Natural stream pond...crayfish problem.
- Thread starter lagunabridge
- Start date
Sounguru
Guru at being an expert
I would ID the crays first you maybe giving to the pet store to sell a illegal species putting them at risk and yourself. Also check your local laws you may not be able to trap them or just not trap that species.
You will never get rid of the crayfish problem, or really get ahold of it. Having that many in your pond means they will never go away. Years ago I had a pond where the closest source of natural water was over a mile away. And I constantly had problems with crayfish attacking and eating my fish. I put up a fence and everything and it never stopped them. One time when it was raining really hard at night I saw a crayfish walking along in the yard towards my pond. If they want in, they get in. And since your pond is perched in a very natural spot. I don't think there is anything you can do other than physically removing the crayfish to keep them out. Sorry for the bad news but they are a ***** to get rid of.
The only thing that I did to keep control over them was to make sure there was no where for them to hide. Crayfish don't like to be exposed during the day and they will burrow to hide. And if your pond is concrete they can't. A friend of mine put a channel catfish in his pond and he said it controlled the crayfish population really well. But, it also controlled the goldfish population.
Edit: It looks like your pond is part of a concrete culvert. If that is the case then you will battle crayfish forever, concrete culverts are the Hilton for crayfish.
The only thing that I did to keep control over them was to make sure there was no where for them to hide. Crayfish don't like to be exposed during the day and they will burrow to hide. And if your pond is concrete they can't. A friend of mine put a channel catfish in his pond and he said it controlled the crayfish population really well. But, it also controlled the goldfish population.
Edit: It looks like your pond is part of a concrete culvert. If that is the case then you will battle crayfish forever, concrete culverts are the Hilton for crayfish.
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Thx All for the replies, suggestions and thoughtful non-sequiturs 
My pond is sourced from a larger natural pond that is located a few blocks away and streams along my neighborhood which is located in a region that has several arroyos created by nearby mountains. A road was built over the arroyo (rather than a bridge) which is the reason why a short culvert was constructed prob during the WPA in order for the stream to flow through unobstructed under the road. The crayfish are naturally in existence all along the stream's route: 2 notes, 1) I like the little buggers myself as they actually have somewhat distinct personalities themselves, and 2) they are a source of food for other animals such as raccoons and hawks (one of which uses my deck as it's dining table and leaves me the uneaten crayfish shells regularly). I don't believe the crayfish actually "walk" into my pond but rather the eggs/larvae? prob flow along with the stream and eventually some will naturally settle in my pond as no screen would be able to contain their small size (and i wouldn't want to restrict the stream's natural flow regardless).
My goldfish pond is also a koi pond so - as I suspected my crayfish issue had no practical solution - it will have to be primarily a koi pond henceforth. This is somewhat unfortunate as I really like the fat and slow swimming goldfish for their personalities but it's clear that they would eventually be a juicy meal for the crayfish.
My pond is sourced from a larger natural pond that is located a few blocks away and streams along my neighborhood which is located in a region that has several arroyos created by nearby mountains. A road was built over the arroyo (rather than a bridge) which is the reason why a short culvert was constructed prob during the WPA in order for the stream to flow through unobstructed under the road. The crayfish are naturally in existence all along the stream's route: 2 notes, 1) I like the little buggers myself as they actually have somewhat distinct personalities themselves, and 2) they are a source of food for other animals such as raccoons and hawks (one of which uses my deck as it's dining table and leaves me the uneaten crayfish shells regularly). I don't believe the crayfish actually "walk" into my pond but rather the eggs/larvae? prob flow along with the stream and eventually some will naturally settle in my pond as no screen would be able to contain their small size (and i wouldn't want to restrict the stream's natural flow regardless).My goldfish pond is also a koi pond so - as I suspected my crayfish issue had no practical solution - it will have to be primarily a koi pond henceforth. This is somewhat unfortunate as I really like the fat and slow swimming goldfish for their personalities but it's clear that they would eventually be a juicy meal for the crayfish.
Three things I can think of:
1. Put a fine screen mesh at the water inlet.
2. Put efficient traps in the pond.
3. Put in some kind of fish that will predate on the crays especially when they molt but friendly with the goldfish. Small cichlids or catfish maybe but not plecos.
BTW, you have a very beautiful place there.
1. Put a fine screen mesh at the water inlet.
2. Put efficient traps in the pond.
3. Put in some kind of fish that will predate on the crays especially when they molt but friendly with the goldfish. Small cichlids or catfish maybe but not plecos.
BTW, you have a very beautiful place there.
There is no way to screen them out with that setup. The only thing that you can do is to constantly trap them. Peeled carrots work surprisingly well as bait, so does my mothers meatballs (always had plenty of those leftover when I was a kid). If you want I'll have my mother send over her recipe. Warning - these may be toxic to fish, dogs, cats, birds, plants, and other living organisms.
The good news is large koi will eat the smaller crays when they get big enough. So give your koi a few years to grow and you may be able to keep goldies then.
The good news is large koi will eat the smaller crays when they get big enough. So give your koi a few years to grow and you may be able to keep goldies then.
Bass Pro sells cray traps. Old Bay, lemons and beer.
Maybe get a hold on the large ones by trapping and let the fish eat eggs/baby crays.
sounds like an uphill battle. Any SMB in the area?
Maybe get a hold on the large ones by trapping and let the fish eat eggs/baby crays.
sounds like an uphill battle. Any SMB in the area?
