Crayfish has a patch of algae growing on it and just looks pretty awful

[Smertrios]

I went to the Platte Riven somewhere in nebrasaka and caught a few crayfish for "pets". At first when I saw this one I just thought it got dirty but now I am thinking it looks like this because its diseased! I would rather not just toss it out but I also don't want to intentionally keep around a dying cray. I may add some salt to the water they are in just to kill off some of the smaller critters/parasites that may be in the water.

I have more pics of a blue cray I caught in the following thread...
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...ish-setup...&p=5354576&viewfull=1#post5354576...

My theory on how a patch of algae can grow off the side of it is that it was attacked after a molt and the hole leaked out some goo that turned green. This may also be why its covered in gunk... unhealthy and dieing?

 

[Smertrios]

Crayfish has molted so problem solved

 

[Smertrios]

I have a Q that is a bit off topic from diseases. I have 12 crayfish in a 28qt rubbermaid container. The one mentioned in this post is by far the biggest and just molted. I went in to check on them and the crayfish was flipped over on its back. The crayfish is not dead or dying so my question is... is it probable that there was some breeding going on?