How to Keep Crayfish in a Tank

Many home aquarists keep crayfish in fish tanks. Crayfish, also called crawdads, look like small lobsters and come in a surprising variety of colors including blue, red and yellow. Most have a lifespan of two or three years and grow to a length of about 3 inches. Crayfish have a hard exoskeleton that they shed as they grow. Their range of behaviors makes them fun to keep on their own or as an interesting addition to an existing tank.

Things You'll Need

  • Fish tank and filter system
  • Tight-fitting tank hood with no large openings
  • Substrate
  • Rocks, logs and plants
  • Sinking algae wafers
  • Sinking shrimp pellets
  • Tubifex or Blood worms
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Instructions

    • 1

      Locate an appropriate area for your crayfish tank. Clear the area and set up the tank.

    • 2

      Decorate the tank with at least 2-3 inches of substrate. Add tank-safe rocks, logs and plants to give your crayfish places to hide and explore.

    • 3

      Cycle the tank. Once the cycling process is complete, add your crayfish to the tank. Do not remove the fish you used for cycling. They will either become food for your crayfish or help provide additional nutrients.

    • 4

      Feed your crayfish by dropping algae tablets and shrimp pellets into the tank. You can also feed them Tubifex and/or blood worms. Add a few guppies to your tank for the crayfish to catch.