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This article was co-written by Doug Ludemann. Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geek, LLC, a professional aquarium services company based in Minneappis. He has worked in the fisheries and fish care industry for over 20 years and received a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota. Doug has previously worked with the Minnesota Zoo and the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago as a professional aquarist.
There are 10 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 4,154 times.
Crayfish, also known as crawfish, crawdad, and mudbug, are freshwater crustaceans that can be easily kept in a home aquarium. All it takes to raise shrimp on your own is a large enough tank, the right food, and plenty of time to take care of it. Crayfish are interesting pets, you will often find them building small “houses”, mounds, digging burrows, hiding in dark rocks and aquatic plants, as well as burrowing under gravel. haystack.
Steps
Set up a tank for crayfish
- Crayfish usually cost from 50,000 or more. With rarer varieties, their value can go up to 300 thousand or even higher!
- In some parts of the world, you can catch crayfish in streams or shallow water. You just need to bring a small net and start searching under the rocks until you find a suitable pet. [2] X Research Source
- Crayfish grow well in cool conditions such as mudflats and river beds, so avoid hot aquariums.
- Look for tanks that feature aeration and built-in filters to keep the water clean and circulating.
- A pH test kit will be very useful to determine the acid or base concentration in the tank water. You can usually find these kits in the fish stall at pet stores, or anywhere that sells pool equipment.
- Avoid adding objects such as seashells to the tank, as foreign minerals can alter the pH of the water. [5] X Research Sources
- If your tank doesn’t have a filter, it may be necessary to increase the frequency of water changes to twice a week.
- Attach only a tube filter or a sucker filter (microbiological filter). Crayfish love to dig, which can clog the bottom filter.
- Turn off ambient light or leave only one side of the tank lit to minimize the amount of light entering. Crayfish are dark-loving species. [7] X Research Sources
Feed the crayfish
- Crayfish can occasionally eat frozen seafood, such as water lice, bloodworms, and saltwater mantis shrimp.
- Never feed raw or unprocessed mantis shrimp to crayfish. Diseased mantis shrimp can kill crayfish. [9] X Research Source
- Crayfish can still consume damaged or decomposing organic matter. In fact, feeding crayfish plants that are about to spoil will be very beneficial for both you and the shrimp.
Doug Ludemann
Professional aquarist
Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geek, LLC, a professional aquarium services company based in Minneappis. He has worked in the fisheries and fish care industry for over 20 years and received a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota. Doug has previously worked with the Minnesota Zoo and the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago as a professional aquarist.
Professional aquarist
Feed the shrimp daily or several times a week. Do not leave excess food in the tank and try to diversify their diet. You should combine foods containing meat and pellets to ensure that shrimp are provided with the necessary nutrients.
- If you are taking care of more than one crayfish (this is not recommended), then you can double the amount of food. However, be mindful of leftovers and quickly scoop out whatever is left over.
- Overeating can actually harm crayfish, as it makes their exoskeleton soft and weak.
Ensure safety for crayfish
- Crayfish usually only attack sick fish lying on the bottom of the tank. If you see a crayfish devouring one of its comrades, it is likely that the opponent is close to death.
- The crayfish is not a threat to other fish, but on the contrary it is always in danger. Large species such as tilapia and catfish often attack crayfish, causing injury or death. [13] X Research Source
- Do not keep more than one crayfish in the tank. If you keep a lot of crayfish, it’s important to make sure they have plenty of space and that they’re all the same species. Different species of crayfish may try to destroy each other.
- No need to feed shrimp for the first 3-5 days after molting. During this time, it will only eat the old exoskeleton. [15] X Research Source
- Add a few drops of potassium iodide to the tank when your shrimp begins to separate from its old shell. The molting process of crayfish can lead to death due to iodine deficiency. You can find potassium iodide at any store that sells accessories for aquatic pets. [16] X Research Source
- With a soft body, crayfish is very easy to be eaten and attacked by other fish.
Doug Ludemann
Professional aquarist
Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geek, LLC, a professional aquarium services company based in Minneappis. He has worked in the fisheries and fish care industry for over 20 years and received a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota. Doug has previously worked with the Minnesota Zoo and the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago as a professional aquarist.
Professional aquarist
Place a sand base in the tank to aid in the molting process. When crayfish molt, there will be a small gap on their back, and the sand will help them orient themselves. Without the sand, they would be turned upside down.
- Use caution when blocking all exits. If the crayfish tries to get out of the tank, it can become dehydrated and die within hours.
- Do not put the escaped crayfish into the tank immediately. Instead, place the shrimp in a small container with enough water to cover the shrimp’s body. Their gills will need time to adapt to the water again, otherwise the shrimp can drown when fully submerged in water. [18] X Research Sources
Advice
- Consider adding a thick layer of sand or gravel to the bottom of the tank. Crayfish love to dig, whether it’s hiding, looking for food, or simply playing.
- When catching crayfish with your hands, always catch with your palm from behind to avoid hurting the shrimp.
- Most crayfish species only live about 2-3 years in captivity, however with good conditions, diet and care, crayfish can survive up to 7-8 years.
- Crayfish need lots of aquatic plants to roam around and love dark areas.
Warning
- Do not release live crayfish in captivity into natural aquatic ecosystems. This action can have serious consequences for native crayfish and other aquatic species.
- Since crayfish are territorial creatures, it can be quite difficult to keep a lot of crayfish in the tank.
- Avoid foods containing copper, as this substance is very toxic to crayfish. Copper can be found in many fish feeds and will, therefore, interfere with crayfish.
- Crayfish are easy to change their size and color. Don’t move crayfish out of the tank often, unless you want to drain or clean the tank.
This article was co-written by Doug Ludemann. Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geek, LLC, a professional aquarium services company based in Minneappis. He has worked in the fisheries and fish care industry for over 20 years and received a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota. Doug has previously worked with the Minnesota Zoo and the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago as a professional aquarist.
There are 10 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 4,154 times.
Crayfish, also known as crawfish, crawdad, and mudbug, are freshwater crustaceans that can be easily kept in a home aquarium. All it takes to raise shrimp on your own is a large enough tank, the right food, and plenty of time to take care of it. Crayfish are interesting pets, you will often find them building small “houses”, mounds, digging burrows, hiding in dark rocks and aquatic plants, as well as burrowing under gravel. haystack.
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