Info on cambarellus shufeldtii (Dwarf Cray)?

[Pyramid_Party]

Hi,


Anyone got some general info on these guys? Im thinking about throwing a few in a 10 gallon. Im hoping I can breed them too. I'd appreciate some pointers. Thanks alot

 

[WahooWillie]

They have no special requirements (take care of them like you would any other cray). I suggest a staple diet of algae wafers. Give them plenty of places to hide and make sure their are no ways of escaping. Since they are a good deal smaller than other crays, they can fit trhough smaller gaps in the hood. You could put a pair in a 10 gal with minimal problems.

 

[msjinkzd]

I have about 25 or 30 of these. They are a peaceful dwarf cray though can be agressive to each other especially during molting. i would make sure you have plenty of caves and hides for them as well as some low light plants like moss (they don't eat plants). I don't like algae wafers as they make a mess. I feed a mix of flake, kens veggie sticks, and catfish pellets to mine. They do not need a heater and do fine in a range of params, I am keepign mine in hard water. Their colors can range from a gold/brown color to a dark blue. They max out at about 1.25". Neat little critters!

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Really cool. I think I may give them a try. Im gonna buy a few like maybe 7 of them. Do you knw a way to sex them?

 

[msjinkzd]

yea, its actually pretty easy.

See how the male has an extra set of "legs" to push the sperm which the female is lacking. Notice also how much broader teh female is.

I breed the CPO's and the schufeldtii, they are fun little critters to keep.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Ah they are similar to sex as the CPO's. Do they breed often? How big is the brood usually? Ive heard they can be put in with shrimp too and wont harm them.

 

[msjinkzd]

They are both cambarellus so you sex them the same. They breed fairly often. They are agressive to each other so having enough space and hides for them is absolutely imperative or they will cannabilize/fight each other. They do not bother shrimp, plants, or snails. As for brood size, they carry alot but I am not certain on actual numbers. I tend to get 15-20 from each brood which make it but this number would be higher if I had them in breeding tanks as pairs instead of as a large community of crays.