Food for Blue Crayfish

The blue crayfish is the second most common type of crayfish. Their bodies have an exoskeleton that protects their organs, and they walk and pick up food with their jointed legs. Crayfish are omnivores, which means they will rely on both plants and animals for sustenance. If you have blue crayfish as pets, it is important to know which foods to give your crayfish to keep your pet happy while maintaining a healthy and balanced diet.

  1. Pellets

    • Pellets are a good choice of food, particularly for younger crayfish. Blue crayfish typically enjoy shrimp pellets in the beginning. As your crayfish gets older, you should also introduce algae pellets as well. One 3/4-inch pellet each day should be plenty of food. Flake food is also appropriate for the blue crayfish.

    Vegetables

    • Blue crayfish enjoy eating vegetables. This is a healthy snack for the crayfish because it gives them some roughage to help with digestion. A slice of zucchini makes a nice meal, and may even prevent them from eating any live plants you may have in the tank. They also enjoy the occasional piece of lettuce, but you will have to weigh it down with a rock so the blue crayfish can find it along the bottom of the tank.

    Plants

    • Blue crayfish are bottom dwellers, and will eat plants along the floor of the tank. You can feed them elodea, which is a perennial aquatic plant. This plant will provide both a habitat and food for the crayfish. Blue crayfish will hold the plants in their claws to eat them. They will eat the plants whether they are live or dead. Be sure to weigh down aquatic plants so they will remain on the bottom of the tank.

    Animals

    • Smaller fish can also be eaten by the blue crayfish. They have a very strong appetite, so do not put too many small fish in the tank along with the crayfish or it could overeat. Live minnows and snails also make great snacks. When the blue crayfish begins the molting process, it will eat its own shell. This is safe, as the shell provides calcium for the crayfish.