Things You'll Need
- Large tank
- Gravel and grain
- Plastic tank decorations
- Plastic tank plants
- Shrimp pellets
- Fish flakes
- Fish meat
Instructions
Clean out a 10- to 15-gallon glass fish tank. Thoroughly wash the tank with mild liquid soap and warm water. This eliminates any dust and debris in the tank. Dry the tank with a clean, dry rag.
Add a substrate of gravel and small grain to the bottom of the tank. Layer gravel and then grain until you create a layer that is at least 2 in. thick. This gives the crayfish plenty of burrowing and building material.
Place plenty of plastic plants and decorations in the tank. Cover up the bottoms of the plants with substrate. Crayfish enjoy hiding places. However, live plants often need constant replacing because crayfish enjoy eating live plants.
Set up your filter system. Crayfish need filtered water. Install a decent filter on your tank to keep the water clean and free of waste for your crayfish.
Fill the tank with cold, fresh water. Let the filter system cycle the water through for at least three hours. This helps clean the water of any impurities or chemicals. Add dechlorinator and a few drops of liquid calcium to the tank, as well. Remove at least 25 percent of the water each week and replace with fresh water.
Add your crayfish to the tank. Crayfish do not need much adjusting when adding them to a new tank. The species is considered a cold water crustacean. Drop the crayfish into the water and leave it alone. Allow the crayfish time for exploring and getting used to its new environment.
Feed your crayfish a few times a day or at least once in the morning and once in the evening. Use a mixture of fish flakes, algae wafers, romaine lettuce and shrimp pellets. Give your crayfish as much food as it will eat. Remove any uneaten food from the water after an hour. This keeps the waste levels in the water down.