My Son Calls Cray Fish Little Lobsters

[Tahoe Mommy]

I use cray fish as food, however I would like to set up a tank for my son, so he can have his very own "little lobster" as he calls them. Where do I start? I have been trying to find information via web and LFS, but nobody seems to know anything about how to keep them as pets. I need to know what size tank all the way up to what to feed them. I am not looking for anything fancy, just one of the feeder ones that I get from the LFS. Any info at all will be helpful thanks.

 

[southerndesert]

A 10 gallon tank with a small air driven sponge filter would work well. Put in a cave so when your little lobster molts it has a "safe" place to go as they feel very vulnerable. Food can be any flake pellet or even worms and veggies, but avoid foods with much copper as it is deadly to inverts. Plastic plants are best as crayfish are very active landscapers and will dig up most any live plants you put in the tank.

Shrimp and Crayfish need clean water so a 10% water change per week should be done and other than that... Enjoy your new pet "little lobster"

 

[Manny Stiles]

My son calls them "lake scorpions".

 

[01yellowr]

A 10 gal sould be fine. I use a hob filter and an air pump. Use fake plants if you want to but you dont have to. If it is going to be in there by itself dont use a cave you wont need it and you wont be able to see it much. As for food I feed mine shrimp pellets and small fish from time to time.

 

[Tahoe Mommy]

Thank You all for your replies. I set up my 10 gal, and waiting for LFS to get some in. What should the water temp be at? I have a regular filter in there....the kind that comes with the kits, that goes completly under the water w/3 flow settings. I have had it for awhile. I threw in driftwood, and large pebbles like in a creek setting. I do have several different types of air pumps. Is it neccesary and which would be best? I have a small tube kind with single bubbles or the bar kind with lots of bubbles?

 

[01yellowr]

Sounds like you have a nice set up. As far as the bubbles go it really just depends on what you like to see. the temp in my tank is 78 but I have had them in tanks where the temp was as low as 65 and as high as 82 and they did fine in all.

 

[Mampam]

i had one for like 7months, they are easy to keep
idk why it died tho

 

[thebullit]

i agree with all the above, except even tho kept on its own it will still require a cave of some sort so it doesnt get stressed and for molting just so it feels safe regadless if kept with anything.