Freshwater lobster?

[Copper]

Saw in the Fosters & Smith catalog a small freshwater cobalt blue lobster. Has anyone ever kept one of these bugs? How difficult were they to care for, special needs, hardiness, ect...

They are a bit of an expensive experiement at $35.

 

[MamaBarb]

Copper - I've never kept them - but instead of shelling out $35, I'd go out to the cattle tank and net a couple of crawdads instead!!! :laugh:

 

[cpr4cpu]

They are basically a crawfish with missing pigment.
Care is simple, they eat bottom feeder pellets, carnivore pellets, and just about any food leftovers that fall to them, including slow or sleeping fish.

They will also molt (climb out of thier shell and form a new one) so if you have poor water quality they will often get an infection and not survive long.

 

[1tankneverenuff]

I've kept them for quite some time. Possibly the most easy and care-free aquarium pet. Although $35 is insane. I pay $6.99 for babies at the local store. I love to feed them comet goldfish, and they love it too. I feed them every 4-5 days because you must be careful, they moult fast and can get big real quick if fed too often. They're active little guys, they look like they are always looking for something. If keeping multiple crayfish/lobsters, make sure each ones has it's own hiding place because when they moult their exoskeleton becomes soft and vulnerable for a period of time until it hardens. Be sure to keep a good water flow within the tank so they get enough oxygen. In the wild they would normally surface for air periodically, but as long as you have a solid filter, you're fine. I simply use an AquaClear Mini on my 10g tanks. One last important thing, don't underestimate their power. They may not be as large as a normal lobster you would find in the ocean, but they pack some strength in those claws. I've seen them take down fish much larger than themselves...

 

[Tim Bo]

Fascinating predators.
Take a look at this links for more info : http://crayfish.byu.edu/
http://www.mackers.com/crayfish/

 

[Copper]

Thanks for the info guys. Not that excited about mutant mudbugs though, so I think I'll pass.

 

[1tankneverenuff]

Thanks for the info guys. Not that excited about mutant mudbugs though, so I think I'll pass.

You might change your mind if you saw some of the amazing color patterns on some more exotic ones. Ever heard of the White Ghost...?

 

[jamzwayne]

Alright.

This is what I've heard and what changed my mind bout keeping one.

• 
  They will tear up your live plants.
  Once they are big enough, they will "re-decorate" your tank, by moving stuff around (little land scapers).
  Very aggressive.
  They will harm your fish, no matter what size.

And they are called crawfish here in the south.

 

[Tim Bo]

Alright.

This is what I've heard and what changed my mind bout keeping one.

• 
  They will tear up your live plants.
  Once they are big enough, they will "re-decorate" your tank, by moving stuff around (little land scapers).
  Very aggressive.
  They will harm your fish, no matter what size.

And they are called crawfish here in the south.

This is also my experience and is one of the reasons I have given them their own tanks. However, there are some fish that will make a meal out them!

 

[1tankneverenuff]

This is also my experience and is one of the reasons I have given them their own tanks. However, there are some fish that will make a meal out them!

All of my crawfish have always had their own tanks. Never share them with fish. And my crawfish have never moved anything. They burrow, but they don't redecorate from my experience. And as far as fish making a meal out of them, it better be one hell of a viscious fish that is willing to get hurt. Like I said, those little guys can take down fish much larger than themselves. Tried it again with a set of Oscars recently, thinking the Oscars would have the best of the crawfish. Not even close! If I would have left the crawfish in there he would have most likely killed the Oscars. Note those 2 Oscars were 7-8" while this crawfish was about 3.5-4".