My Cichlids and New Mates

[Priest]

Over the weekend I got 2 red crayfish and 3 red crabs and would like to know if I can keep them with my African Cichlids. My cichlids are:

2 Compact Slim Zebra
1 Afra Cobue
1 White Top Hara
1 Kingsizei
1 OB Peacock
2 Yellow Labs
1 Red Albino Zebra
1 P. Nyererei
1 Cobalt Zebra
And a featherfin catfish

They are between 3.5 inches to 4 inches, with the catfish being 4 inches. I already know that I would need an island for the crabs which I will get before putting them in. The crabs are tiny (Maybe a inch or less) and the crayfish are about 2 inches. They have been good towards one another with no fighting and constant climbing (One crab got out the tank yesterday). I have heard of people keeping them with cichlids and the only thing they mention is to keep everything sealed on top so the crabs don't get out but I would like to ask you all first to get a second opinion. Thank you.

PS: The reason I want to move them is because I dropped the 10 gallon tank that was their home (Sorry crabs and crays), it's okay though because they wasn't inside when it fell.

 

[cbourg746]

I have a blue crawfish in my 10 gal with a few swordtails. Everything was fine at first. Started out with 5 swords.....now I'm down to 2.
He literally eats the whole fish. No left over bodies or bones.

 

[Priest]

That's a blue crayfish right? I bought one of those over the weekend as well, the moment I put them in together, the blue cray immediately (Literally in under 2 seconds), it grabbed one of the red crays, wrapped it like a snake and was biting it, it also grabbed one of the crabs and cut off 2 of it's legs. In the same day I returned it because that blue cray is vicious and would've killed all of them in 1 day.

 

[bigbanker]

When molting crays are very soft and require good hiding places. Personally not something I would do

 

[Andrew McFadden]

I wouldn't do it with Malawi cichlids it wouldn't stand a chance especially with the ob

 

[cbourg746]

That's a blue crayfish right? I bought one of those over the weekend as well, the moment I put them in together, the blue cray immediately (Literally in under 2 seconds), it grabbed one of the red crays, wrapped it like a snake and was biting it, it also grabbed one of the crabs and cut off 2 of it's legs. In the same day I returned it because that blue cray is vicious and would've killed all of them in 1 day.

The blue cray/craw should be no different disposition wise than your others. Unless you just got a whack job.

How much did they hit you for your blue???

 

[Priest]

The blue cray/craw should be no different disposition wise than your others. Unless you just got a whack job.

How much did they hit you for your blue???

The price of it was 30 but since I know the guy he gave it to me for 10 but since I returned it, I got the 10 back.

 

[cbourg746]

The price of it was 30 but since I know the guy he gave it to me for 10 but since I returned it, I got the 10 back.

Yikes.....$10 is not bad but $30 is crazy. I got mine for free. I live in southern Louisiana and this guy came out of the last sack of crawfish we boiled. Very rare to find one like that but I can say I've seen my fare share. One of the perks of being a southern boy.