How to Feed a Pet Crawdad

Crawdads are unique pets that require little care. In its natural environment, a crawdad is a scavenger. It will subsist on decaying vegetation, algae and molted carapaces (crawdad shells). When you have a pet crawdad, you can feed it a diet rich in vegetative matter. Protein is acceptable as a supplement in your crawdad's diet. However, you should avoid feeding your crawdad too much fat, since these creatures don't often feed on protein sources in their natural environment.

Things You'll Need

  • Elodea sprigs
  • Romaine lettuce
  • Spinach
  • Algae pellets
  • Shrimp pellets
  • Frozen bloodworms
  • Feeder fish
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place 6 to 12 Elodea fragments in your crawdad's habitat, suggests the Full Option Science System, a research program developed at the University of California at Berkeley. You can purchase Elodea at pet stores or online.

    • 2
      Spinach is a good food source when your crawdad molts.

      Shred small pieces of romaine lettuce for your crawdad. Alternatively, you can offer bits of spinach leaves. Spinach has a high calcium content, which helps in the molting process.

    • 3

      Offer pellet foods, such as algae and shrimp pellets, recommends Wet Web Media. You can also offer frozen foods, such as bloodworms.

    • 4

      Provide food three to four days a week, depending on your crawdad's appetite. Give your crawdad 30 minutes to eat its food. If it hasn't eaten during this time, remove the food to avoid soiling your crawdad's habitat.

    • 5

      Give your crawdad feeder fish once or twice a month. Feeder fish include guppies or small goldfish.