ID this cray for me?

I went back yesterday to this pond and all of the crays in it that I saw are like these. The biggest one I saw was about 6".
 
Those things are pretty enough that you might have a market if you decided to sell them. Just check the KY aquaculture regs first; down here the cost of the aquaculture license is prohibitive for a casual operation, but it might be less in KY. Just a thought!

If you really want a positive ID, your best bet is to take some of your mudbugs to an expert. Positive ID often requires examination of the gonopods (sexual organs) of a male in reproductive condition. There's an aquatic macro guy at EKU named Guenter Schuster; you might try e-mailing him. I don't know Dr. Schuster, but in my experience biology professors are usually happy to identify critters for you.
 
Thanks for the info. I think I've spoke with him at a local pet store. He was doing studies on native crayfish. I don't know for sure if that's who I spoke with, but it was in richmond and he said he worked at EKU. I may email him. :)
 
Here's another pic that shows the claws:

DSCF0053-1.jpg


And here's a link to a video of it:

Cray Video
 
Nice! That black stripe on the edge of the chela really seems like it should be diagnostic; I've never seen a cray with that marking. If you ever do get them ID'ed please let us know. I'm really curious now myself.
 
I will def let the forum know. I'll have them for sale as soon as I ID them.
 
I finally got an ID on the crays. My wife had to email a KET television show to get the ID. It's a Kentucky River Crayfish (Orconectes Procericambarus juvenilis). I'm currently out of them, but I may be getting more in a week or 2.

Here's an adult:

OrconectesProcericambarusjuvenilis.jpg
 
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