crayfish

[smokeypea]

Hi, i just bought a crayfish, not for my oscar to eat but cos i think they are cool, anyway, i have it in a 10 gall tank by itself, i have a filter going but wondered if i should have a small airstone also, he can get out of the water if he wants too as i have a small plant pot in there for him to hide in. I was told he doesnt need a heater. So can anyone tell me about the need for an airstone? thanks.

[freshwaterfishlover]

1. The tank is way to small. I always wanted a Crayfish, but do not have room for a 5th tank. You need at least a 20 gallon tank. I know you just bought the Crayfish and it looks small but in about 3 months and after a few molts it will be 6-7''. I would highly recomend a 20 gallon.

2. No other fish should be in the tank. In only a few months after it gets to the 5'' stage, the drop in food will not be enought and it will eat everything in sight. Plants, plants, plants,FISH,FISH,FISH.

Recomend:

No other fish or living things in tank

at least a 20 gallon for 1 or 30 gallon for 2

Plants that CrayFish will not eat.


I know you already bought the Crayfish, but besides fish you could of had

1-2 dozon Ghost Shrimp
1-2 Frogs
3 Clams
4 Snails
1 Crab(it is in freshwater in the store, but they need Brakish water to live more then 2 month)

in my 20 gallon I have 4 Frogs and a snail, but soon to top it off with 3 clams I just bought on EBAY.
5 gallon I have 8 Ghost shrimp and 2 Cardinal Tetras

[smokeypea]

Thanks for reply, i have an empty 20 gall tank, so i am going to get it cycled and put the crayfish in there. Will it need an airstone as well as a filter? i have both, i also have a 55 gall with an Oscar in, and 46 gall community tank. Crayfish are fun to watch especially when they eat, he ate a wrom today and you should have seen it, yucky though lol.

[freshwaterfishlover]

Filter should be enough.

[William]

Monitor the water quality carefully as crayfish can make a mess when they feed. An airstone can help keep the water quality up but is not needed if you make sure to keep good water quality in the aquarium.

[jman]

hey has your crayfish ever sheded? I catch them in my backyard during the summer as babies and raise them and they grow very quick. The bigger they are the more they seem to eat as far as variety of foods goes...

[jeffs99dime]

yeah. they shed their exoskeletons to make room for their larger body