Compilation of Crayfish Information

Scientific Name: Cherax cainii and Cherax tenuimanus



Credit to Yabbadoo of MFK

Photo by Crusty of Crayfishmates.com.

Scientific Name: Cherax depressus
Common Names: Orange Fingered Crayfish
Care Level: easy
Adult Size: 5 inch with an approximate weight of 0.55 pounds
pH Range: 7.6-8.5
Temperature Range: (F/C) 71-77 degrees Fahrenheit (22-25 degrees Celsius)
Origin/Habitat: Australia
Temperament/Behavior: aggressive
Compatible Tank mates:
Best confined in a species only tank.
Diet:
High protein pellets, vegetables, plant material, live feed (Small fish, worms etc.)
Tank Size For Adult: 15g per adult.
Lifespan: 2-3 years
Narrative:
They become sexually matured at 1-2 years and are found in ephemeral wetlands.

References/Links:

Scientific Name: Procambarus clarkii

Common Names: Red Swamp Crayfish, Red Claw Crayfish.
Care Level: Low
Adult Size: 13 cm (5 inches)[its body] Maximum weight usually exceeds 50g (2 ounces) [Aquarium].
pH Range: 6.5 - 8.0 (Aquarium) [anecdotal, personal experience]
Temperature Range: (F/C): 72-86 degrees Fahrenheit (22-30 degrees Celsius)
Origin/Habitat: South-Eastern United States, actually found as pest worldwide except in Australia and Antarctica.
Temperament/Behavior: con-specific aggressive unless paired-off (once you have a pair others might be added if your tank is adequate to keep them) [anecdotal, personal experience]
Compatible Tank mates: None, too small are likely to become snack for the Red Claw Crayfish; too large will likely snack from them.
Best confined in species only tank.
Diet: Omnivore, high protein pellets, vegetables, plant material, live feed (Small fish, worms etc.)
Tank Size For Adult: As "solo" a 5 gal tank as minimum; 10 gal for paired-off; 20gal for up to five specimens, given enough coverage is provided.
Lifespan: Up to 5 years [Aquarium]
Narrative: This is probably one of the hardiest crayfish as it can tolerate a wide range of water conditions, including low brackish environments and temperatures. It is an interesting crayfish to start with and comes mostly in red coloration but occasional variety of colors such as blue and white make it to LFS.They are aggressive and will attack most other tank mates.

References/Links:
Credit to Lupin of MFK for using his written composition and format, I just edited species specific info.
Credit to wikipedia on its pest condition.

Scientific Name: Procambarus sp. 'Marmorkrebs' or Procambarus fallax f. virginalis

Common Names: Marbled Crayfish, Marmorkrebs

Care Level: Low

Adult Size: 4 - 5 inches

pH Range: 7 - 8

Temperature Range: 64 - 78 F

Origin/Habitat: Unknown. Discovered in an aquarium in Germany. Ancestors most likely are Procambarus fallax

Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful

Compatible Tank mates: Other Marmorkrebs, Other peaceful invertebrates, Fish that wont harm the crayfish

Diet: Omnivore. Mostly Plant based. shrimp pellets. Uneaten fish food.

Tank Size For Adult: 5 gallon minimum for one.

Narrative: The Marbled Crayfish, or Marmorkrebs, is an all female, peaceful crayfish that reproduce via parthenogenesis. In my experience, they do not eat baby crayfish with little to zero con-specific aggression and rarely harm fish. An easy species to keep and breed.

References/Links: Me, http://www.marbledcrayfish.com/, http://www.utpa.edu/faculty/zfaulkes/marmorkrebs/

Scientific Name: Cambarellus patzcuarensis
Common Names: Mexican Dwarf Orange Crayfish (CPO)
Care Level: Very hardy
Adult Size: 1.5 inches
pH Range: 6.0 to 8.0
Temperature Range: 60-82 degrees Fahrenheit
Origin/Habitat: Lago de Patzcuaro, a volcanic crater lake in Michoacán, Mexico, in the west-central mountain region
Temperament/Behavior: Unlike most crayfish, C. patzcuarensis doesn't destroy plants, and digs very little
Compatible Tank mates: They live peacefully with small fish and usually do not attack even newborn guppies, although they may eat fish eggs or non-swimming larvae, and will eat dead fish
Diet: They eat live or frozen worms, insects, brine shrimp, flakes, pellets, cooked shrimp, green peas – most any kind of fish food
Tank Size For Adult: 5 gallons or more, house alone
Narrative: A small, hence dwarf i the name species of crayfish. Relatively hardy and peaceful with fish that cant eat it. The mothers dont usually eat the yong once hatched and departed as long as there is sufficient food

References/Links: http://www.petshrimp.com/articles/cpatzcuarensis.php

Tank mates fot crayfish : due to different sizes and temperaments some of these crayfish may not work for u , I choose these fish because they are less likely to be caught and killed/ eaten: guppies, mosquito fish, hatchetfish, zebra danios and similar fish do well. Crayfish have also been kept with red belly piranhas as the piranhas often ignore them. Fish that do poorly with crayfish: small sunfish, Bettas, and other slow moving or bottom dwelling fishes

What is the species for the commonly eaten "crawfish"? (I will take pics when I get mine in in a couple weeks).