What types of crayfish are there for an aquarium? Freshwater crayfish and their life in aquariums. Reproduction of aquarium crayfish

Aquarium crayfish are rare guests in the aquariums of lovers of exotic marine animals, but recently there are more and more people wanting to breed crayfish. Crayfish live in almost all types of bodies of water: rivers and lakes, oceans and seas.

Breeding crayfish at home is a pleasure: they do not require too much complex care. Crayfish in an aquarium require oxygenated water. There is one animal 5–6 cm long per 15 liters of water. The temperature ranges from 20 to 25 °C, but it all depends on the species. The water for the aquarium should be clean and hard.

Breeding crayfish

How to breed crayfish? In order to breed sea animals, you need to buy them, and not catch them in the nearest lake or pond. To get good offspring, you need to buy 2 times more females than males.

Growing crayfish in aquariums should not be carried out, as this will be expensive. It is best to breed pets in indoor pools.

Breeding crayfish in an aquarium is a long process, because only a small number of crustaceans can be bred this way. In aquariums with sea pets, only surface fish can be bred; bottom fish will be eaten by them.

For a pet such as an aquarium crayfish, the contents will be specific.

Clean people won't have much fun keeping crayfish in an aquarium, because caring for such pets is a messy business: they love detritus - this is dead organic material formed from dead organisms, for example, fragments of plants and animals, processed by bacteria and fungi.

The water must be clean and non-acidic, otherwise marine animals simply will not be able to live in such an environment.

In order to care for crayfish in an aquarium, it is necessary that there be a sufficient number of bacteria to neutralize harmful substances. You can contribute to the “ripening” of the aquarium by planting fast-growing aquatic plants in it, which will begin to absorb harmful substances. Then the crayfish in the aquarium will be able to live in such a dwelling.

The marine animal can coexist with other inhabitants of aquariums - fish and shrimp. Best compatibility for aquarium pets with fish such as perciformes (including cichlids) and non-aggressive large catfish. They get along well with each other due to their comparable size.

Some species of aquarium pets eat plants and can eat up the entire aquarium flora in a few days.

Feeding the crayfish

What to feed aquarium crayfish? What do these sea animals eat? You can feed them almost anything - they are omnivores and feed on any organic matter: microorganisms (fungi, bacteria, single-celled organisms), rotting leaves, algae. Useful food additives for an aquarium pet can be insect larvae, worms, mollusks, pieces of ripe fruit, etc. Aquarium crayfish also eat live aquatic plants. An individual may show a tendency towards cannibalism, i.e. eating their own kind.

Feeding crayfish in an aquarium should be done in small portions of food and as often as possible.

Many people claim that you need to feed crayfish in an aquarium with dry food, but this is not true. Dry food can lead to shedding problems.

What else to feed the crayfish in the aquarium? Frozen food is one of the sources of protein. But animals should not be fed pieces of fresh or frozen crustaceans, because there is a high chance of introducing infectious diseases into the aquarium.

Pet diseases

Many aquarists have encountered diseases in these animals. Contagious diseases are characterized by decreased fertility and death of pets.

The most dangerous infections are plague and rusty spot disease.

Most medications are ineffective for such pets, so you need to take care of them, feed them properly, and keep the aquarium clean. Nevertheless, there is always a way out. There are preventative nutritional supplements and natural cures.

When breeding crayfish at home, sea almond leaves are often used, which are also useful for the treatment and prevention of most diseases of aquarium pets. Leaves should be dipped into the aquarium water at the rate of 1–3 leaves per 100 liters of volume. After a couple of days, the leaves will soak and cover the soil. Almond leaves are eaten with pleasure by different types of sea crustaceans.

White-pink worms with a triangular front part are often brought in with aquatic plants. These are planarians and they can do some harm. Infestation of a reservoir with planaria is considered one of the most unpleasant problems in the aquarium hobby. If left to chance, these worms will bring diseases to aquarium crustaceans. These diseases will be caused by poor living conditions.

As they grow, many crustaceans renew their shells. This is called molting. Before and during molting, crustaceans do not feed, but then eat their white skin.

Reproduction

Let's look at how aquarium crayfish reproduces. Females of most species of crustaceans are ready to reproduce and lay eggs only for a short period of time after molting. At this time, they release pheromones into the water, which are needed to attract a male. When animals find each other, mating occurs: individuals of the opposite sex interlock with copulatory legs and press their abdomens against each other.

Reproduction of crayfish in an aquarium occurs quickly: the female lays eggs 20 days after mating, which are attached to her legs with sticky threads.

At this point, it is best to transfer it to another aquarium.

In the first weeks, the young animals often molt. He needs to be provided with a large, densely overgrown aquarium. For this you can use moss, cladophora, etc.

What to feed crayfish? Young animals can be given ready-made food for fish fry.

How long do crustaceans live?

Large individuals live longer than small ones. Among the crayfish, there were also ten-year-old individuals, and their small tropical relatives will approximately live for 1–2 years. Although basically the lifespan of such animals in an aquarium depends on their care.

Types of sea animals

Let's look at the types of aquarium crayfish:

1. Marbled crayfish (Procambarus sp.). This species of crayfish most likely lives in the southern United States. They have not yet been found in nature. Recently, the property of parthenogenesis was discovered in these animals, i.e. conception without the participation of a male. All individuals are female. The shell of aquarium animals is usually brown-white-red (“marbled”), the claws and walking legs are blue. Pets reproduce extremely quickly. An aquarium from 100 liters is suitable for them. They are also prone to cannibalism.
2. Orange dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus patzcuarensis). A small individual (only 30–50 mm in length), lives in Mexico. Reaches sexual maturity quickly: already at 4 months it can lay eggs. These marine animals are omnivores: mosquito larvae, dead fish, rotten leaves are all suitable for them. Orange dwarfs are dark orange with spots or stripes. Due to their small size, an aquarium with a volume of 60 liters or more is suitable for these animals. The aquarium should be well filled with greenery (Thai fern, moss).
3. Yabby (Cherax destructor). Lives in Australia. This is a typical inhabitant of muddy lakes, ponds and swamps with a slow current. It has strong and large claws, which is why it is called the destroyer. Color blue, joints red. Temperature range: +25…+28 °C. With good care, animals can live a long time - up to 10 years. You can place yabbies in an aquarium with fish - most often the crustaceans ignore them. Pet crustaceans do not eat plants present in the aquarium. As for food, yabbies prefer insect larvae, worms, mollusks, and fish.
4. Tiger crayfish (Cherax sp. var. Tiger). Distributed in New Guinea. Does not tolerate low temperatures well. Does not feed on aquatic plants and gets along well with fish. The shell is blue and orange. Like almost all types of aquarium crayfish, these pets are omnivores.
5. Apricot crayfish (Cherax holthuisi). Lives on the Vogelkop Peninsula (in West Papua). Was discovered recently. It has large claws, which are intended mainly for protection; the crayfish themselves are peaceful. The animals are orange-yellow in color. Their content is simple. The aquarium should have plenty of gravel and rocky debris. Apricot crustaceans eat vegetarian foods: peas, carrots, corn. They should be given earthworms or snails once a week.

