How to Breed Blue Lobsters

Blue lobsters, also called crayfish, can be found in ponds, streams and other freshwater wetlands. Even though they are four to six inches long as an adult, they are very territorial. The blue lobster has a lifespan of about two to three years. Another characteristic of the blue lobster is that females have shorter, more rounded claws than males. Breeding two blue lobsters will result in at least half of their brood with a blue colored shell. After breeding several generations of blue lobsters, all broods will be blue in color and after breeding a few more generations, the shade of blue will begin to vary.

Things You'll Need

  • Female blue lobster
  • Male blue lobster
  • Freshwater aquarium
  • Nourishment for blue lobster (freshly hatched brine shrimp, flake, pellets, liquefied foods or microworms)
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Provide at least 40 gallons of water per lobster in a fresh water aquarium, with plenty of rocks, and place a male and female crayfish in the aquarium. The ideal temperature of the water is between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 and 22 degrees Celsius.

    • 2

      Be patient. The female blue lobster does not usually initiate copulation, so the male will initiate copulation. Then, observe the blue lobsters in action. As part of the mating process, blue lobsters clean each other. After mating, the female will carry eggs in pleopods which are abdominal parts that project from the body. In some cases, the eggs turn orange after a couple of weeks. Then, the eggs will hatch in three to four weeks.

    • 3

      Place the brood in a smaller aquarium when the eggs hatch, This will prevent the parents from eating them. Also, change the water to aid the newborn blue lobster, also known as fry. Keep the water as clean as possible, because during this time the fry must molt or shed its shell. Do not touch the blue lobster when it sheds as it is fragile at this time.

    • 4

      Leave the molt (or sheded shell) in the aquarium so that the blue lobster can eat it. The molt will provide calcium in the blue lobster's diet which will harden its shell.

    • 5

      Watch the blue lobster grow larger. When it sheds its shell, its lost limbs will gradually regenerate.

    • 6

      Feed the blue lobster freshly hatched brine shrimp, flake, pellets, liquefied foods or microworms. After about two weeks, the crayfish will still look transparent; however, they gain color as they reach sexual maturity