Blue crayfish is pregnant. Eggs look more brown than black

[Noob124]

We thought it was Gary until I saw eggs under the tail. Gary was purchased about 3 weeks ago from a pet store. What are the chances of eggs hatching? I am trying to decide wether I need to separate her from everyone and what to do with all the babies if the do hatch...

 

[kno4te]

Believe fertilized eggs should get lighter in color. Was dark at some point. Brown isn’t uncommon.

 

[EntoStentor]

What are the tankmates? In any case I'd definitely move the crayfish to a CYCLED tank with a hide and some rocks. Perhaps substrate as well.

kno4te it's the opposite way. Unfertilized are light.

 

[EntoStentor]

Also the babies are quite hard to raise and you do need to separate the babies from the mother after hatching. She will eat them if you don't.

 

[kno4te]

What are the tankmates? In any case I'd definitely move the crayfish to a CYCLED tank with a hide and some rocks. Perhaps substrate as well.

kno4te it's the opposite way. Unfertilized are light.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Noob124]

Thanks for the clarification.

She is in a 20 gallon tank alone

 

[Noob124]

Also the babies are quite hard to raise and you do need to separate the babies from the mother after hatching. She will eat them if you don't.

Thank you for the reply.... I’ll wait and see if they hatch

 

[EntoStentor]

She is in a 20 gallon tank alone

Ok then so just separate her from the babies once they hatch. Keep pristine water quality and feed the babies algae pellets.

 

[Noob124]

Ok then so just separate her from the babies once they hatch. Keep pristine water quality and feed the babies algae pellets.

Thank you. I really hope it’s a fluke and she is going through my-clock-is-ticking phase and no babies appear ?

 

[EntoStentor]

Thank you. I really hope it’s a fluke and she is going through my-clock-is-ticking phase and no babies appear ?

They eggs are fertile, they almost always are. If you don't want to take care of the babies you could always just let her eat them