View Full Version : Do people keep crayfish?
when i was a kid i had a crayfish in my tank that lasted a long time and was very interesting to watch. the only real downfall was that it would try to eat the other fish, but they learned to stay high enough that it couldn't get to them. it did seem to keep the tank clean though which was a bonus.
so does anyone have a crayfish in a tank, or has tried one, or have any ideas about why not to get one?
msjinkzd
01-11-2010, 12:15 PM
I keep three dwarf species. Lots of people keep the larger types. They are very cool pets to have but as you mentioned, you just cannot mix the larger species with alot of fish.
Obsidius
01-11-2010, 12:16 PM
Fish and crayfish have a love-hate relationship. Mostly hate.
Fish big enough to get the cray, will. Cray big enough to get the fish... well, you get it.
You'd be centering the tank on the crayfish, if you went for it; you couldn't keep any bottom dwellers, and any fish that prefers to rest on any surface runs the risk of getting offed.
Taysius
01-11-2010, 12:17 PM
Many people keep crayfish. I just got one yesterday myself. If you have smaller fish you could get a nice dwarf cray and your fish should be safe.
i was originally thinking of getting one for my 10gal tank but it is full right now with these:
3 platies
1 guppy
2 penguin tetras
2 cherry barbs
1 chinese algae eater
i have heard that i should probably get rid of the chinese algae eater as it will get too big and aggressive as it gets older, but it definitely won't be as aggressive as a crayfish. (BTW the penguin tetras and cherry barbs were a gift that i wasn't expecting, they may go back also).
so i only have 2 small pet stores in town so finding dwarf crayfish might be a little hard. the nearest petsmart is about an hour away.
also if anyone has any suggestions on alternatives to crayfish that might fit my situation (concerning the other tankmates not getting eatin) that would be great thank you.
PS thank you to the Mod that moved this thread to the appropriate area :newbie:
msjinkzd
01-11-2010, 12:30 PM
check classifieds on this forum and other aquaria related forums to find dwarf crays as well.
Aquabid often has dwarf crays available. If you're attached to those fish, I'd say no to a full sized crayfish. It'd be an expensive lunch.
I kept a crayfish for years with a school of white cloud minnows. I'm sure he was eating them on occasion, but they kept breeding, so I never noticed the lost fish. The better fed the crayfish is, the fewer live fish he'll go to the trouble of catching and eating, but it really is just a matter of time before fish start disappearing. I'd go for dwarves with a tank like that.
katana1200
01-11-2010, 3:29 PM
i was originally thinking of getting one for my 10gal tank but it is full right now with these:
3 platies
1 guppy
2 penguin tetras
2 cherry barbs
1 chinese algae eater
i have heard that i should probably get rid of the chinese algae eater as it will get too big and aggressive as it gets older, but it definitely won't be as aggressive as a crayfish. (BTW the penguin tetras and cherry barbs were a gift that i wasn't expecting, they may go back also).
so i only have 2 small pet stores in town so finding dwarf crayfish might be a little hard. the nearest petsmart is about an hour away.
also if anyone has any suggestions on alternatives to crayfish that might fit my situation (concerning the other tankmates not getting eatin) that would be great thank you.
PS thank you to the Mod that moved this thread to the appropriate area :newbie:
Sorry for the quick hijack but they do get to be about 11" long lol. Maybe go for the true SAE.
Sorry for the quick hijack but they do get to be about 11" long lol. Maybe go for the true SAE.
sorry i am kind of new so i am guessing that you meant Siamese Algae Eater? if so then that was what i was trying for when i bought the Chinese, having read somewhere that the chinese stay smaller like the siamese. but that little tid bit of info, i'm guessing, was wrong :flamed: i can honestly say though that the 2 local stores don't seem to carry the siamese ones so i may just have to go without and algae eater. too bad, i literally haven't seen any algae in the tank so far after 2 months (i know that isn't very long), my tank doesn't get ANY sunlight though so i have the fluorescent bulb specifically for plant growth.
