Male Vs. Female Crayfish

Crayfish, which are also known as crawfish or crawdad, are freshwater relations to the lobster. To identify a male from a female crayfish, the crayfish must be physically handled to identify its sex organs, or seen during the egg laying and hatching season.

  1. Size

    • According to the website Planeta Acocil, male crayfish are generally larger and have bigger claws than female crayfish.

    Male Sex Organs

    • Male crayfish can be differentiated from female crayfish by the presence of a first pair of swimmerets, which are used to transfer sperm into the female.

    Female Sex Organs

    • The female crayfish's sex organ is located between the third and fourth walking legs, and appears as an opening, which is used in sperm transfer during reproduction.

    In Berry

    • Female crayfish can be spotted during their egg laying season, which occurs in the May or June. The fertilized eggs remain on the underside of the female's swimmerets, and she is said to be 'in berry,' because the eggs look like tiny berries.

    Hatching

    • Once the female's eggs are hatched, only the female crayfish can be seen with the eggs, which remain attached to the female until they undergo their second molt.