Thus, care requirements depend on the type of crayfish.

Crayfish in an aquarium is great if you are looking for an unusual, colorful and interesting inhabitant. They are quite easy to care for; crayfish are hardy, beautiful and unpretentious.

But at the same time, they are not suitable for a community aquarium, so you need to know how and with whom to keep it so that other inhabitants do not suffer. When choosing a crayfish for your aquarium, remember that there are more than 100 different species around the world.

Most of which need cool water and only a few live in warm water.

So before you buy crayfish, study well what a particular individual needs, and with good care they will live with you for 2-3 years, although some species may last longer.
In this article we will answer the most common questions about keeping crayfish in an aquarium, which generally apply to each species.

One crayfish can be kept in a small aquarium. If you regularly change the water, then 30-40 liters will be enough. Crayfish hide their food, and leftovers can often be found in a hiding place such as a cave or pot.

And given the fact that there is a lot of food leftovers, the balance in an aquarium with crayfish can very quickly be upset and frequent water changes with a soil siphon are simply necessary. When you clean the aquarium, be sure to check all its hiding places, such as pots and other secluded places.

If more than one crayfish lives in the aquarium, then the minimum volume for keeping it is 80 liters. Crayfish are cannibals by nature, that is, they eat each other, and if during molting one of them gets caught by the other, then it will not be good for him.

Because of this, it is extremely important that the aquarium is spacious and has many different hiding places in which the molted crayfish could hide.

As for filtration, it is better to use an internal filter. Since the hoses that go to the outside are an excellent way for the cancer to get out of the aquarium and one morning you will see it crawling around your apartment. Remember, this is the escape artist! The aquarium must be tightly covered, since an escaped crayfish without water can live very briefly.

Filming in nature, Australia crayfish Euastacus spinifer:

Shedding

Many arthropods, including crayfish, molt. For what? Since the chitinous cover of crayfish is hard, in order to grow they need to regularly shed it and be covered with a new one.

If you notice that the cancer is hiding more than usual, it means it is about to moult. Or, you suddenly saw that instead of a cancer, you only have its shell in your aquarium...

Don't be alarmed and don't remove it! Crayfish eat the shell after molting, as it contains a lot of calcium and helps rebuild a new one.

Full recovery from molting for a crayfish will take 3-4 days, provided it can eat the old shell. Young crayfish molt frequently, but as they grow older, the frequency decreases.

Feeding the crayfish

In nature, crayfish mainly feed on plant foods. What to feed cancer? In the aquarium they eat sinking pellets, tablets, flakes and special food for crayfish and shrimp. It is also worth buying crayfish food with a high calcium content.

Such food helps them quickly restore their chitinous cover after molting. Additionally, they need to be fed vegetables - spinach, zucchini, cucumbers. If you have a planted aquarium, you can feed excess plants.

In addition to vegetables, they also eat protein foods, but they should be given no more than once a week. This could be a piece of fish fillet or shrimp, frozen live food. Aquarists believe that feeding crayfish with protein foods significantly increases their aggressiveness.

You need to feed the crayfish in the aquarium once a day, but if we are talking about vegetables, a piece of cucumber, for example, then it can be left for the entire time until the crayfish eat it.

Breeding in an aquarium

Most types of crayfish are easy to raise in an aquarium, although it is advisable to feed them with high-quality food and monitor water parameters. More specific details need to be looked at for each type separately.

Compatibility of crayfish with fish

Or, if the fish is large enough, it destroys the molted crayfish. In short, keeping cancer in an aquarium with fish will sooner or later end badly. Especially if you keep them with slow fish or fish that live near the bottom.

But even such a fast fish as the seemingly leisurely crayfish bites it in half with a sharp movement of its claws, which I witnessed.

Migration of Cherax destructor crayfish in an Australian stream

Crayfish in an aquarium with cichlids, especially large ones, do not live long. Firstly, it tears apart a fully grown crayfish (there is even a video in the article), and secondly, during molting, smaller cichlids can also kill them.

As you might guess, crayfish and shrimp do not get along well. Even if they eat each other, then eating a shrimp is not a problem for him.

Crayfish will also dig up, trample, or eat your plants. Not all species are so destructive, but most are. Keeping crayfish in an aquarium with plants is a futile task. ABOUT

they cut off and eat almost any species. The only exception would be, it is quite peaceful, small and does not bother the plants.

How big do crayfish grow?

The size depends on the type. The giant Tasmanian crayfish is the largest freshwater crayfish in the world. It grows up to 50 cm and can weigh up to 5 kg. The remaining species are much smaller and reach an average of 13 cm in length.

Is it possible to keep crayfish in an aquarium?

It’s possible, but it doesn’t live long and you definitely can’t keep it with fish and plants. Our crayfish is quite large and agile, it catches and eats fish, and weeds plants.

It does not live long, since this species is cold-water, we only have warm water in the summer, and even then, at the bottom it is quite cold. And the aquarium is warmer than he needs. If you want to keep it, try it. But, only in a separate aquarium.

Florida (California) crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

The Florida red crayfish is one of the most popular crayfish kept in the aquarium. They are popular for their color, bright red and unpretentiousness. They are very common in their homeland and are considered an invasive species.

As a rule, they live about two to three years, or a little longer, and adapt perfectly to different conditions. They reach a body length of 12-15 cm. Like many crayfish, Florida escape artists and the aquarium must be tightly covered.

Marble crayfish / Procambarus sp.

The peculiarity is that all individuals are females and can reproduce without a partner. Marbled crayfish grow up to 15 cm in length, and you can read about them in the link.

The Destroyer Yabby has a beautiful blue coloration, which makes it quite popular. In nature, it lives for about 4-5 years, but in an aquarium it can live much longer, and can reach 20 cm in length.

The destructor lives in Australia, and the aborigines call it yabby. The scientific name is destructor - translated as destroyer, although this is incorrect, since the yabby is less aggressive than other types of crayfish. They live in nature in muddy water with weak currents and abundant aquatic thickets.

To compensate for the loss of young, the female spawns from 500 to 1000 crustaceans.

