New crayfish

[black_sun]

how long do crays live?

Depends on the species. The commonly sold species are usually 2-4 years (like P. alleni, P. clarkii, O. virilis), some are 5-6 years (like C. quads, C.sp.Tiger/Zebra). They are species that will live upwards of 20 years, like Astacopsis gouldi and Troglocambarus maclanei. But I don't think either of those (and in the case of the latter, any of the blind/cave crays) are sold in the hobby, so the years are only based off a few sci reports.

Most should have a lifespan of 5 years or less, you know, for what's commonly found and kept/collected/etc.

 

[TwistedPenguin]

Thanks for all the info, Black Sun. I really do appreciate it. Can you tell he's a male by the bumps on his claws? I'm hoping Prazi Pro is safe for him. Since he was wild-caught I treated the tank with it. I only found 1 reference to PraziPro & Crayfish and it said it was safe for them.

 

[black_sun]

Thanks for all the info, Black Sun. I really do appreciate it. Can you tell he's a male by the bumps on his claws? I'm hoping Prazi Pro is safe for him. Since he was wild-caught I treated the tank with it. I only found 1 reference to PraziPro & Crayfish and it said it was safe for them.

NP. I might as well try and put my "cray-zie" obsession to use, you know? lol (keep an eye out for Yabba, you want to see a good amount of cray info... that's where it's gonna come from haha)

Anyway, you can tell he's a he by the claws. Which is generally a bad thing to go by, because males with claws that are regenerating look like females. But in this case, you can go by them. Females never get claws that large, I mean, they get some huge claws as they age but when you put them up against a male, the male dwarfs them.

Here's the better way to determine sex: http://www.crayfishworld.com/sexy.htm

And PraziPro should be good. I used it to treat a few of my tanks a while back, no tragedies resulted from it except for the pests. Just be careful to use enough to treat the tank, and not overdose or use it too regularly.

 

[TwistedPenguin]

NP. I might as well try and put my "cray-zie" obsession to use, you know? lol (keep an eye out for Yabba, you want to see a good amount of cray info... that's where it's gonna come from haha)
Anyway, you can tell he's a he by the claws. Which is generally a bad thing to go by, because males with claws that are regenerating look like females. But in this case, you can go by them. Females never get claws that large, I mean, they get some huge claws as they age but when you put them up against a male, the male dwarfs them.
Here's the better way to determine sex: http://www.crayfishworld.com/sexy.htm
And PraziPro should be good. I used it to treat a few of my tanks a while back, no tragedies resulted from it except for the pests. Just be careful to use enough to treat the tank, and not overdose or use it too regularly.

You're just a wealth of crayformation, aren't you?? lol I saw that sight on how to sex them with my last cray. They move so quick with that jumpy stuff that I got spooked trying to pick him up I can pick up every other kind of critter but I guess I'll have to work up to cray-holding. I'll get my husband to pick him up, that's a good idea. He sure is dinosaur looking, I really like him.

 

[TwistedPenguin]

Black Sun, I'm still comparing pictures to the ones at the site you sent me to in order to sex crayfish. I've stared at crayfish genitals until I feel like a pervert. It's probably quite clear to you but it's not to me. You said the one I got was probably male because of his claw size. Here's his underside-is he a male for sure?

 

[black_sun]

Yep, that's a male. Here's what you're looking for:

(if the image doesn't load, click: http://i27.tinypic.com/2ls870i.jpg)

Those are his bits. Well, actually, his bits are under those appendages (the ones running up between his legs). If you take a toothpick, pen, etc and lightly move those appendages backwards toward his tail you'll 1.) piss him off and 2.) be able to see his gonopods (male bits) lol.

Actually, P. clarkii are rather people passive. They're an easier species to handle because they're more inclined to try and scoot away from us than fight (not to say that some just aren't ready to fight with anything, but usually... passive). They are, however, a very tankmate aggressive species as they prefer a protein heavy diet. It's odd... I guess they just play nice with things bigger than them lol. But they sure are an impressive looking species. Actually, my icon is the same species as yours, just another color variant (yours is a naturally occurring coloration, mine occurs through selective breeding).

 

[TwistedPenguin]

Those are his bits. Well, actually, his bits are under those appendages (the ones running up between his legs). If you take a toothpick, pen, etc and lightly move those appendages backwards toward his tail you'll 1.) piss him off and 2.) be able to see his gonopods (male bits) lol.

That'd be great to put in a signature but I don't have the guts lol!

