How to Care for Live Crawfish

Crawfish, or crayfish, are tiny crustaceans that are technically a form of lobster. There are several different varieties and they can be found in the wild in streams and ponds with no large fish. In large ponds, they are the prey of larger crayfish and fishes. These creatures shed periodically throughout their lifetime and live for approximately two to three years. They are not picky about their temperatures and can thrive in a variety of cold and hot temperatures. They breed in the spring normally, though breeding at other times of the year is not unheard of.

Things You'll Need

Crawfish
Aquarium without larger, omnivorous, or carnivorous fish
Fish food pellets
Super glue or rubber bands

Instructions

- 1
  Sprinkle food into the aquarium at least twice daily. Regular fish pellets are an acceptable option. Crawfish are more active at night and typically hide when the water gets warm and sunlight drifts through, but they may become active every time you feed them. Do not put more food in the tank than your aquarium animals can eat in five minutes. Maintain pH levels at 7, but it is not a big deal to have the water a bit off.
- 2
  Change the water on a regular basis. When the water begins to get cloudy, it needs to be changed. The best bet for any water aquarium is an automatic filter. Crawfish require freshwater, and it is not recommended to put more than three to five crawfish per 10-gallon tank.
- 3
  Watch your crawfish during mating season. The female will lay her eggs and carry them in bundles on her hind legs, constantly rotating the egg population to aerate the eggs. It is vital that you do not pick her up during this time. The eggs can fall off, killing the offspring. When the offspring hatches, they hover around their mother until their first molting, and then strike out on their own.
- 4
  Growing crawfish will molt and the skeletons look like a dead crawfish. Do not be alarmed. Remove any skeletons you see to keep the tank clean and fresh.