Im thinking about getting some marble crayfish and breeding them for some cheep food for my cichlids. I was just wondering, how big of a tank should I get and how many should I start out with? Im not looking for outragous numbers of crayfish. Maybe start out with 6 or 8.
Marble Crayfish
- Thread starter Sicktrick89
- Start date
It really depends on a few things, but if you want to start with 6-8, i would guess around 25G should work, if you have a lot of decorations in there...
I personally have 2 in a 10G tank at the moment, although its a little cramped, but still okay, since i also breed mine for food...
Also, just so you know, every time one of them berries you can expect to get around 20-30 baby crays min? so if you have 6 of them and each drop say 20 babies you going to have over 100 of them reasonably quickly...
I personally have 2 in a 10G tank at the moment, although its a little cramped, but still okay, since i also breed mine for food...
Also, just so you know, every time one of them berries you can expect to get around 20-30 baby crays min? so if you have 6 of them and each drop say 20 babies you going to have over 100 of them reasonably quickly...
You can get crays at your lfs, or your local creek/river (just look under rocks in the water). I have 2 I pulled out of a river, unfortunately no breeding, just fighting. I'm thinking they're likely both male or both female.
I would also say at at least 40 gallons or you're gonna end up with some dead crays from over-crowding. If you're gonna go with a smaller tank, go with less crays. I'd only put 4 in a 30 gallon, 3 to 20 gallon and 2 to 10 gallon. That's only if you're trying to breed, otherwise 1 cray per 10 gallons.
I would also say at at least 40 gallons or you're gonna end up with some dead crays from over-crowding. If you're gonna go with a smaller tank, go with less crays. I'd only put 4 in a 30 gallon, 3 to 20 gallon and 2 to 10 gallon. That's only if you're trying to breed, otherwise 1 cray per 10 gallons.
well i have a ten gallon handy just need a damn filter! should i just ask for 1 male and like 2 female crayfish? and i am getting a 135 gallon with 1 perch 1 LMB 1 grass pickerel 1 brown bullhead and some sunnies mabey a crapie. will they all eat them do u think? and if the little 10 gallon get over crowded could i just dump some crayfish in there and keep them in there untill the get eaten? lastely what do they eat??
Theres a big difference between marbled crays and wild crays you can catch yourself. Marble crays reproduce pathenogeniously, Meaning every cray is a female. They clone themselves and the babies are an exactly genetical replica of the mother. Strange right?
The marble crays arnt nearly as aggressive as wild ones can be. Intra-specie aggression is low with these guys. They wont kill eachother in a 20gal. Id suggest 5 to see how it goes, Youll be up to your eyeballs in crays in no time if you feed and house them correctly.
Cookie- Mostly all wild crays will actually mate, Meaning intercourse. If you look up "sexing a crayfish" you can view diagrams of the male/ female sexual organs. Its right after the last walking leg. Not too hard to tell the difference.
The marble crays arnt nearly as aggressive as wild ones can be. Intra-specie aggression is low with these guys. They wont kill eachother in a 20gal. Id suggest 5 to see how it goes, Youll be up to your eyeballs in crays in no time if you feed and house them correctly.
Cookie- Mostly all wild crays will actually mate, Meaning intercourse. If you look up "sexing a crayfish" you can view diagrams of the male/ female sexual organs. Its right after the last walking leg. Not too hard to tell the difference.
If you can find Marble Crays, then you don't have to worry about Female or Males, since they are all females which breed asexually... so even one cray will start producing off-sprig given enough time and food...
As for what to feed your crays, i personally feed mine JBL Novo Prawn Pellets... and from time to time bits of scallops and mussels left over from my puffers...
But as far as i know, crays normally aren't very picky about what they eat... as long as its food, they will pretty much eat anything... but obviously be sure to only feed them stuff that is suitable for fish/crays...
-EDIT-
Fishingout beat me to the punch...
As for what to feed your crays, i personally feed mine JBL Novo Prawn Pellets... and from time to time bits of scallops and mussels left over from my puffers...
But as far as i know, crays normally aren't very picky about what they eat... as long as its food, they will pretty much eat anything... but obviously be sure to only feed them stuff that is suitable for fish/crays...
-EDIT-
Fishingout beat me to the punch...
haha well im not really looking to start a whole new tank but its somthing ill look into. how much are they about?
I'd use a 29 gallon minimum and only breed 2 crays. THis way you get maximum yield of babies. The more overcrowded will be deaths and most babies will get eaten. Plus you want space for them to grow to a decent size.
just too let you all know marble crays have between 100-400 babies when berried in my experience. tons and tons. not 30-40