Actually, P. clarkii are rather people passive. They're an easier species to handle because they're more inclined to try and scoot away from us than fight (not to say that some just aren't ready to fight with anything, but usually... passive). They are, however, a very tankmate aggressive species as they prefer a protein heavy diet. It's odd... I guess they just play nice with things bigger than them lol. But they sure are an impressive looking species. Actually, my icon is the same species as yours, just another color variant (yours is a naturally occurring coloration, mine occurs through selective breeding).

Isn't yours what they call a Crimson, or something? I'd love to have one like that, so red. I've got a 20 g long tank that's cycled and ready. The fish in there is going to another tank this week. I'm seriously thinking of putting another cray in there. But I want one like yours or a bright blue one. I'll see what I can find online. Thanks for all your info!

 

[brucie]

Use Iodine to strengthen the shells of your snails and clams! Iodine also builds a stronger exoskeleton of all your crustaceans.

A small dose of Kent's Super Iodine to your freshwater aquarium with added Shrimp is extremely beneficial. Since this product is typically used in Saltwater aquaria and in dosages of 1 teaspoon per 50 gallons every week, our nursery uses just a 1/2 teaspoon per 25 gallons 1 time per month to aid in the health and development of strong shrimp, that goes for all invertebrates too! We have been dosing our pools with Iodine for many years now and our shrimp are more healthy, more active, eager to breed, and have also noticed an increase in successful egg hatching as well, it will not harm your freshwater plants or other freshwater fish when used in this small trace amount.Use 1/2 teaspoon per 25 gallons, once a month!


got this info from:
http://www.azgardens.com/p-221-iodine-kent-iodine.aspx


i tried using it, i dont think it really matters, probably better not to use it...save some money!

 

[black_sun]

That'd be great to put in a signature but I don't have the guts lol!

*rereads* Man, I should put it in my signature... that description came out all kinds of FUBAR lol

Isn't yours what they call a Crimson, or something? I'd love to have one like that, so red. I've got a 20 g long tank that's cycled and ready. The fish in there is going to another tank this week. I'm seriously thinking of putting another cray in there. But I want one like yours or a bright blue one. I'll see what I can find online. Thanks for all your info!

Mine is the Orange variant, which comes in everything from a cream-orange coloration (usually obtained when breeding and Orange to a White cray) to a near red orange (usually obtain when breeding vivid orange to vivid orange). You can find these periodically on eBay, Aquabid and on the sale/buy sections of Crayfishmates.com and Bluecrayfish.com. But that aside, you may want to throw some feeders in with your cray just because they do seem to enjoy "the hunt" but yea, nothing you don't want to potentially be a snack in there with him. And in a 20g, you could add another crayfish (general rule of thumb 1 cray per 10gal) without much issue. Just give them both plenty of places to hide away when they want. Don't add a bright blue one unless you know it's the P. clarkii (the normal bright blue ones sold are P. alleni, very aggressive and C. quadricarinatus, which will get too large for a 20g).

The last species on this page is the one you have, just a different color:
http://www.crazycrays.com/crayfish.html

White version of yours:
http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwinverts&1247509810

Deep red version:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lobster-Red-Cri...0?hash=item3ef1e3bdd3&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

They're all around, and plenty of colors (especially if you can find someone who's catching wild types). You can also try adding a few other species, just be mindful that some won't play well together so it's generally avoided all together. If you're going to try, remember no Australian/Indo species (any species that starts with "Cherax") as they are highly susceptible to diseases/parasites that our crays may be carrying and immune to (and vice versa).

 

[black_sun]

Use Iodine to strengthen the shells of your snails and clams! Iodine also builds a stronger exoskeleton of all your crustaceans.

Well, Iodine is definitely needed. An Iodine deficiency causes issues with the exoskeleton in terms of molting. But again, the argument becomes that they should be obtaining it from their food or edible supplement because the ability to obtain it from the water directly is not proven in higher species.

got this info from:
http://www.azgardens.com/p-221-iodine-kent-iodine.aspx


i tried using it, i dont think it really matters, probably better not to use it...save some money!

I don't trust AZ an ounce lol. But this is just based on the caliber of products I've seen them sell (live animals, I like their plants) and the misinformation they don't correct on their pages in terms of species info/care. Actually, on a side note... does anyone know if they've improved their quality of stock and shipping methods like some of websites that have gone through overhaul lately? (They have stuff I want xD)

Not to bash the whole Iodine thing, since the studies done by people, universities, organizations, etc are inconclusive. It could very well be effective and helpful, a lot of people attest to it wholeheartedly. A lot of people attest to it having ill effects, too (though, I believe that's more because of the use of too much product or products that have ill effects in aquariums). Who knows... someone should do their own experiments here on MFK or AC, with controls, multiple test groups, etc. It'd be neat and probably very helpful.