I've had 2 crayfish die in my tank for no apparent reason. They have been well fed, i keep them in a community tank but they don't live, i know its a general question but any ideas why??
crayfish keep dying?? HELP
- Thread starter ecuaaron
- Start date
1.) What are your specific water parameters, not just "water was fine". You may be having a pH issue that doesn't bother your other fish, but does your crayfish. They require a certain general pH level, otherwise it can become detrimental and even fatal.
2.) Is any of the food, water conditioners, etc you're using containing any type of heavy metal? Aside from small amounts that they average joe can't really measure, heavy metals (especially copper and iron) can be fatal to the crayfish. These can be found in a variety of foods, medications, water conditioners, etc. They can leech out of decorations, plants, etc that were in tanks that had them as well.
Also, you may wish to test your water. Almost all houses have copper pipes either going to the house or in the house itself, depending on the condition/age of the pipes, the metals may be getting into the water in a high enough amount to cause an issue.
3.) What temperature is your tank? Depending on the specific species, your tank may potentially be too high or too low to sustain the species in the long run. (though most crayfish fall under a general temperature range, in which most tanks fall.)
4.) Were they store bought or wild caught and did you treat them when they were in quarantine (if you quarantined them). They may have had any number of parasites or diseases than can become fatal.
5.) What is the set-up of your tank like? And what are their tankmates? They may have been injured, bullied or stressed to death.
6.) What were you feeding them? Depending on the species they may not have been getting what they required. Also, some foods like shrimp (and other crustaceans), can contain diseases and parasites that are fatal when contracted by the crayfish after it has consumed them.
I could continue, but that's enough questions for the moment lol
2.) Is any of the food, water conditioners, etc you're using containing any type of heavy metal? Aside from small amounts that they average joe can't really measure, heavy metals (especially copper and iron) can be fatal to the crayfish. These can be found in a variety of foods, medications, water conditioners, etc. They can leech out of decorations, plants, etc that were in tanks that had them as well.
Also, you may wish to test your water. Almost all houses have copper pipes either going to the house or in the house itself, depending on the condition/age of the pipes, the metals may be getting into the water in a high enough amount to cause an issue.
3.) What temperature is your tank? Depending on the specific species, your tank may potentially be too high or too low to sustain the species in the long run. (though most crayfish fall under a general temperature range, in which most tanks fall.)
4.) Were they store bought or wild caught and did you treat them when they were in quarantine (if you quarantined them). They may have had any number of parasites or diseases than can become fatal.
5.) What is the set-up of your tank like? And what are their tankmates? They may have been injured, bullied or stressed to death.
6.) What were you feeding them? Depending on the species they may not have been getting what they required. Also, some foods like shrimp (and other crustaceans), can contain diseases and parasites that are fatal when contracted by the crayfish after it has consumed them.
I could continue, but that's enough questions for the moment lol