Florida blue crayfish (Procambarus alleni)

In nature, this species is of normal brown color. Slightly darker on the cephalothorax and lighter at the tail. Blue cancer has conquered the whole world, but this color is obtained artificially. As the name implies, blue crayfish lives in Florida and grows about 8-10 cm.

Procambarus alleni inhabits standing waters in Florida and digs short burrows during seasonal low water levels. The number of fry that a female brings depends on its size and ranges from 100 to 150 crustaceans, but large females are capable of bearing up to 300 crustaceans. The first few weeks they grow very quickly and the young molt every couple of days.

Louisiana dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus shufeldtii)

This is a small red-brown or gray crayfish with dark horizontal stripes along the body. Its claws are small, elongated and smooth. Life expectancy is about 15-18 months, and males live longer, but become sexually mature later than females. This is a small cancer, growing up to 3-4 cm in length.

Due to its size, it is one of the most peaceful crayfish that can be kept with a variety of fish.

The Louisiana crayfish lives in the USA, in southern Texas, Alabama, and Louisiana. Females live up to a year, during which time they lay eggs twice, carrying them for about three weeks. There is not much caviar, from 30 to 40 pieces.

Orange dwarf Mexican crayfish

One of the most peaceful and small crayfish kept in the aquarium. Read more about the orange dwarf Mexican crayfish at.

Australian red-clawed crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus)

Sexually mature crayfish can be easily recognized by the spike-like projections on the claws of males, as well as by the bright red stripes on the claws. The color ranges from bluish-green to almost black, with yellow spots on the carapace.

The red-clawed crayfish lives in Australia, in the rivers of northern Queensland, where it stays under snags and stones, hiding from predators. It feeds mainly on detritus and small aquatic organisms, which it collects at the bottom of rivers and lakes. Grows up to 20 cm in length.

The female is very productive and lays from 500 to 1500 eggs, which she carries for about 45 days.

Blue Cuban crayfish (Procambarus cubensis)

Lives only in Cuba. In addition to its attractive coloring, it is also interesting because it grows only 10 cm long and a couple can be kept in a small aquarium. In addition, it is quite unpretentious and tolerates conditions that vary well.

True, despite the small size of the aquarium blue Cuban crayfish, it is quite aggressive and eats aquarium plants.

Aquarium crayfish are bright, interesting and unpretentious inhabitants that can even regrow lost claws. There is no need to create any special conditions for their maintenance. And even beginner aquarists will not have problems with feeding. But not all types of crayfish are suitable for keeping in captivity, but only tropical ones, which will be discussed below.

The most common types of crayfish for an aquarium

There are quite a few different types of crustaceans in the world, but the most commonly used for aquariums are the following:

Apricot

A fairly small crayfish native to New Guinea. Leads a very secretive lifestyle, so it was discovered only in 2006. Its size does not exceed 10-12 cm. Freshwater crustaceans of this species can come in a wide variety of colors.

American swamp

This species is native to the USA and Mexico. Adults reach a size of 15 cm. The most common color of this species is the abdomen with red stripes and a bluish-black back with red dots. But this species also has other colors. Males of this species cannot be kept together, as they are quite aggressive.

Purple

The size of adult crayfish of this species does not exceed 12 cm. This species has many varieties of color, from pink to lilac.

Blue Cuban

A small crayfish comes from Cuba. Color can vary from pale blue to brown with a reddish tint.

Cambarellus

A freshwater species native to America. The color can be very diverse from beige to dark brown.

brindle

It got its name from the characteristic yellow or white stripes on its abdomen. It reacts very sharply to changes in water temperature and is quite picky when choosing aquatic plants for food.

Snowy Florida

Under natural conditions, this species has an inconspicuous brown coloration. But as a result of the work of breeders, a white crayfish of this species was bred.

Marble

An unpretentious inhabitant of European rivers. The color may vary between individuals, but the marbled pattern is always clearly visible. An adult grows up to 15cm. What’s interesting is that all individuals of this species are females because Marbled crustaceans reproduce by parthenogenesis.

Compatibility with other inhabitants

Choose small but nimble fish as neighbors for crayfish.

There are often cases when competition develops between crayfish and catfish, which also lead a bottom-dwelling lifestyle. And it most likely will not do without losses.

All types of aquarium crayfish pose a danger to fish with long tails and fins. They simply cut off their wealth with their claws.

Conditions of detention

Aquarium

The volume of an aquarium for decorative crayfish should be at least 60 liters. A smaller volume will only provoke crustaceans to display aggression and cannibalism. Remember that the larger the displacement, the easier it is to keep it in order. The soil layer in it must be at least 6 cm, and it must contain small pebbles. Cancers will use them quite actively to build their homes.

You can use pipe scraps as shelter for crayfish.

It is also necessary to take care of the corresponding plants. They must have roots. The whole point here is that aquarium crayfish builds burrows near the roots of plants, believing that this place is the most secluded.

You should definitely take care of shelters. This role can be performed by various decorative driftwood, artificial caves or grottoes.

A lid with holes for air access must be installed on top of the aquarium. It will help prevent crustaceans from escaping if necessary.

Water

The water must always be clean, this will prevent various crayfish diseases. Therefore, the aquarium must be equipped with a filter, preferably an internal one. Since arthropods climb up through the tubes from the external filter.

On average, a medium-sized individual should account for at least 20 liters of the total volume.

The water parameters for keeping different types of aquarium crayfish are slightly different. It is best to clarify all the necessary requirements at the time of purchase. Some of the water needs to be replaced every few weeks. This helps improve its parameters and has a beneficial effect on the development of cancer.

Lighting

Aquarium crayfish are absolutely not demanding on the level of illumination. Indeed, under natural conditions, they go searching for food in the evening or even at night.

Shedding

Molting of crayfish is a natural physiological process. In the first year of their life, the shell can change up to 8 times. In adulthood, crustaceans usually molt no more than 2 times a year.

Video: Crayfish molting

During the molting period, crayfish become quite vulnerable, because their soft body is no longer protected by a durable shell. Therefore, at this moment they really need individual shelters. They usually sit safely in them until a new strong shell grows. The fouling process itself usually does not exceed 10 days.

Don’t hesitate to throw away the shed shell; crayfish often eat it.

You can guess the beginning of molting by the behavior of crayfish. They refuse food and also make scratching movements with their backs. The process of getting rid of the old shell usually lasts no more than a few minutes, but you can see it very rarely, since it usually happens at night.

Sometimes it happens that during the molting process, the crayfish for some reason loses its claw. You shouldn’t be upset about this, as crayfish’s claws grow back. True, at first they are small, but with subsequent molting they grow to their original size.

