Crayfish been dying off...

[Nabbig2]

I haven't had crayfish for a while-procambarus clarkii. I recently found a lake that they are abundant, and I took a few adults home to care for them. I put dechlorinated water and everything. For the first few days, they are just fine, and eat bloodworms. Then they start floating in their side, are less reactive, and within a day they are stiff dead. I can't for the life of me figure out what is going on....the only thing I can think of is that I don't put heaters. The room temps are in the 60s to 70s, and since I've never kept this species with a heater I don't think that's it. I'd appreciate any knowledge, this has taken the life of 3 adults I caught seperately.

-As a side note, I do have a female who recently gave birth. Her and her offspring are doing fine. (And yes, I do not keep any crayfish together, except for the babies, momentarily. I also dechlorinate all the water I use for them.) Thanks

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

I had some cloning crayfish who died mysteriously too. mine got lethargic and would just die, in the middle of spawning or legs would drop off then die two days later no real warning, they'd drop at any time had over ten have one now.

 

[Fat Homer]

Maybe the water is off... Considering they were collected from the wild, might be an idea seeing what the water they came from is like... i.e PH etc...


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[Johnnybravo60025]

I'm with Homer. Definitely test the water you're collecting them from and then yours to see if there are any major differences.

 

[Nabbig2]

Update guys: my female and her babies are doing perfect. The female just shed, too. I am baffled.

 

[marxxx]

there are a few things that could be happening. First, the listing on the side CAN BE a sign of insufficient oxygen.
If they moulted shortly before being caught they would be extremely fragile. It's best not to expose a freshly moulted cray to air.

Temp should not be an issue in the 60-70 degree range unless the water temp they were taken from was significantly different than the tank.

 

[fwprawn]

You don't mention aeration or filtration ?

 

[F1 VET]

They also kill eachother frequently. I buy some a few times a month for my piranhas and u cant keep 2 in a bag or one will be dead and if u have them clumped up in a small tank they will fight alot. A 55gal is recomended to have only 2

 

[Buayakecil]

Maybe the water is off... Considering they were collected from the wild, might be an idea seeing what the water they came from is like... i.e PH etc... Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

Clarkii best known for their great adaptation, it can tolerate wide range of PH. I don't think that's the problem, since the mother and newborn child live. I think I agreed with Marxxx that perhaps the "moulting" period can be the problem. Hey, please show us some pictures