CRAYFISH AS A PET

 

                           CRAYFISH AS A PET

Crayfish is a freshwater lobster. They can be kept as pets, in a small or big aquarium made for fish. They are crustaceans with two sharp pincers and antennas. They are quite easy to keep. I have written a little bit on how to keep them (based entirely on my own experience)

 

making the crayfish's home

A few cleaned rocks and a log will do well as substrate for a crayfish aquarium. In a smaller aquarium it is not needed, but something that the crayfish can climb up is needed, as an aerator will not be needed if climbing sources are there. But these will have to be kept firmly as the crayfish likes to change position of its furniture. Add some substrate for the crayfish to hide as well. Gravel or sand is not compulsory, but it will possibly make the aquarium look nicer. And also, as the crayfish can easily slip out of the tank, make sure not to lean the substrate on the wall of the aquarium (above the surface) A cleaned piece of  PVC pipe can also be added. (Remember to soften the edges of the tube so that the crayfish will not injure itself) 

 

The crayfish and “friends”

Several crayfishes can be kept in a big aquarium, but the crayfishes I had seemed to find more peace in living alone. When keeping many crayfishes in the same tank, injuries such as the crayfishes pulling each other’s pincers/ legs/antennas could happen. And the crayfishes might get deprived of hiding places. Slow moving, long finned or ill fishes are best not put in along with a crayfish as they can very easily grab them with a pincer and EAT them. But it is best if one or two healthy, fast swimming fishes are added to the tank to prevent the breeding of mosquitos in the tank.

Catching a crayfish from your hand

When catching a crayfish from your hand (cleaning their aquarium, changing them to different aquariums etc.) it should be caught by its CARAPACE ONLY. If you catch it from somewhere else, you are pretty sure to be pinched. If a fish net is used to catch it, there is a risk of it climbing up the net or cutting its way through the net with a pincer and falling on the floor.

to be continued....

stay tuned for the rest of the crayfish facts.

The crayfish in the photos are crayfish I had kept.

 images ©Tharulya Herath