Reproduction

Crayfish in an aquarium can reproduce quite successfully. It’s just that during the breeding season they require appropriate care and suitable living conditions. The mating period in crustaceans occurs at the end of molting. At this moment, females begin to secrete special substances, pheromones, which attract males.

The mating process in crayfish is similar to a dance, during which they touch each other with their antennae. It can last for several hours. After this, it is advisable to place the female in a separate aquarium, where she will lay eggs in approximately 20 days.

Crayfish, like shrimp, carry their young under their abdomen.

Transplantation of the female is extremely necessary because during this period she becomes especially restless and aggressive towards everyone around her. In the process of protecting her offspring, she will try to kill everyone around her.

The laid eggs are attached under its abdomen using a special adhesive mass. The female moves around the aquarium with them. Small crustaceans are cautious and timid; they cling to their mother’s body for a long time.

They begin to eat on their own only after the first molt. After the second change of shell, they finally leave the mother, after which she is separated from them.

Diseases

Aquarium crayfish, like any living creatures, are susceptible to various diseases. The most common diseases are the following:

A clear sign of porcelain disease is a change in color of the abdomen to bright white.

• Plague is a dangerous infectious disease caused by a pathogenic fungus. The main symptom is the appearance of black spots on the shell. The behavior of a cancer patient also changes dramatically. First, it changes its nocturnal lifestyle to a daytime one, and then becomes lethargic and apathetic, after which it dies. There is no cure for this disease. And as a preventative measure, quarantine keeping of newly acquired crayfish is recommended.
• Rust spot disease. Its causative agent is also a pathogenic fungus. It appears as rusty spots on the shell. Then, in their place, the chitinous shell softens and the cancer dies. There is also no cure for this disease.
• Telochanisis or porcelain disease. A contagious disease of crustaceans that is characterized by damage to the muscles of the mouth and abdomen. Its most important feature is its white belly. As the disease progresses, the cancer becomes paralyzed and dies.

Aquariums is a whole science with its own laws and rules. Therefore, keeping crustaceans at home should be approached as responsibly as possible. Their future fate depends on how you care for crayfish. With the right approach, crayfish will live with you for many years and may even give birth to numerous offspring.

Some aquarists consider the presence of any crayfish in the fish kingdom to be completely inappropriate and even dangerous for the fish. But more and more owners of the home underwater world are confident that the diversity of living creatures in the aquarium makes this artificial device closer to nature, brings new colors to it and makes it more attractive and interesting. What miniature crayfish can decorate the aquarium world and how will be discussed further.

Types of dwarf aquarium crayfish

Freshwater dwarf crayfish, suitable for keeping in aquariums, are on average in the range of three to five centimeters in size. But in terms of color, they do not lend themselves to any averaging, showing a whole palette of diverse colors and patterns on the shells, for which they are valued by numerous lovers of these interesting arthropods.

Did you know? Contrary to the popular belief that crayfish always back away, in fact, these arthropods only do so when heading towards their burrow or taking a defensive position, pointing their formidable claws towards the enemy. The rest of the time they walk like everyone else, only forward.

There are many types of dwarf crayfish, but the following crayfish are most often kept in aquariums:

• swamp;
• orange;
• blue;
• Louisiana;
• Mexican;
• blue Cuban;
• red Florida swamps;
• white Florida ones.

Swamp (Cambarellus puer)

This native of Mexico and the shores of the American Mississippi is decorated with variations of brown-reddish or gray shades and is camouflaged with wavy, dotted or paired dark stripes on the top of the carapace.

In addition, this crustacean has the following characteristics and maintenance requirements:

• the tail in the center is usually decorated with a dark spot;
• pliers look like scissors, being long and narrow;
• gets along well with small fish that are peaceful in nature;
• females with their 3-4 centimeters in length are larger than males, whose length reaches a maximum of 2.5 centimeters;
• optimal conditions are created in water with a temperature between 15 and 27 degrees, with water hardness dH 5–10° and acidity pH 6.5–7.8;
• due to the love of digging, the soil must be of sufficient thickness and consist of river sand and small river pebbles;
• It is necessary to have a sufficient number of shelters in the aquarium, such as stones, driftwood, shells, and small tubes;
• for a colony of six crayfish, an aquarium of at least 60 liters is required;
• settlement is optimal when there are two or three females for one male;
• On average, these crustaceans live for two years.

Orange (Cambarellus patzcuarensis)

This also once Mexican is very bright and expressive with its orange outfit, which is diluted with yellow stripes along the entire shell.

It is characterized by the following dimensions and content requirements:

• the female is capable of growing up to 6 cm in length, while the male reaches a maximum of 4.5 cm;
• the best conditions are created at a temperature between 18 and 26 degrees, water hardness dGH 10–20 and acidity pH 7.0–8.5;
• requires a large number of shelters;
• an aquarium of 60 liters is required;
• Any soil is suitable;
• effective filtration and aeration device is required;
• gets along well with any fish that do not pose a danger to him;
• lives for one and a half to two years.

Blue crayfish (Cambarellus diminutus)

This native of the Gulf of Mexico reaches a length of only 2.5 cm. It has an original coloring of radical blue with light streaks on the claws.

Requires for its content:

• water temperature between 17 and 27 degrees with acidity pH 6.5–7.8 and hardness dH 5–10°;
• an aquarium of at least 60 liters, half a meter in length;
• the presence of shelters and dividing stones and snags that create separate territories at the bottom;
• weekly change of a quarter of the volume of water in the aquarium;
• the presence of small and non-aggressive fish in the aquarium.

Louisiana (Cambarellus shufeldtii)

This native of the American states of Louisiana, Alabama and Texas is decorated with figured light spots, which, together with a golden background, cover the entire carapace and tail of a three-centimeter creature.

Requires for yourself:

• an aquarium with a capacity of at least 60 liters;
• water with a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees with a hardness dH of 5–10° and acidity pH of 6.5–7;
• soil of any consistency;
• a large number of shelters;
• active aeration and filtration.

Mexican (Cambarellus montezumae)

This Mexican native can reach a length of six centimeters, but is not as bright as its other brothers, having what is called a gray appearance, although with a predominant brown tint.

For his comfortable stay you need:

• aquarium with a volume of 70 liters;
• water with a temperature ranging from 15 to 30 degrees with a hardness dGH of 8 and acidity pH of 6.4–8.2;
• numerous shelters.

Blue Cuban crayfish (Procambarus cubensis)

This crayfish, spectacularly decorated with an intricate pattern on a blue background, reaches a length of ten centimeters, so these large dwarfs need an aquarium with a capacity of at least one hundred liters.

