Crayfish

[Todd2]

Someone in school used crayfish in their final project, but now that school is almost over he has to give them away. I offered to maybe take them but didn't give him a definite answer. I have a 10g community tank with zebra danios and cories. The two crayfish are about 4 in. each. Would they eat my fish if I put them in there? If they would could I put them in a 5g by themselves. I don't know that much about crayfish but they seem interesting and it would be nice to have them.

 

[flipz]

I don't have or know much about crayfish, but I do believe they will pretty much destroy any plants you may have. So if it's planted don't bother.

But other than that, hopefully someone can give you a response about the fish.

-brent

 

[krap101]

i wouldnt even think of puting them with fish. i think crayfish are coldwater too. i suggest you get a icebox or something else to put them in. i put tghem in a 30 gallon ice box i found int he garage. and at lowes i think theres a 50 gallon tubberware box thingy for like 16.00$

 

[madasafish]

Crayfish will nip at and eventually kill the cories, as they are benthic fish (e.g. rest on the substrate). Most crayfish can definitely survive in warmer tanks. If you get a tank for them, it can be moderately heated, but make sure they have plenty of hiding room. These guys will kill each other, and their claws are *powerful*.

 

[TankGirl]

I have kept them and they are definitely terrors. They do fine in a tropical tank, but I had one that killed everything it could find, and kept an 8-inch oscar basically trapped in one corner of the tank. I would like to keep one in a 5gal maybe as a specimen, because they are cool creatures, but they have no place in a community setup, at least IME. Anything with claws, including shrimp, is going to be a predator.

 

[Todd2]

Thanks for all the replies. Do you guys think 2 in a 5g with substrate and hiding places and a sponge filter would work or would they fight?

 

[krap101]

id suggest the 50 gallon tub with like a corner filter.

 

[Todd2]

Ok I'll do that since that'd probably be cheaper than a 5g at the lfs, trying not to spend a whole lot. I've read to feed them shrimp pellets and they don't need heat so hopefully I'll be getting the crayfish soon