Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Crayfish, also known as crawfish, crawdad, and mudbug, are freshwater crustaceans that can be easily kept in a home aquarium. All it takes to keep shrimp on your own is a large enough tank, have the right food, and spend a lot of time taking care of it. Crayfish are interesting pets, you will often see them erect small "houses", mounds, burrow, hide in dark rocks and aquatic plants, as well as burrow under gravel. haystack.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Setting up the tank for the crayfish

1. 

   Buy or catch a crayfish. You can usually find crayfish at seafood stores that sell tropical fish, as well as some pet stores. Before you start shopping, have a quick look at the different shrimp species and their essential needs. It's better to start with a crayfish until you understand how to properly care for them.
   • Crayfish usually cost 50 thousand or more. With rarer varieties, their value can go up to 300,000 or even higher!
   • In some parts of the world, you can catch crayfish in streams or shallow waters. Just carry a small net and start searching under the rocks until you find a suitable species for pets.

2. 

   
   
   Create a crayfish tank. In general, you should choose a tank large enough with an internal capacity of at least 19–38 liters of water per crayfish. However, an ideal tank will have a capacity of 57–76 liters, especially for larger species. An oxygen concentrator or a long-form oxygen bar is also essential, as crayfish can drown if they stay underwater for too long without a separate source of oxygen.
   • Crayfish thrive in cool conditions like muddy beaches and riverbeds, so avoid sultry aquariums.
   • Find tanks with built-in aeration and filters to keep the water clean and well circulating.

3. 

   
   
   Fill the tank with clean water. Crayfish need water with a neutral pH (about 7.0). The ideal water temperature should be 21–24 ° C. It should not be difficult to maintain the water at the right temperature if the tank is set up indoors.
   • A pH test kit is very useful for determining acid or base concentrations in tank water. You can usually find these in a fish stall at pet stores, or anywhere that sells pool equipment.
   • Avoid adding objects such as shells to the tank, as foreign minerals can alter the pH of the water.

4. 

   
   
   Change the water in the tank at least once a week. Crayfish will generate large amounts of waste that can interfere with a standard tank filtration system. This means you need to change the water regularly to ensure the crayfish have a clean living environment. To change the water in the tank, first drain-½ of the total volume, then slowly add clean water.
   • If your tank does not have a filter, it may be necessary to increase the frequency of water changes twice a week.
   • Attach only tube filter or foam filter (microbiological filter). Crayfish love to dig, which can clog the bottom filter.

5. 

   Incorporate a few natural environmental factors. Add rocks, aquatic plants or long PVC pipes along the bottom of the tank. This way, the crayfish will have room to play, burrow or temporarily hide. Large objects such as hollow rocks, under tubes or closed barrels are perfect for keeping shrimp safe, especially during their vulnerable molting stage.
   • Turn off ambient light or leave only one side of the tank illuminated to minimize the amount of light entering. Crayfish is a species that likes the dark.
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Part 2 of 3: Feeding the crayfish

1. 

   Give the crayfish a small amount of mantle shrimp once a day. Grass pellets or grass for shrimp will make up a large part of the shrimp diet. Pellets are high in protein and contain all the nutrients needed for shrimp and shrimp shells to grow and develop. Sprinkle pellets around the shrimp's favorite hiding spots so they can easily access the food source.
   • Crayfish can occasionally eat frozen seafood, such as water lice, blood lice, and saltwater mackerel.
   • Never feed crayfish, raw or unprocessed. Diseased mantis shrimp can kill crayfish.

2. 

   Add vegetables in the diet of crayfish. Occasionally, slice lettuce, cabbage, zucchini or cucumber into small pieces and drop to the bottom of the tank. You can also feed the shrimp with beans, carrots, and sweet potatoes. Crayfish love to chew plant foods, so don't be surprised if they all go away quickly!
   • Crayfish can still consume decaying or decomposing organic matter. In fact, feeding the crayfish to the plants that are going to spoil will be of great benefit for both you and the shrimp.

   

   Doug Ludemann

   Professional aquarium fisher Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geek, LLC, a Minneapolis-based professional aquarium service company. He has worked in the fisheries and fish care industry for more than 20 years and received a BA in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior from the University of Minnesota. Doug has previously worked with Minnesota Zoo and Shedd Aquariums in Chicago as a professional aquarist.

   

   Doug Ludemann
   Professional aquarium player

   Feed shrimp daily or several times a week.Don't leave leftovers in the tank and try to diversify their diets. You should combine foods containing meat and pellets to ensure adequate supply of necessary nutrients for shrimp.

