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Needs of a Crayfish Tank

Crayfish are crustaceans that come in colors ranging from yellow, green, brown, blue and red. They look like small lobsters or shrimp that have claws. Crayfish inhabit fresh water rivers and streams worldwide. Crayfish are also aquarium inhabitants and kept as pets, but you need to ensure the tank meets all the special requirements for their utmost survival.

  1. Number of Fish in a Tank

    • Badman’s Tropical Fish advises to keep a single crayfish in a 10- to 15-gallon tank, since they are territorial and aggressive. When more than one crayfish are housed in a single tank, provide them with many hiding places to prevent the fish from attacking one another as they fight for space. Introduce all the crayfish to the tank at the same time to reduce provocation and invasion. Do not mix crayfish with other fish species in a tank, as they will feed on the smaller species and big fish will eat the crayfish.

    Water

    • According to Blue Crayfish, crayfish need aerated water for survival, as they can drown if kept in water that is way above their head without supplemental oxygenation for 3 to 6 hours. Therefore, furnish the tank with air bubbles and long bubble walls. Filter oxygenation might not be sufficient since filters stop operating when they clog, necessitating the use air pumps. Having an uninterruptible power supply to power the air pumps ensures constant oxygenation. Furnish the tank with a high-quality filter to increase aeration. Change all the water in the tank at least once in a week, and replace it with de-chlorinated tap water or spring bottled water if you are not using a water filter. The Herp Care Collection on crayfish advises that since crayfish undergo molting and need a lot of calcium, they do well in water with a pH of 7.5 to 8.5.

    Hiding Places

    • Crayfish hide during the day and come out in the open during feeding. Fill the tank with a substrate of small grain gravel or sand to allow the crayfish to burrow and dig hiding places. Equip the tank with artificial hollow logs, PVC pipes and clay flower pots. These hiding places provide a place for the fish to stay when shedding the exoskeleton. Switch off the tank light unless you want to look at the fish or when feeding them; they like darkness.

    Temperature

    • The temperature of the water depends with the crayfish species in your tank. If you are keeping the North American species, there is no need to heat the tank since most of them do well at room temperature. According to Conscientious Aquarist Magazine, some species from Southern America can survive high temperatures of 82 Fahrenheit, while Australia species need a tropical temperature of about 77 Fahrenheit.

    Tank Cover

    • Crayfish climb on filters, plants, airline tubing and rocks to get to the top of the tank. Cover the tank completely with a hole-less tank lid to prevent them from escaping, since they can dehydrate and die when their gills are dry.

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