now to hijack my own thread, any suggestions for an algae eater type fish that would work in a 10gal! (besides the siamese as i can't find any:thumbsup:)
bazil323
01-11-2010, 4:36 PM
Nerite snails and amano shrimp are about the best algae eaters out there. Plus, they add little to the bioload. The only thing is that you will need to supplement their diet if there is not enough algae. There are some very cool nerite snails out there, and most can't reproduce in freshwater, which eliminates the worry about overreproduction.
katana1200
01-11-2010, 4:41 PM
Perhaps a few otocinclus catfish would work well for you. I've heard the nerite snail is a beast for algae and will not reproduce in fresh water so you wouldn't have to worry about a hostile take over. Also, along the crayfish line there is always the Amano shrimp. They are great little algea eaters and I find them great fun to watch. Msjinkzd carries all of them (would have to ask how her stock is doing of course) for a great deal.
Other than their size being outrageous for a 10 gal, in my research the chinese algae eaters like to "taste" their tankmates. I believe these are the culprets for sucking the slimecoat off of fish and causing general disorder. That being said, I am reiterating information that I have gathered from this forum and other internet sources. I am not speaking from expierience with this particular fish. Hope the suggestions help.
Walden
01-11-2010, 4:51 PM
Dwarf crays really are an excellent way to go, as long as you don't have anything in the tank that might eat them. I have a dwarf cajun, and enjoy watching him in the aquarium.
thanks for the suggestions! i really appreciate it.
my next consideration is : do i really need something to eat my algae as the tank gets NO direct sunlight?
i know that fluorescent bulb i bought is for plant life and that algae isn't hard to grow or fussy but i guess my best bet is to wait a bit longer and see if i even have an algae problem. maybe my chinese is just doing a really good job? he never eats the algae wafers i try throwing in every so often.
right now i am leaning towards taking the chinese algae eater back to the pet store and trying to find some amano shrimp as i like the low bioload idea and think they look neat (i'll be honest here, that is part of my criteria for future tank inhabitants :D).
DeeDeeK
01-11-2010, 4:57 PM
How about otocinclus (ottos) for algae control? Of course they go to the bottom sometimes so maybe not with big crays.
DeeDeeK
01-11-2010, 5:00 PM
Dwarf crays really are an excellent way to go, as long as you don't have anything in the tank that might eat them. I have a dwarf cajun, and enjoy watching him in the aquarium.
Are dwarf cajuns the sort of mudbug (aka crawdaddy) that get eaten in Louisiana?:drool:
Walden
01-11-2010, 7:31 PM
Are dwarf cajuns the sort of mudbug (aka crawdaddy) that get eaten in Louisiana?:drool:
Well, it would take an awful lot of them. :)
It is larger species that are used in cuisine, generally.
How about otocinclus (ottos) for algae control? Of course they go to the bottom sometimes so maybe not with big crays.
i think i have seen those in the local stores. thanks for the idea!
BTW i am slowly starting to lean away from the crayfish idea and more to the shrimp way as it seems like an easier route, plus i like the fish i have and don't want to loose them to a feisty crawdad! ha!
Bubbles2112
01-12-2010, 8:00 PM
You could get the cambarellus patzcuarensis (CPO's) crayfish--they would provide a nice pop of orange in your tank and would leave your fish alone. I can also recommend the dwarf cajuns as they are really mello and stay small. Dwarf shrimps would also be good too. I have both crayfish in stock right now if you are interested just PM me.
DeeDeeK
01-12-2010, 9:13 PM
i think i have seen those in the local stores. thanks for the idea!
BTW i am slowly starting to lean away from the crayfish idea and more to the shrimp way as it seems like an easier route, plus i like the fish i have and don't want to loose them to a feisty crawdad! ha!
I just noticed that katana1200 had suggested ottos before I copied him!:duh:
Shrimp rule!
katana1200
01-12-2010, 10:18 PM
I just noticed that katana1200 had suggested ottos before I copied him!:duh:
Shrimp rule!
It's quite alright, I must have had a phone call drag me away while replying because by the time I actually hit post Bazil had already suggested half of what I posted......but I have an amano shrimp as an avatar wich lends to credibility lol. :cool: