I'm in the planning stages of setting up my first tank. It's going to be a 55 gallon, and it's most likely going to be full of African Cichlids. This is because they're beautiful fish, they're funny, and my uncle breeds them and has done for about 35 years, so he'll be a great help in getting everything right...but lately I've taken a liking to the blue lobsters too. They just make me laugh with all the crazy stuff that they do. I'm curious, however, if I should have one in my cichlid tank. I've seen several videos on youtube of people with these guys in with their fish, some which seem fine, some which end up hitching a ride around the tank attached to the fish's tail. So would you guys advise against putting a lobster/cray of ANY kind in the tank with the fish?
Need to know if this is wise...
- Thread starter Wigglesworth
- Start date
Crays and Cichlids shouldn't be housed together. Cichlids have a knack for nipping off antennas and limbs of a crayfish, and rooting them out of hiding spots and ripping them apart when they've molted (and they are still soft).
You can try it, though. Some people have successfully housed Cichlids and crayfish together. Generally though, a blue lobster is a Procambarus alleni, which as a species, is a very carnivorous species that actively hunts tankmates. Now, there are more peaceful individuals within the species, but that's not necessarily the norm for personality and behavior. But this probably wouldn't be a recommended species to try it with.
Usually, I've seen Cherax quads and Cichlids housed together. Since Cherax quads get very large and difficult for Cichlids to injure, yet are very docile in nature and a more herbivorous species that doesn't often hunt down tankmates. Cherax quads get very large though, so you'd need an appropriately sized tank for them. But they're awesome, and they have beautiful coloration, too.
For example, here's my male:
You should definitely get a cray, though, even if you have to just set up a separate tank for it! lol, they're really great pets, honest! ^_^
You can try it, though. Some people have successfully housed Cichlids and crayfish together. Generally though, a blue lobster is a Procambarus alleni, which as a species, is a very carnivorous species that actively hunts tankmates. Now, there are more peaceful individuals within the species, but that's not necessarily the norm for personality and behavior. But this probably wouldn't be a recommended species to try it with.
Usually, I've seen Cherax quads and Cichlids housed together. Since Cherax quads get very large and difficult for Cichlids to injure, yet are very docile in nature and a more herbivorous species that doesn't often hunt down tankmates. Cherax quads get very large though, so you'd need an appropriately sized tank for them. But they're awesome, and they have beautiful coloration, too.
For example, here's my male:
You should definitely get a cray, though, even if you have to just set up a separate tank for it! lol, they're really great pets, honest! ^_^
Haha thanks for the help. And don't worry I believe you that they're great pets! I think they're hilarious, and for some reason people always give them really funny names too. I looked through some of the other threads to see if there were recommended amounts of space for one cray, but couldn't find any. For instance, would a 10 gallon be enough of a tank to keep one of these guys happy?
Oh man, I think it's a requirement to give them weird/odd names. Some of mine are: Ebirah, Bones, Nippy, Tweedle, Twitch, Kampfer, Splits, etc. I have one that doesn't have a name but he likes to bite me... I'm thinking that "Ah! You little son of a...!" is going to end up being his name lol
Anyway, for most species, the general rule of thumb is 10gal/per crayfish. There are some exceptions to this, however. Cambarellus species (dwarf crayfish, which max at 1.5" as adults) can be kept in smaller tanks, obviously (they can also be kept in groups). And crayfish like my big boy above (Cherax quad.) and other large Cherax species (canaii, destructor, etc) will require larger tanks as adults (since some will surpass 12" or 1lb in weight, big crays!). But most species you'll find for sale are your regular North American species, which don't max past 7-8" (and are usually 5-6"), so a 10gal is good for them. You'll probably also find a large amount of Indo species (Cherax sp. Tiger/Zebra, Cherax sp. Rainbow/Blue Moon/Hoa Creek, etc), these will also do fine in a 10gal.
Just be mindful of the species you buy, some will have more specific diet/water quality/temperature requirements than others, but all within the realm of relatively easy care.
Anyway, for most species, the general rule of thumb is 10gal/per crayfish. There are some exceptions to this, however. Cambarellus species (dwarf crayfish, which max at 1.5" as adults) can be kept in smaller tanks, obviously (they can also be kept in groups). And crayfish like my big boy above (Cherax quad.) and other large Cherax species (canaii, destructor, etc) will require larger tanks as adults (since some will surpass 12" or 1lb in weight, big crays!). But most species you'll find for sale are your regular North American species, which don't max past 7-8" (and are usually 5-6"), so a 10gal is good for them. You'll probably also find a large amount of Indo species (Cherax sp. Tiger/Zebra, Cherax sp. Rainbow/Blue Moon/Hoa Creek, etc), these will also do fine in a 10gal.
Just be mindful of the species you buy, some will have more specific diet/water quality/temperature requirements than others, but all within the realm of relatively easy care.
Thanks for all your help, black sun. Love the name, by the way, I'm a huge SW nerd. I used to use Prince Xizor as my tag when I was into gaming. 
Wigglesworth;3116092; said:Thanks for all your help, black sun. Love the name, by the way, I'm a huge SW nerd. I used to use Prince Xizor as my tag when I was into gaming.
Haha, nice. What games did you play when you were gaming?
yeah they dont mix well..... like cobras and mongoose. one will end up hurt or killed and its only a matter of time before it happens