Cajun Dwarf Crawfish!

[ZSandmann]

So my wife and I were in our LFS the other day getting some Rosy Reds for our Blue Crawfish when I spotted what I thought were clawed shrimp. Upon chatting up one of the owners he told me they were Dwarf Crawfish a local guy brought in because his tank was overflowing with spawn. Being the crazy invert freaks we are we couldn't resist. We got them all (20). So without further ado, the pics (please forgive me, new camera still figuring out the macro mode and other settings.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3492/dscn0470p.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/7331/dscn0472.jpg

These are in my 20G "planted" hahaha Tropical Community tank that is pretty empty right now except for a lone Sterbai Cory and some Endler's. So far I've caught a few crawfish munching on Endler fry but otherwise everyone seems to be doing well. I plan to add more plants, get a better light and work up some kind of 3D backdrop that has nooks and crannies for these guys.

[thebrandon]

very interesting looking, I like them:)

[black_sun]

Nice coloration

[Bk718]

very nice, how much did you get them for?? give them tons of hiding spaces or else they will soon have missing pincers.. and if you have 20 you should get some prego females in no time

[ZSandmann]

The LFS guy told me they usually sell for $8 a piece, but I got them for considerably less since I bought out the whole lot. This is the first time I've ever seen this variety of crawfish so I knew I had to have them and as many as possible. :D There are lots of hiding spots in the tank, but I plan on building a 3D background for the backwall which will have even more nooks and crannies.

[Wycco]

Let us know when you're selling the babies on here! ;)

I've been looking for some Dwarf Cajuns.

[Jane of Upton]

Oh, these guys are great! I currently have 5 in a 30 g planted tank. I've had them for nearly 3 months, and got them as juveniles. The dominant male will wave his pincers at me when I stick my face up to the tank trying to get a good look at him. They're a lot of fun, as they have very distinctive personalities.

How heavily is your tank planted? Until you get your nooks & crannies background made, a quick & simple way to provide places for them to safely hide or moult is to get the 5/8" diameter vinyl tubing in black (I got mine at a big box hardware store) and cut it into 2" and 3" segments and place it around the tank as little caves. I'm pretty sure it was the 5/8" stuff, but there is also 1" diameter tubing available. I soaked mine in VERY warm, almost hot water with vinegar added to help it leach any residue out. Then I soaked it in hot water with lots of salt, then rinsed and repeated the vinegar treatment, before soaking in water with 3x the usual amount of Prime in it, for de-chlorinating, and heavy metal binding, just in case. I hate to add anything not intended for aquarium use to my tanks, so I wanted to chemically "scrub" it, first.

Anyhow, without a lot of cover, they will pick on one another, but if confrontations can quickly end with one moving (slinking?) off into the shrubbery, no harm will be done, in my experience.

Enjoy! Nice snowflake coloration on that one!
-Jane

[ZSandmann]

Excellent advice Jane, I was thinking of cutting some smoothie straws (much larger diameter than normal straws) and hot gluing them in a stack like people build for blue crawfish spawn. Not very visually appealing but functional till I can build more permanent housing.

I'm noticing two distinctive colorations, the spotted snowflake ones which are a dark black/blue. And a brown and black striped style.

[Jane of Upton]

Yes, I think the two patterns have "real" names. I just call them snowflake and striped.

Granted, with your 30 I don't know if you'll be able to tell them apart, but with my 5 I've discovered that I can, between the body pattern and the particulars of markings on their tail fans (sort of like the "fingerprint" of a whale's fluke) identify the individuals. Huh? Its wacko to know each of one's crayfish individually? Guess I've spent too many mornings staring in to the tank 'til I'm coffee'd up and ready to face the day!

Also, from my limited experience, the females have a longer, broader abdomen, at least twice the length of their carapace, probably for carrying the eggs. The male has an abdomen barely 1.5 times the length of his carapace. Although, to be really sure, I guess you have to inspect their underside - see Yadokari's Crayfish Journal for some amazing Cray pictures, including how to determine their gender:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=184482

Have fun building their new Crayfish Townhouse!
-Jane

[ZSandmann]

First off there was a lighting upgrade, I retrofitted my stock florescent hood with a 55W AH Supply kit.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/738/dscn0489u.jpg
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/4157/dscn0490f.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/258/dscn0491.jpg
Before
http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/461/dscn0492o.jpg
After
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/9060/dscn0499j.jpg
I call the driftwood piece The Monkey's Fist. Also, planted some swords, dwarf hair grass, apon bulbs, and some other plants I don't know the name of. The crays love the wood! Beats the acrylic log that used to be in there.
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/8089/dscn0500.jpg
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/2028/dscn0501.jpg
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7541/dscn0506.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1016/dscn0511c.jpg
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/3631/dscn0519k.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/8646/dscn0521v.jpg

[bettabrat]

:hearts: omg it's so cute

[theemon]

nice! my crayfish rarely catch any endlers, i wouldnt be too worried

[jamesstill84]

My Shufeldtii's just had babies. I've counted 10 (some were probably cannibalized). Hopefully they'll all survive the coming weeks and I'll have some for sale. :D

[feiyang]

Congras! The crayfishes are so cute!

[jpappy789]

nice tank Z!