Crayfish and Iodine

[Taysius]

I've read a lot of articles about crayfish and adding iodine. Some say you need to add a drop per week with your waterchange for the crayfish to have healthy and safe molts. Others say it's a myth and is not needed and there are a few who say it's even harmful. What the heck am I supposed to believe here?

I know that quite a few people keep crayfish of different types. I am wondering if any of you do or do not add iodine to you tanks?

 

[Bubbles2112]

I do not add iodine. I think that is an outdated theory and was the general thinking about 15 years ago. As long as you have enough calcium (KH) in your water column your crays will moult just fine. They take their calcium from the water column and store it inside their 'throats' in small pellets that they swallow just prior to the moulting process. It is my belief that the crays will get the proper nutrition from the foods that you give to them. They are natural scavengers and eat quite a variety of items so give them lots of variety--some (even within the same species) like veggies more than meat. I even feed mine dog food sometimes (Natural Balance stuff in a tube is best liked).

 

[Taysius]

I have no idea what my KH is. That's a test I don't have.

He's been eating a mix of ramshorns, anacharis, HBH Crab & Lobster Bites, and Algae Wafers. Going to throw in a slice of zucchini tonight and see how he likes that. Any idea how they take to snail jello?