There are a few things you need to take into consideration before getting a pet crayfish, in the event that you choose to do so. I have been taking care of a crayfish as a pet for close to three years now, and throughout that time I have picked up a few key pieces of information.
Tank size matters.
To begin, the size of the tank is going to be very significant in terms of its importance if you intend to keep a crayfish in addition to other fish. To begin, crayfish are notoriously unclean sea critters. The waste that a crayfish generates may rapidly make an aquarium unclean, which is why it is important to keep it clean. Because of this, I would recommend getting a tank that is at least twenty gallons in capacity. I've had success in the past keeping my own crayfish in a tank that holds ten gallons of water. However, in order to maintain the aquarium's appearance of cleanliness and freshness, this method required more regular water changes.
Crayfish and other fish will have more room to move about in a tank that is larger than necessary. Crayfish are fairly territorial species; therefore, this is a good thing for them.
Different Categories of Tank Mates
- Crayfish are known to be violent animals. They are omnivores and enjoy nothing better than putting their paws on anything to consume it once they have it in their grasp. They won't bat an eye when it comes to eating the other fish in your tank, the plants, or even more crayfish if you choose to have them.
- Therefore, if you want to keep other fish in the tank with your pet crayfish, you should look for fish that are equally hostile to other species. Fish that move quickly and swim at the top of the tank are also excellent choices.
- Along with my pet blue crayfish, I now keep a hatchet fish and a red-tailed shark in the twenty-gallon tank that I keep my fish in. In all honesty, the red-tailed shark has been cohabitating with my pet crayfish for close to two years now. It has turned out really well due to the fact that he is also aggressive, swims at the top of the tank, and is a quick swimmer. This does not imply, however, that my crayfish does not attempt to grab hold of him on occasion; in fact, he does.
- Keep in mind that crayfish prefer to live at the tank's bottom, so any fish that moves slowly and swims close to this area are more likely to be eaten. Due to the fact that they moved so slowly, I ended up losing a few fish in the beginning.
Feeding
When I make sure that my crayfish have plenty to eat, I find that they are less likely to be hostile toward one another. It should come as no surprise that a crayfish's appetite determines the likelihood that it will attempt to chase down and grab your other fish. Maintain a steady diet for your crayfish, but make sure not to overfeed him.
Find a place to hide.
Your crayfish needs a place to hide. Crayfish have a strong sense of territory and like having their own burrows to retreat to. When your pet crayfish is molting, this is especially true and vital to remember. Because during the process of molting, a crayfish is particularly vulnerable to attack by the other animals that live in the tank. Hideouts are available for a low cost and may be bought at any pet store. PVC pipe may also be used to build them if you want a simpler option.
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Fish