Care
The Red-clawed Crayfish is known from lakes, lagoons, slow-moving sections of rivers, and coastal freshwater streams. This beautiful blue decapod is a popular choice for the home aquarium, but due to its predatory nature, it should be kept in a species-tank environment. The substrate should consist of aquatic sand or fine, rounded gravel; this is because although the Red-clawed Crayfish is classed as non-burrowing, it will wallow and excavate small amounts of substrate until its favoured shelter is enlarged in a layout that is acceptable. The tank should be furnished with several shady caves (these could be fashioned from rocks, driftwood, bamboo or PVC tubes, coconut shells etc), with cobbles and pebbles added to the surroundings to create a stream bed effect. Unfortunately, most plants will be uprooted, shredded, and eaten, so are best omitted from the aquascape. Filtration should be efficient with moderate water movement and oxygenation. Partial water changes should be carried out on a frequent basis to avoid the build up of nitrate. Every so often as it grows, the crayfish will shed its exoskeleton - this should be left in the aquarium for the crayfish to consume for much needed calcium. After it has moulted, the crayfish will likely hide away for a time until the new exoskeleton hardens, as in the wild it would be particularly vulnerable at this time. More than one Red-clawed Crayfish may be kept together in the same aquarium providing that it is very spacious and there are a multitude of hiding places/visual barriers. In cramped quarters, these territorial bottom-dwellers will fight, with loss of limb being all too common and so easily avoidable. It is best not to house any fish with these crayfish as they will eat anything they can grab hold of, and it is often just a matter of time. A tight fitting lid is essential and be sure to block all holes where equipment feeds into the tank, as Red-clawed Crayfish are great escape artists. May also be seen on sale as the Blue Lobster.
Feeding
Omnivorous. Offer a selection of meaty foods such as bloodworm, Mysis shrimp, and chopped krill/prawns, along with some vegetable matter such as spinach, courgette, cucumber, shelled peas etc. Will also take many dry fish foods such as pellets, algae wafers, and dried algae.
Breeding
This species has been bred in the home aquarium. Following a courtship ritual and mating, the female will incubate the fertilised eggs for 6-10 weeks under her tail. The young do not go through a larval stage and upon hatching, will emerge as perfect 12mm miniatures of the adults. These tiny crayfish may cling to the female's swimmerets for a short time, and will need separating from the adults as soon as possible to prevent the adults from eating them. In the wild, the average female Red-clawed Crayfish may produce 300-800 eggs per brood, and breed up to 6 times per season.
