Blue Crayfish with Mbuna

[CCchaos04]

My uncle in texas breeds blue crayfish. He said many people around him who own cichlids add blue crayfish to their tanks. If i add lots of hiding spots for the crayfish when he molts could i put one in with my adult yellow labs and peacocks?

 

[Lobo.]

if blue crafish aren't any different from normal crayfish, then adding them to any tank (unless its going in with a parana killer for food...) is a bad idea. the crayfish will just slice open the fish in the tank one by one as the fish get too close...

 

[CCchaos04]

thanks lobo. my uncle said alot of cichlid owners in texas keep crayfish in with adult cichlids. He said that they provide tons of hiding spots for the fish and crayfish but he says the crayfish basically only injure the fish if they go in his territory. I really don't want to try this until i get alot of opinions because i dont want to risk my fish.

 

[JSchmidt]

Hmmm... mbuna (like yellow labs) hide in rock caves on the bottom of the tank. Crayfish injure and kill fish who stray into their reach... on the bottom of the tank.

I would not put crayfish with my cichlids... even if I lived in Texas. (I don't understand how one's geography would stop fish from behaving normally... like crayfish catching whatever they can...) Bad idea, IMO.

Jim

 

[CCchaos04]

ok well i dont want to risk my fish so i'll just get another tank just for the crayfish. i wasn't saying they acted any different in texas i was just saying that keeping crayfish with cichlids seems to be a common theme where he lives.

 

[tlaug]

My blood parrots killed both of my crayfish in a week. So it maybe the crayfish that would be in danger. Just a thought.

 

[CCchaos04]

yea thats one of the reasons i wanted lots of hiding spots so it could get away. I think i'll just get the crayfish and keep them in a tub in my backyard this summer then i'll release them in my grandmas pond when it gets closer to winter.