Thinking about adopting a wayward crayfish

Gizmo · 12-28-2010, 01:48 PM

I've got a newly cycled ten gallon planted tank and I saw a blue crayfish up for free on KSL. Looks like a fun guy, but here's my thoughts and questions:

He's a bottom feeder, so are there any top swimmers or anything else living that I can stick in there with him?
What do I feed him?
I've got live plants - will they become snack food?
What do crayfish like for water parameters, i.e. hardness, pH, temp, etc.?
Is my ten gallon too small?

Thanks in advance!

ecl · 12-28-2010, 07:38 PM

Hey there im from american fork and just noticed the add and contacted the guy to. I just got one last week and love him. I feed sinking pellets but they will pretty much eat anything from what I've been told. I also have a ten galling for now since he all eat any fish he gets a hold of so keep that in mind. He will eat and up root your plants he tries to eat our plastic ones. let me know what else I can help with

ecl · 12-28-2010, 07:44 PM

Also make sure the tank is extremely closed off ours tries to escape daily and almost did one night. Would have but he is in our bedroom so we caught him

snail · 12-29-2010, 01:04 AM

I think crayfish can be a problem at night when fish are sleeping on the bottom of the tank.

Gizmo · 12-29-2010, 09:52 AM

Awesome! I've always wanted a real meanie of a critter, haha. Sad thing is, all my plants are gonna be going byebye I guess. I shall name him Jacques Cousteau

Gizmo · 12-29-2010, 01:00 PM

Another question - when I stick my hand in the tank for maintenance issues, is he gonna attack me? How do I avoid getting pinched?

automatic-hydromatic · 12-29-2010, 01:14 PM

lol, move your hands quickly :P

or just removed him from the tank before you begin

ecl · 12-29-2010, 06:23 PM

he will mostly like move before going after you. They suprisingly move very fast, and youll notice backwards, its kinda cool.

snail · 12-30-2010, 03:19 AM

I thought 10 was fine but when I googled it most places say 20 minimum tank size so you might want to check that out.

Gizmo · 12-30-2010, 11:26 PM

Jacques is now safe and sound in his new digs and is busy checking them out thoroughly. My dad's all excited to see him tomorrow

How do I know if he's a boy or a girl?

snail · 12-31-2010, 03:03 AM

Looking forward to pics!

Gizmo · 01-06-2011, 09:56 AM

Follow up on Jacques for anyone interested -

He's very docile and shy. Every time the light comes on or someone moves past the tank he scurries and hides. Hasn't ripped up any of my plants, and only tried to escape once, at least while I was looking (thank the Lord for a full glass hood!).

I've got 6 tetras in there with him now and he almost caught one the other day. I would be very excited if he did.

Haven't found his favorite food yet, but he hasn't been taking the shrimp pellets I've been dropping in. Fed some frozen blood worms yesterday, will check the bottom of the tank for leftovers today.

Do crayfish normally not eat very much? He's a big guy, 3" not counting his claw.

12-28-2010, 01:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Gizmo What do fish think about? Gizmo's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,350 Name: Guy Miller Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 183 Times Said "Thanks" 451 Times Was Thanked 603 Times in 573 Posts	Thinking about adopting a wayward crayfish I've got a newly cycled ten gallon planted tank and I saw a blue crayfish up for free on KSL. Looks like a fun guy, but here's my thoughts and questions: He's a bottom feeder, so are there any top swimmers or anything else living that I can stick in there with him? What do I feed him? I've got live plants - will they become snack food? What do crayfish like for water parameters, i.e. hardness, pH, temp, etc.? Is my ten gallon too small? Thanks in advance! __________________ Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

12-28-2010, 07:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
ecl Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 30 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Thinking about adopting a wayward crayfish Hey there im from american fork and just noticed the add and contacted the guy to. I just got one last week and love him. I feed sinking pellets but they will pretty much eat anything from what I've been told. I also have a ten galling for now since he all eat any fish he gets a hold of so keep that in mind. He will eat and up root your plants he tries to eat our plastic ones. let me know what else I can help with Last edited by ecl : 12-28-2010 at 07:56 PM.

