How to Breed Blue Crawfish

Blue crawfish, also known as blue lobsters, or blue crayfish, can be found living in freshwater streams and ponds. Blue crawfish tend to grow up to 6 inches when they reach adulthood, and have a lifespan of about three years. Female blue crawfish can be identified by their shorter and more rounded claws. When two blue crawfish mate the result is a brood in which half have the signature blue colored shell. Through several generations of breeding, the entire brood will possess the blue colored shells.

Things You'll Need

  • Freshly hatched brine shrimp
  • Flake
  • Fish pellets
  • Microworms
  • Female blue crawfish
  • Male blue crawfish
  • Aquarium
  • Aquarium rocks
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up an aquarium that allows a minimum of 40 gallons per crawfish. Place many rocks throughout the aquarium, and regulate the water temperature so that it is between 55 and 70 degrees F.

    • 2

      Place the female and male blue crawfish into the aquarium.

    • 3

      Allow time for the crawfish to mate. The male initiates copulation, which begins with the male cleaning the female. When the female crawfish becomes impregnated, she carries the eggs in abdominal parts called pleopods. The eggs should hatch within four weeks.

    • 4

      Remove the newly hatched crawfish from the aquarium and place them into a separate smaller aquarium so the parents won't eat them. The baby crawfish shed their shells as they grow. Leave the shells in the aquarium so the crawfish eat them, as they provide a good source of calcium.

    • 5

      Feed the crawfish daily a mixture of freshly hatched brine shrimp, flake, fish pellets and microworms. As the baby crawfish grow, they will begin to develop blue color.