression signs. Remove aggressors promptly to prevent injuries to more docile inhabitants.
Important Warnings
- Avoid feeding your crayfish any food containing copper, as it is highly toxic to them. Copper is commonly found in many fish foods, posing a serious risk to your crayfish.
- Never release captive-raised crayfish into natural bodies of water, as this can severely impact native crayfish populations and other species.
- Due to their territorial nature, maintaining more than one crayfish in a tank can be challenging.
- Crayfish can easily blend into their surroundings due to their size and coloration, making them easy to lose. Avoid removing your crayfish from its tank unless necessary for maintenance.
