How to Raise Crawfish

Crawfish -- also known as crayfish and crawdads -- are freshwater crustaceans that are popular both as a meal and as a pet. They are relatively easy to take care of in an aquarium, but they are best kept in solitude -- large crawfish can attack small fish, small crawfish can be attacked by large fish, and crawfish kept with other crawfish will often result in fighting and cannibalism. A lone crawfish can be easily kept in a small tank as long as high-quality water is used.

Things You'll Need

  • 10 gallon tank or larger
  • Tank cover
  • Strong filter
  • Gravel or sand
  • Aquarium-safe rocks
  • PVC pipe
  • PVC pipe cutter or hacksaw
  • Sandpaper
  • Aquarium thermometer
  • Freshwater plants
  • Plastic plants
  • Shrimp pellets
  • High-calcium vegetables (zucchini, spinach, etc.)
  • Buckets
  • Siphon tube
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Instructions

  1. Preparing the Tank

    • 1

      Choose a tank that is at least 10 gallons in volume. Choose a tank cover that will seal most of the tank when in place, as the crawfish may attempt to climb out of the aquarium.

    • 2

      Fill the tank with tap water, leaving about 6 inches between the surface of the water and the tank rim. Allow the water to sit undisturbed for at least one day to allow trapped chlorine to dissipate. Install a strong filter with a high water change rate and set it high enough for the outflow to disturb the water surface and aerate the aquarium.

    • 3

      Cover the bottom of the tank with gravel or untreated sand. Provide several hiding places by placing rocks or artificial aquarium ornaments with gaps -- you can also cut a segment of sinking PVC pipe, smooth the edges with sandpaper and place it in a corner of the tank.

    • 4

      Install a thermometer in the tank to monitor the water temperature. Keep the crawfish in water between 41 and 68 degrees F. Lower water temperatures by floating a plastic bag filled with ice in the tank and allowing it to melt -- never pour ice or cold water directly into the aquarium.

    • 5

      Plant the tank with freshwater plants such as Elodea to provide additional food and shelter for the crawfish. Use several plastic plants to provide some inedible shelter and aesthetics to the tank.

    General Crawfish Care

    • 6

      Place the crawfish in the aquarium by gripping it around the center, just behind the claws, and turning it upside down. Lower it into the water and hold it just beneath the surface for about a minute to ensure that no air bubbles are trapped in its gills, then release it.

    • 7

      Feed the crawfish shrimp pellets for its regular diet, providing only as many pellets as it can consume in one night. Provide finely chopped high-calcium vegetables such as spinach and zucchini every two to three days to promote healthy shell growth. Supplement its diet with occasional small slices of carrots, cucumbers and other vegetables. Clean any remaining vegetable fragments two hours after feeding. Check the crawfish's hiding places for hoarded food every several days and remove any food fragments.

    • 8

      Replace 25 to 50 percent of the tank water every two weeks. Store sufficient changes of tap water in buckets one or two days in advance -- this will allow the chlorine in the water to dissipate naturally. Use a siphon tube to vacuum debris from the gravel or sand during these changing periods.

    • 9

      Allow newly molted skin to remain in the aquarium, as the crawfish may eat it to replenish its calcium. Remove the skin if it has not been consumed within two days after molting. Avoid disturbing the crawfish, changing the water or vacuuming the substrate immediately after molting.