3. 

   Avoid overeating the crayfish. One or two prawn pellets or a few vegetables per day is more than enough to fill the shrimp. Discard any leftovers immediately after feeding the shrimp. Anything left on the bottom of the tank will quickly decompose, contaminate the water and force the replacement of need-to-use items.
   • If you are taking care of more than one crayfish (this is not recommended), then you can double your feed intake. However, pay attention to any leftovers and quickly scoop out whatever is left.
   • Eating too much can actually be harmful to crayfish, as it makes their exoskeleton soft and weak.
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Part 3 of 3: Ensuring the safety of crayfish

1. 

   Protect crayfish from other fish. Crayfish do best when swimming in a large tank. However, they live relatively well with small fish species such as goldfish, seabass, molly fish, swordfish, and neon fish. Occasionally, crayfish become aggressive, but they are often too slow to catch and eat faster swimming speed fish.
   • Crayfish usually only attack the sick fish lying on the bottom of the tank. If you see a crayfish devour one of its counterparts, the opponent is likely on the verge of death.
   • Crayfish is not a threat to other fish, but on the contrary it is always lurking in danger. Large species such as tilapia and catfish often attack the crayfish, causing injury or death.
   • Do not keep more than one crayfish in the tank. If you have a lot of crayfish, it's important to make sure they have plenty of space and they are the same species. Different species of crayfish will probably try to destroy each other.

2. 

   Create good conditions for shrimp during molting. Every few months, the crayfish will shed its outer shell and make room for a new shell large enough to cover its growing body. You will want to immediately remove the old crust, but don't do that. Shrimp will eat the shell for a few days to absorb the necessary nutrients and minerals and create a new, sturdy armor.
   • There is no need to feed shrimp for the first 3-5 days after molting. During this time, it will eat only the old exoskeleton.
   • Add a few drops of potassium iodine to the tank as your shrimp begin to separate from its old crust. The molting process of crayfish can lead to death from iodine deficiency. You can find potassium iodine at any store that sells water pet accessories.
   • With a soft body, crayfish are very easy to be eaten and attacked by other fish.

   

   Doug Ludemann

   Professional aquarium fisher Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geek, LLC, a Minneapolis-based professional aquarium service company. He has worked in the fisheries and fish care industry for more than 20 years and received a BA in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior from the University of Minnesota. Doug has previously worked with Minnesota Zoo and Shedd Aquariums in Chicago as a professional aquarist.

   

   Doug Ludemann
   Professional aquarium player

   Place a sand base in the tank to support the molting. When the crayfish molt, there will be a small space on the back, and the sand will help them orient themselves. Without sand, they will turn upside down.

3. 

   Cover the tank to make sure the crayfish don't jump out. Crayfish have an instinct to explore, which means they turn into little fugitives when no one is looking. Ideally, you should choose a tank with a removable lid to ensure the crayfish are always inside. If that doesn't work, use small sponges to seal any openings near the top of the tank, especially around the filter. Do not use plastic pieces or aluminum foil, these will harm crayfish if they are ingested.
   • Use caution when blocking all exits. If a crayfish tries to find a way out of the tank, it can become dehydrated and die within hours.
   • Do not put the crayfish that has just escaped into the tank immediately. Instead, place shrimp in a small container with enough water to cover the shrimp body. Their gills will take time to adapt to the water once again, otherwise shrimp may drown when completely submerged in the water.
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Advice

• Consider adding a layer of thick sand or gravel to the bottom of the tank. Crayfish often love to dig, whether it is looking to hide, foraging or simply to play.
• When catching crayfish by hand, always catch with the palm of your hand from the back to avoid hurting shrimp.
• Most species of crayfish only survive for about 2-3 years in captivity, but with good conditions, diet and care, crayfish can survive up to 7-8 years.
• Crayfish need a lot of aquatic plants to hover around as well as love dark areas.

Warning

• Do not stock live crayfish in captivity into natural water ecosystems. This action can have serious consequences on native crayfish and other aquatic species.
• Because crayfish is a territorial creature, it is quite difficult to keep many crayfish in the tank.
• Avoid foods containing copper, as this is very toxic to crayfish. Copper can be found in a wide variety of fish foods and, therefore, will be a problem for crayfish.
• Crayfish can easily change their size and color. Do not move the crayfish out of the tank frequently, unless you want to drain or clean the tank.