In addition, you also need:

• a thick layer of soil consisting of river sand, limestone or marble chips;
• water heated to a temperature between 20 and 26 degrees, with a hardness dH of 10–20° and an acidity of pH 7–8.

Florida red swamp (Procambarus clarkii)

This native of the southeastern region of North America is beautiful and spectacular and can grow up to 13 centimeters in length.

For this he needs:

• for a colony of a dozen crayfish an aquarium with a capacity of up to 200 liters;
• water with a temperature of 23 to 28 degrees, hardness 10–15 dGH and acidity pH 7.2–7.5;
• numerous shelters in the form of driftwood, stones and shells;
• weekly partial water change of 20%.

Florida white crayfish (Procambarus clarkii snow white)

This American is capable of growing up to 12 centimeters in length; unlike its fellows, it leads a diurnal lifestyle. This extremely peaceful creature is naturally red in the wild, but has been converted into an albino by breeders.

For a prosperous life he needs:

• an aquarium with a bottom area of ​​at least one meter by 40 centimeters;
• water with a temperature of 22 to 27 degrees with a hardness of 10–15 dGH and an acidity of pH 6–7;
• soil made of any material, with the exception of sand.

For an aquarist, keeping crayfish is not particularly difficult, although it does force you to adhere to some specific rules specific to caring for dwarf crayfish.

Aquarium

Most often, for keeping several dwarf crayfish, aquariums with a volume of at least 60 liters are recommended, and this volume should be provided by a larger bottom area and a smaller height. This is explained by the fact that crayfish do not swim in the water column, but move along the bottom, the larger the area, the better for arthropods, since it provides sufficient living space for each individual.

Did you know?The species of crustaceans studied by scientists alone number 74 thousand on our planet. Researchers suggest that there are actually more than hundreds of thousands of them.

Soil, vegetation

Since crayfish without fail, even in the presence of artificial shelters, dig burrows and create caves for themselves in the ground, the thickness of the soil is very important. It must be at least six centimeters, and the soil itself must be convenient for the movement of arthropods.
Small river or sea pebbles are best suited for it. It is also suitable to use crushed red brick, crushed shell rock or marble, as well as purchased artificial soil.

Equally important is the presence of rooted underwater plants planted in the ground in the aquarium. It is near their bushes that crayfish most like to make their burrows, since the root system of plants does not allow the dug burrows to collapse.

In addition, plants effectively maintain the much-needed biological balance in the aquarium. Plants with a developed root system are best suited for aquariums with crayfish:

• aponogetones;
• ferns.

Water

Crayfish love clean and oxygenated water, so water filtration and aeration in the aquarium are very important when keeping arthropods. The intensity of these processes is directly related to the volume of the aquarium and the number of its inhabitants.
In this case, it is preferable to install, since the design assumes the possibility of nimble crustaceans escaping through their communications.

In addition, it is mandatory to partially replace aquarium water with fresh water. To do this, once a month, from a fifth to a quarter of the volume of old water must be removed from the aquarium, and fresh water must be added instead.

This corresponds to natural processes when new water arrives in reservoirs in one way or another, carrying with it oxygen and diluting harmful substances accumulating in old water.

It is generally accepted that crayfish are not very susceptible to the hydrochemical water composition, as a result of which few people strictly withstand it. Most adhere to the general framework, within which the water temperature varies from 18 to 26 degrees, hardness dH up to 20°, and acidity within pH 6.5–7.8.

Important!But we should not forget that too soft water can disrupt the normal molting process.

Lighting

Since all crayfish, with the exception of the white Florida crayfish, lead an evening and nocturnal lifestyle, they are undemanding in terms of lighting. And they don’t need bright light at all. Therefore, if these arthropods live with fish in a brightly lit aquarium, then it is recommended to keep floating plants on the surface of the water so that they block the bright light and shade the bottom.

Fish compatibility

All dwarf aquarium crayfish are peaceful creatures and never attack healthy fish, even the smallest ones. But they will not fail to pick up someone who is sick and has lost the ability to swim, much less a dead one.

But fish can pose a danger to these small animals, so large and predatory fish cannot be kept in the same aquarium with arthropods.

Shedding

The cancerous shell is like the external spine of these arthropods, which is not capable of expanding, so it impedes the growth of the body and must be replaced with a more spacious one. A similar process occurs in the first year of life of crayfish up to eight times, slowing down its pace in the subsequent time.

Usually, the removal of the shell occurs at night and lasts several minutes, after which the defenseless creature hides in some shelter and waits until a new chitinous defense grows on it. This happens within two to ten days.
Most aquarists remove the shed shell, but some leave it at the bottom, because they believe that crayfish eat it, replenishing their body with calcium

What to feed crayfish in an aquarium

These creatures are omnivores and consume everything that is fed to aquarium fish.

If they live separately, then most often they are fed:

• minced meat;
• chopped beef heart;
• fish;
• bloodworm;
• artemia;
• tableted fish food;
• horsetail;
• nettle;
• water lily;
• carrots;
• dried oak, almond, beech and alder leaves.

The main condition when feeding, in addition to saturating these creatures with adequate nutrition, is the requirement not to give them excess food. Uneaten food will be taken away by thrifty creatures into burrows, where it will begin to rot, significantly spoiling the quality of the water.

Reproduction

Dwarf aquarium crayfish do not live long and therefore need timely reproduction. In captivity, they reproduce quite actively, producing offspring up to four times during the year.

Important!These small, but extremely dexterous creatures are capable of leaving the aquarium, as a result of which they get lost and die from a long stay in the air, so the aquarium must be made with a lid or covered with glass.

Their mating season begins after molting. There should be two or three females per male. After mating, the female lays about 50 eggs and waits for the offspring to appear for two to three weeks, hiding in a secluded place.

It is useful during this period to cover the bottom with dried oak, almond or beech leaves. From the day they are born until the first moult, crustaceans cling to their mother’s shell, following her everywhere, and after moulting they live independently.

Diseases of aquarium crayfish

The main health problems of dwarf arthropods arise from violations of their maintenance in the aquarium. Nitrates, which enter the aquarium water in excess, have a detrimental effect on these creatures.

But the greatest danger for dwarf crayfish is infectious diseases in the form of:

• crayfish plague, which is transmitted through infected individuals and is manifested by the presence of white and red-brown spots on the tail and black spots on the shell. There is still no cure for this disease;
• rusty spot disease, caused by fungi that are carried by sick individuals, as well as their corpses and shells remaining after molting. The disease is characterized by the presence of rusty orange, dark brown or black spots and ulcers on the shell. The disease lasts a long time and leads to death because it cannot be treated. Prevention of the disease consists of keeping new crayfish in quarantine for a month;
• porcelain disease or telochanisis, which, being an invasive disease, affects the muscles in the mouth, abdomen and limbs. Externally, the disease manifests itself as whitening of the lower part of the abdomen of the sick individual. There is also no cure for this disease.

