My crawfish came to me with one of his big claws missing. Will he ever recover it and if so how long will it take? He is about 4 inches or so right now. He is a good eater.
Crafish regeneration question
- Thread starter TrikkyMakk
- Start date
It wiil most certainly regrow. It usually takes a few moults.
In large crays it probably won't be as big as the other claw (Don't moult as often) but since he's about 4 inch there's a good chance it will.
In large crays it probably won't be as big as the other claw (Don't moult as often) but since he's about 4 inch there's a good chance it will.
hi im back, It will grow back with each moult it will get bigger and at first it will be ridiculousley out of proportion, ill get a pic of a quad that lost both claws about a month ago and just got them both back yesterday unfortunately he was killed by the bigger guy.
Before they molt can you see anything that indicates how big the new one will be? I have had mine for a few months now (at least) and he still hasn't molted to my knowledge. I believe as they molt less as they get older but how often would a large one molt on average?
Depending on the species (red crayfish isn't really specific), age, conditions kept and health is what is ultimately going to determine how often the crayfish will molt.
Generally speaking though, in the first year a crayfish should molt 9-11 times. In the second year, they should molt 4-5 times. And in the third year, 2-3 times. That's just a rough and averaged number that encompasses all species, it'll vary a little species to species and situation to situation (for example, the blind cave crayfish, which lives upwards of 40 years, this doesn't apply to it lol).
If you have an NA species, 4in is most likely a young adult approaching the end of it's 1st year or in the beginning of it's 2nd. You can try to trigger a molt if you're anxious about getting it's claw to regenerate sooner. Raising the tank water's temperature and providing more protein in the diet will speed it up. Though, if you do this long term you will shorten the life of your pet (it grows faster, but dies faster).
Generally speaking though, in the first year a crayfish should molt 9-11 times. In the second year, they should molt 4-5 times. And in the third year, 2-3 times. That's just a rough and averaged number that encompasses all species, it'll vary a little species to species and situation to situation (for example, the blind cave crayfish, which lives upwards of 40 years, this doesn't apply to it lol).
If you have an NA species, 4in is most likely a young adult approaching the end of it's 1st year or in the beginning of it's 2nd. You can try to trigger a molt if you're anxious about getting it's claw to regenerate sooner. Raising the tank water's temperature and providing more protein in the diet will speed it up. Though, if you do this long term you will shorten the life of your pet (it grows faster, but dies faster).
Hmm, i had one that came with only one claw, it molted a few times and still didn't come back, then it breed and some of the baby's were BORN with a single claw.
Some kind of genetic mutation?
beautiful red cray black_sun, what is it?
Some kind of genetic mutation?
beautiful red cray black_sun, what is it?
Certainly sounds like it. Hmm, I wonder. I haven't had much opportunity to see genetic mutations in crayfish, not that weren't direct result of inbreeding or hybridization at least.
And he's a Procambarus clarkii (orange morph). Here he is after his last molt:
(He likes to read the thermometer to make sure I'm not setting up a crayfish boil lol)
And he's a Procambarus clarkii (orange morph). Here he is after his last molt:
(He likes to read the thermometer to make sure I'm not setting up a crayfish boil lol)
Thanks for the replies.
Mine is just a typical 50 cent red crawfish. I am not really sure what exact breed he is and I got him before I got a blue one to see how crawfish fare in my tank.
He is definitely a smart one though. The other one I got with him learned the hard way not to make the Midas mad. This guy is actually really smart and cool and my convict will often hide behind him. Once I saw the convict trying to kick him out of his spot though. My last fish (beside the harmless pleco) is the green terror (gold saum) and she leaves him alone, preferring to chase the convict all day (read dither). She is the reason the convict hides behind the crawfish sometimes.
I also have a huge apple snail that no one but the midas bugs.
Mine is just a typical 50 cent red crawfish. I am not really sure what exact breed he is and I got him before I got a blue one to see how crawfish fare in my tank.
He is definitely a smart one though. The other one I got with him learned the hard way not to make the Midas mad. This guy is actually really smart and cool and my convict will often hide behind him. Once I saw the convict trying to kick him out of his spot though. My last fish (beside the harmless pleco) is the green terror (gold saum) and she leaves him alone, preferring to chase the convict all day (read dither). She is the reason the convict hides behind the crawfish sometimes.
I also have a huge apple snail that no one but the midas bugs.