Freshwater Lobster (???) dying?

crimsonmoon

crimsonmoon

Gotta love those cories...
Aug 31, 2008
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I got him at the lfs as a freshwater lobster...??? Apparently the two at the lfs had made little ones and the lfs didn't want them, so they were selling the babies (1/4" or smaller) for like 50 cents and they said that they did not need any special treatment (ha good one--i am now convinced otherwise). Well i was a total fish newb atm and was dooped into buying him. Now, about 5 months later, he is extremely lethargic, and slow. His parents were a deep red and about 5-6" long at the lfs, but this guy is maybe 3" and a paler red. I figured a while back that he had to be eating something, so started putting a couple shrimp pellets in the tank every other day or so and he seemed to eat them with great gusto. He doesn't ever do that lightning fast tail flip thing to escape from the gravel vac like he used to, and he has been turning upside down easily. I know that something isn't right with him, whether it be his diet, environment, or something else.
He is currently in a cold water fish tank, do you think he would be better off in a warmer, tropical tank with my angelfish? Assuming i provide the proper cover he would need to hide from the fish?
I also noticed that he has little clear/white fuzzy things all over himself, and hasn't molted (or whatever its called) for a while.
I am trying to post pics so you can somewhat see what im talking about with the fuzzy stuff, but it doesn't show up well.
Do you think he's dying? What is the best thing to do?
Crayfish

Crayfish

Crayfish
 
He might be getting ready to shead his skin. Don't freak yet. Keep an eye on him.
 
Freshwater lobsters are actually crayfish. And I agree with Bllib, he might just be getting ready to shed. Also, don't add him to a tropical fish tank, they prefer colder waters. Feed some veggies occasionally, they're omnivorous and would enjoy that.
 
My crayfish likes algae wafers, frozen peas (as a treat), sinking pellets, just about anything....do not give it raw shrimp - copper is deadly to crayfish so do not put anything in there with copper in it. He looks like he maybe just getting ready to molt.
 
Thanks for the quick responses--ill just keep an eye on him for a while. Hopefully its just as you guys say it is
 
doesnt look like anything is wrong with him.

like said keep an eye on him as he may just be getting ready to molt.
 
Ok, thanks

Just out of curiosity, could anybody identify what type it is from the pictures?
 
crimsonmoon said:
Ok, thanks

Just out of curiosity, could anybody identify what type it is from the pictures?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure, but from the size of it's parents, it isn't a dwarf species. I would also recommend that you, if you have not yet done so, check the water chemistry (particularly for nitrates, ammonia, and metals).

In your pictures, I can't see the 'white fuzz'. Do you mean the pleopods beneath the tail (swimmerets)? Some crayfish, and shrimp, do grow what looks like fur, as they mature. This is usually located on their large claws.

As a crustacean nears maturity, they molt less frequently, as their body is not growing as quickly. This can also be affected by diet. If they are not getting enough to eat, they don't molt as often. As a rule of thumb, a full grown adult, non dwarf, crayfish will only molt every four to six months. If they are stressed, or there are toxins in their environment, they may molt more often.
 
rofl real lobster!
 
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