Is it possible to keep crayfish in an aquarium?

It is possible to keep crayfish in an aquarium, but not for long, since, being a cold-water species of crayfish, it does not tolerate warm aquarium water, and it is extremely difficult to maintain constantly cold water indoors.

In addition, crayfish are extremely disrespectful of aquatic plants, partially eating them and plowing up the rest along with the soil. If there are fish swimming in the aquarium, then crayfish deal with them very quickly and deftly.

Dwarf aquarium crayfish from the exotic very quickly turned into familiar inhabitants of the home underwater world. Occupying the lowest “floor” of the aquarium, these colorful creatures decorate and enliven the bottom, making the underwater world even more rich and attractive.

Hello to all aquarists!

I had never been interested in aquarium crayfish before and I had to get them completely by accident. And it was a long time ago: the boys once brought me two dwarf swamp crayfish (Cambarellus puer) in a jar and suggested, let’s exchange them for fish?

I turned the jar in my hands and looked at the many times smaller likeness of our rivers and ponds, well, I answer, let’s take a swing! And I scratch the back of my head and wonder why I used to think that they only eat crayfish with beer? Oh well, to hell with it! I’ll put it in the aquarium and watch, interesting?

Watching aquarium crayfish turned out to be very interesting indeed. The crayfish turned out to be bold and active and immediately began to dig holes near the bushes of plants. At that time, I used river pebbles with pebble sizes ranging from 3 to 20 mm as soil, but the crayfish turned out to be surprisingly strong and freely carried in their claws large stones that seemed beyond their strength.

A few hours later the digging ended. The crayfish built deep and spacious burrows for themselves and could sit in them for quite a long time. But after a few days, trouble happened and the crayfish escaped from the aquarium. Since the aquarium in which the crayfish lived was not covered with a lid or cover glass, sooner or later this was bound to happen.

Of the two escaped crayfish, I found only one. Cancer was alive, but was left with one claw because he broke the second one in the fall. Since then, only one crayfish began to live in my aquarium, but he did not remain disabled for long and within ten days another one had successfully grown in place of the missing claw. The new claw was just as complete, only its color was somewhat lighter, probably because the skin was still soft and not roughened.

Compatibility of aquarium crayfish with fish

During all the time I have been observing aquarium crayfish, I have become convinced that they do not pose any threat to fish and plants. Aquarium crayfish can, to a limited extent and without damage, eat plants, pick up dead fish and attack sick ones, but aquarium crayfish are completely safe for healthy fish. One day, a goldfish in my aquarium got sick; its behavior was sluggish and it was increasingly at the bottom of the aquarium, resting its belly on the ground. Crayfish are good at noticing sick fish that will soon die.

Although the aquarium crayfish was much smaller than the goldfish, it still dragged it with all its might towards its hole. Having dragged the goldfish a sufficiently long distance, the fish broke free and swam away, and the crayfish crawled up to it again, grabbed the tail fin and dragged it to the mink. It is very interesting to observe this method of obtaining food in the life of crayfish.

Keeping two or three aquarium crayfish, for example, in a hundred-liter aquarium will not harm the landscape, fish and plants at all, but on the contrary, your aquarium will become livelier and much more interesting. So, if you decide to watch something really interesting in your aquarium, get aquarium crayfish. Well, now let's talk in more detail about keeping aquarium crayfish.

In order not to create confusion, I would like to remind you once again that we are talking about species of aquarium dwarf crayfish that are capable of living in tropical aquariums next to tropical fish and in identical conditions, while domestic cold-water representatives are not adapted to such conditions.

And if you have read all sorts of myths about the attack of crayfish on fish, as well as about the merciless devouring of aquarium plants and the rotting of water and decided to have crayfish in a separate aquarium, then first of all you need to take care of the presence of soil and plants in this aquarium. The recommended aquarium volume is from 60 liters, with a large bottom area, active aeration and water filtration.

The height of the soil is at least 6 cm, and the soil itself should consist of small pebbles of different diameters from 3 to 15 mm, since aquarium crayfish live in shelters and will definitely dig holes for themselves and build caves, and the building material for such needs should be convenient and easy lifting The following may be suitable as such soil: river and sea pebbles, crushed red brick, crushed expanded clay and soaked in water, special artificial purchased soil, etc.

The presence of root plants in the aquarium of crayfish is very important. The fact is that aquarium crayfish build shelters near plant bushes, and the roots prevent the burrows from collapsing; also, the place near plant thickets is considered the most secluded for crayfish. If the soil is small, installing artificial structures: ceramic pipes, coconut shells, etc. will not stop crayfish from digging holes, but this is due to the instinct to build their own housing.

It is very important that in the aquarium in which crayfish live there is always full biological balance, and this cannot be done without plants. Species with a powerful horse system are well suited as plants: cryptocorynes, aponogetons, echinodorus, etc.

The activity of aeration and water filtration depends on the volume of the aquarium and the number of crayfish. Internal filters, to some extent, also perform the work of biological filters, and if there is often a bacterial outbreak in an aquarium with crayfish, then the presence of a filter in such an aquarium is only beneficial.

But in any case, the health of the aquarium and the crayfish themselves depends only on the person. Aquarium crayfish, like fish, should not be overfed. The crayfish will hide excess and uneaten food in shelters where, after staying for a long time, it will begin to rot and spoil the water, which is where a bacterial outbreak and water spoilage may actually appear.

Well, if the water in the aquarium with crayfish has become very cloudy and an unpleasant smell has appeared from it, such water must be replaced as quickly as possible, and in the future the feeding rate must be reduced. Water taken from a healthy aquarium is suitable as fresh water; this water in an aquarium with crayfish will quickly restore biological balance.

In an aquarium in which crayfish live, it is necessary to periodically refresh the old water. To do this, once every 3-4 weeks, a fourth or fifth of the water must be replaced with fresh water. This must be done. Imitating a natural reservoir where from time to time a surge of fresh water occurs and has a beneficial effect on all aquatic organisms is very useful and necessary since when the water is refreshed, the amount of harmful substances in it, for example, nitrates, decreases and the oxygen content increases.

The hydrochemical parameters of water and the conditions of keeping for different types of aquarium crayfish are somewhat different, therefore, when choosing and purchasing crayfish, it is necessary to select the type of hydrochemical parameters of water which, under the conditions prescribed for them, will be more similar to the parameters of the water in your aquarium.

