Bad Idea? ( Rainbow Crabs & Red Swamp Crayfishes )

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Sarcosuchus

Candiru
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Oct 28, 2006
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I baught a new glass tank near 2 feet in length and 1 feet in width. The tank is sandy, with a place to submerge as well as to climb as I have placed bogwoods.

The inhabitants are a pair of Rainbow Crabs ( Male & Female ) and a pair of Red Swamp Crayfish ( Both Male ).

I am doing a mistake right? Have not placed the two Crayfish yet, going to...

My brother has borrowed my digicam for his studies in the Uni or else I could take pictures and show here.
 
You're kidding, right? I mean you must have researched at least 5 minutes on either species before thinking of doing this mix?
Both species are predatory and won't hesitate a second on any advantage to make the other a meal.
 
Lol, yes I have and am reading more on them. One article says Rainbow Crabs are extremely territorial and are so even with the opposite sexes. A male Rainbow Crab would only tolerate a female when it comes to mating.

While another article says several can be kept together although they can be territorial and aggressive toward one another. So to provide with shelter where each have their own space to hide or move around and I have done this.

Speaking of Red Swamp Crayfish, at the LFS the Crayfish were all together moving around, sitting together, climbing onto one another without showing any aggression. But I cannot judge from this, but I have tried.

Speaking of mixing Rainbow Crabs and Red Swamp Crayfishes, now that's the biggest problem here. I am keeping an eye on them so see how well they are doing or else I would have to keep them seperately.

Right now, one Red Swamp Crayfish is hiding under a bogwood while the other is just sitting near it waving its limbs in the water. On the other hand, the Rainbow Crabs, the female is on the sandy area while the male is submerged in the water seeming to play with the sand.
 
The male Rainbow crab is digging his own territory. The Crayfish that was hiding under one of the bogwoods had to leave when the other Crayfish wanted in. As this crayfish left, it walked and found himself going toward the female Rainbow crab, the female backed away and so did the Crayfish. So far, nothing crazy.

Now, random pictures from the net for this thread:

crab6.jpg

crab2.jpg

crab3.jpg

crab5.jpg

rainbow_crab.jpg

redswampcrayfish.jpg

procamburus_clarkii_02_x.jpg
 
Oddball;702232; said:
Both species are predominantly nocturnal hunters. Just don't be too surprised when the light comes on in the morning.

I agree..:( ...will keep you updated.
 
One of the crabs is smaller than the other, the bigger crab is about 3 inches wide and the smaller is 2. The crayfishes, about 4 inches body length without counting the length of their claws.

The smaller crab does not get into each other, instead ( I am unsure if this is a female or male...the only difference between the two is that its colour is paler while the other is dark which made me think it was a female. ) he / she stays away or relaxes on the rock or hiding behind it.

While the bigger crab and the cray who tried to steal his territory kept getting into each other's way and they faught. However they seemed to be no injury, they only faught to where the distance between the two was big enough that the crab would just walk away. Defeated? No, none of them knew defeat as they would be ready to fight at any time again if disturbed and they did.

The difference between the two crayfish is that, the one who faught the bigger crab is red but not dark red as the one who sits under the bogwood digging his territory. As the lights went out for the night, he emerged...and went after the other cray that did not seem to know what defeat means and within 10 seconds I just do not know why I guess his claws are longer although the other's is wider...or maybe among their own species injury is possible? I don't know but the dark red was aggressive and beat the cray who did not know defeat right away without really fighting, and it sent him fleeing.

Then he faught with the bigger crab a little but the crab just wanted to move around and would push away if interrupted. But the Dark Red has such an attitude, the force is strong with him. Before I went to bed, I placed food again. Now the morning has arrived and they are all doing fine, without injuries. The problem is I should seperate them when they are molting or just alter the habitat making more hiding places. I will keep an eye on them.
 
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