12-28-2010, 07:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
ecl Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 30 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Thinking about adopting a wayward crayfish Also make sure the tank is extremely closed off ours tries to escape daily and almost did one night. Would have but he is in our bedroom so we caught him

12-29-2010, 01:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
snail snail's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,646 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,935 Times Said "Thanks" 363 Times Was Thanked 635 Times in 592 Posts	Re: Thinking about adopting a wayward crayfish I think crayfish can be a problem at night when fish are sleeping on the bottom of the tank.

12-29-2010, 09:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
Gizmo What do fish think about? Gizmo's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,350 Name: Guy Miller Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 183 Times Said "Thanks" 451 Times Was Thanked 603 Times in 573 Posts	Re: Thinking about adopting a wayward crayfish Awesome! I've always wanted a real meanie of a critter, haha. Sad thing is, all my plants are gonna be going byebye I guess. I shall name him Jacques Cousteau __________________ Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

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12-29-2010, 01:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Gizmo What do fish think about? Gizmo's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,350 Name: Guy Miller Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 183 Times Said "Thanks" 451 Times Was Thanked 603 Times in 573 Posts	Re: Thinking about adopting a wayward crayfish Another question - when I stick my hand in the tank for maintenance issues, is he gonna attack me? How do I avoid getting pinched? __________________ Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

12-29-2010, 01:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
automatic-hydromatic unda da sea automatic-hydromatic's Photo Gallery Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,009 Name: Travis Location: Lake City, Florida Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 140 Times Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 207 Times in 184 Posts	Re: Thinking about adopting a wayward crayfish lol, move your hands quickly :P or just removed him from the tank before you begin __________________ My 30 gallon planted freshwater - CONSTANTLY CHANGING

12-29-2010, 06:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
ecl Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 30 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Thinking about adopting a wayward crayfish he will mostly like move before going after you. They suprisingly move very fast, and youll notice backwards, its kinda cool.

12-30-2010, 03:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
snail snail's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,646 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,935 Times Said "Thanks" 363 Times Was Thanked 635 Times in 592 Posts	Re: Thinking about adopting a wayward crayfish I thought 10 was fine but when I googled it most places say 20 minimum tank size so you might want to check that out.

12-30-2010, 11:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
Gizmo What do fish think about? Gizmo's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,350 Name: Guy Miller Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 183 Times Said "Thanks" 451 Times Was Thanked 603 Times in 573 Posts	Re: Thinking about adopting a wayward crayfish Jacques is now safe and sound in his new digs and is busy checking them out thoroughly. My dad's all excited to see him tomorrow How do I know if he's a boy or a girl? __________________ Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

12-31-2010, 03:03 AM	#11 (permalink)
snail snail's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,646 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,935 Times Said "Thanks" 363 Times Was Thanked 635 Times in 592 Posts	Re: Thinking about adopting a wayward crayfish Looking forward to pics!

01-06-2011, 09:56 AM	#12 (permalink)
Gizmo What do fish think about? Gizmo's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,350 Name: Guy Miller Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 183 Times Said "Thanks" 451 Times Was Thanked 603 Times in 573 Posts	Re: Thinking about adopting a wayward crayfish Follow up on Jacques for anyone interested - He's very docile and shy. Every time the light comes on or someone moves past the tank he scurries and hides. Hasn't ripped up any of my plants, and only tried to escape once, at least while I was looking (thank the Lord for a full glass hood!). I've got 6 tetras in there with him now and he almost caught one the other day. I would be very excited if he did. Haven't found his favorite food yet, but he hasn't been taking the shrimp pellets I've been dropping in. Fed some frozen blood worms yesterday, will check the bottom of the tank for leftovers today. Do crayfish normally not eat very much? He's a big guy, 3" not counting his claw. __________________ Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

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