It is believed that aquarium crayfish are not demanding on the hydrochemical composition of water, so in fact no one adheres to strict conditions or adheres to them, but only the same general conditions for all types of aquarium crayfish: dH up to 20 °, pH 6.5-7.8, t 18-26 ° C. However, you need to know that very soft water can have a detrimental effect on crayfish during their molting and the change of their chitinous shell.

Aquarium crayfish are not demanding on lighting, and this is not surprising because crayfish are most active at night and in the evening. It must be said that aquarium crayfish are real fugitives and can escape from the aquarium at any time, and a long stay of crayfish without water will lead to their death. Therefore, the aquarium in which crayfish live must be closed with a lid or cover glass.

Molting of aquarium crayfish

The growth of aquarium crayfish occurs in the intervals between molts. It is believed that crayfish molt up to 8 times in the first year of life, up to 5 times in the second year, and then 1-2 times a year. Molted and weakened individuals with a soft and unprotected body need individual shelters (ceramic and plastic tubes, shells, etc.) where they must sit out until a new shell is formed, hiding from predators. Crayfish acquire a new shell quickly enough, from 2 to 10 days.

You can determine the approaching molting of crayfish (usually 2-3 days in advance) by their refusal to eat and scratching movements of the back, and the already ongoing molting by detecting the removed shell, and the process of removing the shell lasts only a few minutes. The shell is translucent in appearance, it is hard and clearly follows the shape of the cancer.

I had to observe the molting of aquarium crayfish several times, but I never observed the process of molting, that is, the removal of its shell by the crayfish; obviously, crayfish molted at night. A lot of calcium is needed to form a new shell. Crayfish replenish calcium levels in the body from food and water. There is an opinion that the old shell contains a lot of calcium and crayfish, experiencing a calcium deficiency, eat the shell.

For this reason, some aquarists do not specifically remove the shell from the aquarium. Also, to replenish calcium in the body, a “Calcium-Active” tablet is sometimes placed in the aquarium, and calcined cottage cheese is included in the diet. When I kept aquarium crayfish, their molting always took place without complications and the crayfish never experienced a calcium deficiency.

What to feed aquarium crayfish

Aquarium crayfish are omnivores and the menu for them can be varied. It may include food of animal and plant origin. Unlike their cold-water counterparts, exotic aquarium crayfish prefer animal food and you shouldn’t worry too much about food of animal origin. Aquarium crayfish for the most part eat the same things as fish.

For example, when I fed the fish with grated beef heart, the crayfish also ate the pieces of meat that had fallen to the bottom very well. It can be used as food simply: low-fat minced meat, pieces of fresh fish, live or frozen bloodworms, as well as special food for bottom fish, and this will be more than enough for adequate nutrition of aquarium crayfish.

The only requirement is not to stuff everything into the aquarium for crayfish, and if you are somewhere and someone advises you to use mollusks, insects, worms and tadpoles as food for aquarium crayfish, don’t pay attention, let such advisers themselves go and catch flies and cockroaches , dig for worms and go to the pond for tadpoles.

Regarding plant foods, the question arises: do crayfish even need to add them to the aquarium in which plants grow? When I kept aquarium crayfish, I never gave them plant food, and not because it was not possible. The fact is that this was simply not necessary, because in the aquarium in which crayfish lived and there were a lot of plants.

I have never noticed that crayfish gnawed the leaves of aquarium plants, but crayfish sometimes ate the roots, but they did not dig them up on purpose, but only in the area of ​​their burrows and very little and without damaging the plants. Besides, why did anyone decide that if you give crayfish as plant foods: nettles, water lilies, pondweed, algae, carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, spinach, parsley, then the crayfish will refuse the young tender shoots of aquarium plants? But experimenting and trying to give the aquarium crayfish a little bit of various plant foods still needs something they will like.

Reproduction of aquarium crayfish

If aquarium crayfish are quite interesting inhabitants of the aquarium for you, then you can breed them if desired. Sometimes it is not possible to breed aquarium crayfish for the simple reason that out of a small number of individuals, they all turn out to be of the same sex. To prevent this from happening, you need to be able to distinguish between aquarium crayfish by sex or increase the number of individuals so that among them there are likely to be both males and females.

The size of crayfish, fertility, sexual maturity, as well as the conditions of maintenance and reproduction for different types of aquarium crayfish are not the same. For example, the dwarf swamp crayfish (Cambarellus puer), which I am talking about in this article, reaches sexual maturity at the age of three months. The male rarely reaches a length of 2-2.5 cm, and the female does not grow more than 4 cm. Housing conditions: water temperature 15-27° C, hardness dH 5-10°, acidity pH 6.5-7.8. The average lifespan of these crayfish species is only two years.

The mating season usually occurs after molting. There should be at least two or three females per male. For breeding, it is recommended to use special soil rich in almond or oak leaves, alder cones and pebbles. The female will burrow and hide in this soil while bearing and feeding her offspring. After mating, the female lays an average of 40-50 eggs and hides, practically not leaving the shelter for 14 or more days until the offspring appear.

Diseases of aquarium crayfish

Many diseases of aquarium crayfish are associated with unfavorable living conditions. High levels of nitrates in water can lead to illness and death of crayfish. Infectious diseases are characterized by a decrease in fertility and death of the population. The most dangerous are: crayfish plague, rusty spot disease and porcelain disease. Treatments against these diseases have not yet been developed.

Crayfish plague (Pestis astacorum, Aphanomices astaci)- an acute infectious disease caused by the fungus Aphanomices astaci. Crayfish of all ages are susceptible to infection. The pathogen can be transmitted through waterfowl and fishing gear. One sick cancer can infect the entire aquarium and cause the complete death of all its inhabitants. Plague-infected crayfish can be identified by white or brownish-red spots on the tail muscles, as well as black spots on the shell.

Changes are also noted in the behavior of crayfish: usually leading a nocturnal lifestyle, crayfish are active during the day, trying to get out, the “gait” becomes similar to walking on stilts, with noticeable signs of disorientation. They move relying on their outstretched limbs and the end of their tail. Then lethargy and limb cramps are noted. In the late stage, the crayfish stop moving, fall over on their backs, their limbs cramp, and the crayfish die.

No treatment has been developed. Prevention comes down to quarantining newly acquired crayfish. Fungal spores are sensitive to high and low temperatures and die after 30 hours in water with a temperature of 30° C. Malachite green and magnesium chloride (bischofite) help reduce sporulation.

Rust spot disease or Septocylindrosis (Mycosis astacorum)- an infectious disease of crayfish caused by various types of fungi of the family. Mucedinaceae. Fungi reproduce by conidia. The source of the causative agent of the disease is sick crayfish (mainly their corpses and shells discarded after molting).

