Okay at work we sometimes get random animals in with the feeder goldfish. Today was a crayfish. I have no idea how to take care of it and most of the caresheets I found sucked. I know I need to get an airstone. Anyone else have any tips on these? He's about 1.5" and in a plastic container with a rock in the middle. I have romaine and turtle food in there for now, I'll get some crab/shrimp food tomorrow.
Crayfish
- Thread starter Andrew273
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Hi, yea i have kept it before and it was actually my first pet. crayfish is very easy to keep and maintain. the water can be dirty and they'll still be alright because they came from muddy area (at least for the common petshop ones anyway). They are onivorous so feed them sinking food pellet. They don't need to be feed that much, just occasionally, like one pellet a day. don't feed them too much because it is not necessary and you may cloud the water. i would recommend changing the water once a week and you do not need an airstone unless you are keeping a lot. The reason that you found one in the goldfish bag is because crayfish are normally use to eat the dead fish that fall to the bottom. like all invertebrates, they will tend to hide, become sluggish, and stop eating when they are approaching a molt. you can keep it at room temperatures.
good luck
good luck
You should check out some fresh water tropical fish forums for info on crayfish. I did a quick yahoo search on "crayfish forum" and found this: http://www.crayfishmates.com
I bet google has more.
But for some quick info, set the crayfish up like you would a gold fish (but not in a bowl, that is really not the proper way to set up a goldfish!) When they are young (and it sounds like yours is) they prefer to eat meat. As they mature, they prefer veggies. They love to hide so give them lots of caves and shelters. Be sure to suply a filter/airation too.
Hope that helps untill you can do more research!
I bet google has more.
But for some quick info, set the crayfish up like you would a gold fish (but not in a bowl, that is really not the proper way to set up a goldfish!) When they are young (and it sounds like yours is) they prefer to eat meat. As they mature, they prefer veggies. They love to hide so give them lots of caves and shelters. Be sure to suply a filter/airation too.
Hope that helps untill you can do more research!
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yes, like Acro said above. they do need a hiding places, otherwise they'll get stress out because they'll feel very vunerable.
Thanks! I have a nice big rock in there for him that he squeezes underneath (it can't fall). Right now he's eating the romaine so I'll buy him some crab food tomorrow. Should I use any kind of substrate? It's just plastic underneath of him right now.
OMG! I just looked in because I couldn't find the turtle pellets and I wanted to see if he ate them. He molted sometime between midnight and now (About 3 PM). I'm so excited!
OMG! I just looked in because I couldn't find the turtle pellets and I wanted to see if he ate them. He molted sometime between midnight and now (About 3 PM). I'm so excited!
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When it gets big enough it will catch the fish in your tank and eat them!! We have one that is about 6 inches or so. He lives with a BIG fish, they have come to an "understanding" now and no longer attempt to end eachothers lives.
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Cool, i used to also have dwarf crayfish that only get to about 1.5" as adults. they bred like crazy. I used to have them with my cherry shrimps along with other species of fancy shrimps that they all live pretty peacfully.
no substrate necessary. it'll make things easier for you when you change out the water.
no substrate necessary. it'll make things easier for you when you change out the water.
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Maybe my crawdad is bigger than 6 inches....His/her tail is tucked under so its longer than it looks. And very angry!
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wow, that's a big one. is that your local species?
it makes me kinda hungry.
i bet you that thing looks better in red... after it gets cook :drool:.
it makes me kinda hungry.
i bet you that thing looks better in red... after it gets cook :drool:.
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They are really yummy!!! But the one we have has sanctuary.
Andrew! Dont give up on crayfish! Try again. They really arent hard to keep. You might have gotten a sick one.. or maybe the shed so soon after being moved to a new tank was too much stress on it.
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yup, don't give up yet. they are really a pizza cake to care for and keep.
by the way, did you used tap water or distill water?
i don't know about your city or state, but the lvl of chlorine in the tap water here is definitely not good for aquatic animal, unless you treat it first.
by the way, did you used tap water or distill water?
i don't know about your city or state, but the lvl of chlorine in the tap water here is definitely not good for aquatic animal, unless you treat it first.