Infection occurs by eating infested lower crustaceans or direct contact of fungal conidia on the shell. Infection is facilitated by unfavorable living conditions for crayfish. Rust spot disease manifests itself as rusty orange, dark brown or black spots of varying sizes on the body of crayfish, and ulcers form in areas where the muscles are affected.

It happens that in infected cancer the ulcers scar, forming a chitinous tubercle. But fresh ulcers appear in other places. Brownish or golden-yellow seals also form in the liver of sick cancers. The fertility of crayfish decreases, and crayfish die slowly. No treatment has been developed. Prevention is the same as for crayfish plague - quarantine of newly acquired crayfish for 3-4 weeks. It will be useful to add dried beech, oak or almond leaves to the aquarium.

Porcelain disease or Thelochanosis- Invasive crayfish disease caused by Sporozoan Thelochania conteyeani, with characteristic damage to the muscles of the oral apparatus, abdomen and limbs. Microsporidia penetrate the muscles of the abdomen, legs and mouth. In sick crayfish, the lower part of the abdomen becomes white. After infection with microsporidia of the fungus, the muscles of the legs, abdomen, and mouthparts lose mobility and the paralyzed cancer dies. Infection occurs through contact with a sick animal. Treatment and prevention have not been developed.

Types of aquarium crayfish

There are many types of crayfish and it is not possible for me to describe them, but if you decide to have aquarium crayfish, then first of all you need to decide in which aquarium you will keep them together with the fish or in a separate one? Dwarf crayfish are best suited for keeping crayfish with fish. These types of small crayfish, unlike their larger counterparts, spare aquatic vegetation and do not attack fish, and in some cases, dwarf crayfish themselves have to be saved from aggressive large fish and, if possible, not kept in the same aquarium.

Dwarf crayfish are members of the Cambarellus family. They are distributed in the United States along the Mississippi River and in Mexico. The smallest representatives of this group grow up to 3 cm long, the largest up to 4.5 cm. Dwarf crayfish get along well with the population of the aquarium without interfering with the surrounding life. Any type of crayfish is suitable for keeping in a separate aquarium, but only if the keeping conditions for each individual species are correct.

Swamp dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus puer). Homeland - Mexico and the banks of the Mississippi River in the USA. Belongs to the Cambarellus family, which includes several genera. Reddish-brown to gray in color, with paired dark, wavy stripes or a dotted line along the dorsal surface. The tail usually has a dark spot in the center. Their pincers are narrow and long. They get along well with small peace-loving fish.

Female swamp crayfish grow up to 3-4 centimeters in length, and males 2-2.5 centimeters. Conditions: Temperature 15-27° C, dH 5-10°, pH 6.5-7.8. They love to dig. The soil is sandy or small river pebbles. A large number of shelters is desirable - driftwood, stones, shells, empty pots, etc. An aquarium from 60 liters for five to six crayfish. Settlement with a predominance of females where there should be at least 2-3 females per male. Average life expectancy is 2 years.

Orange dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus patzcuarensis). A very interesting type of aquarium crayfish. In nature, it lives in rivers and lakes with fresh water located in Mexico. In their natural habitat, the female reaches 6 cm in length, and the male 4–4.5 cm. Optimal conditions: pH 7.0 – 8.5, dGH 10-20, water temperature 18 – 26° C. Aquarium from 60 l . The soil can be anything. It is desirable to have a large number of shelters and good filtration and aeration. Compatible with all non-aggressive fish. Sexual maturity is reached at the age of 3.5 – 4 months. Young females bring 10 - 15 pieces, more mature ones - up to fifty. Life expectancy is 1.5-2 years.

Dwarf blue crayfish (Cambarellus diminutus). Habitat: Gulf of Mexico. Dimensions: 2.5 cm. Optimal maintenance conditions: Temperature 15-27° C, dH 5-10°, pH 6.5-7.8. Interspecific aggression is weak. An aquarium of 60 liters and at least fifty centimeters in length, with the presence of driftwood and stones dividing the bottom of the area. Shelters and shelters are needed. Weekly 25% water changes are required. Keeping with small, non-aggressive fish. Life expectancy is up to 3 years.

Louisiana dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus shufeldtii). Grows up to 3 cm in length. The Louisiana crayfish lives in the USA, in southern Texas, Alabama, and Louisiana. Optimal conditions: Aquarium from 60 liters. Water temperature 20-25° C, dH 5-10°, pH 6.5-7. Aquarium from 60 l. The soil can be anything. It is desirable to have a large number of shelters and good filtration and aeration. Average life expectancy is 2 years.

Mexican dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus montezumae). This species lives in the waters of the Mexican Lake Patzcuaro. Optimal maintenance conditions: Aquarium from 70 liters, water temperature 15-30 ° C, dGH 8, pH 6.4-8.2. Dimensions: up to 6 cm. These crayfish do not spoil plants and love shelter. Can interbreed with other species such as Cambarellus patzcuarensis. Life expectancy is about 18 months.

Blue Cuban crayfish (Procambarus cubensis). The body length of the Cuban crayfish reaches 10 centimeters. Males have larger claws, and their 2 pairs of swimming legs have been transformed into gonopodium - an external reproductive organ. Females do not have the first swimming legs, or they are much smaller in size than those of males. Aquarium from 100 liters. Sand, limestone chips or marble are used as a substrate. Water temperature 20-26° degrees, pH 7-8 and dH 10-20°. The lifespan of Cuban blue crayfish reaches 3 years.

Florida red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). Inhabits water bodies of the southeastern part of North America. The body length of the Florida red crayfish reaches 10–13 cm. Optimal maintenance conditions: water temperature 23-28 ° C, average hardness 10-15 dGH, pH 7.2-7.5, filtration, aeration and weekly water changes up to 20% of the aquarium volume are also necessary. For 6-10 young crayfish, a capacity of 150-200 liters is required. It is desirable to have a large number of shelters made of stones, driftwood, ceramics, etc.; if there is a lack of shelters, they become more aggressive and often conflict. Florida red crayfish love to dig. Average life expectancy is 3 years.

White Florida crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). Habitat USA. Leads a daily lifestyle. Peaceful, can live with fish and shrimp. Grows up to 12 cm. Optimal maintenance conditions: water temperature 22-27 ° C, pH 6-7. It is advisable to keep it in aquariums with a bottom area of ​​100 cm x 40 cm. Sand is not recommended as a substrate. The aquarium must have enough bottom area and shelter to support several individuals. The wild color is mostly red; selected species may have white, blue, or orange color options. Life expectancy is up to 5 years.