There are basically 3 types of crayfish 2 of which look quite similar (at least only 3 that I know of). Initially the idea was to breed crayfish for bait next year as I want small ones not the oddball purple colored and/or rather big crayfish the baitshops around here have. Of those 3 species the "ringed crayfish" is on my list of crayfish not to keep at this time. They are aggressive and actively hunt and kill other crayfish that have just molted (speaking from experience).
I remember once I was in the room when I heard the noise of crays beating the glass with tails and claws. It was far too much noise to be normal, another cray was being attacked and before I could get the lid off to put my hand in the way a cray had 2 limbs ripped off and was caught in a death grip that lasted about 5 seconds. Just curled up its tail and then never moved again. The real tradgedy is that the attacker just let go and made no attempt to even eat. I left it in the tank for a day and no sign of any eating... cold blooded killer =/
Well anyway these are my non ringed-crayfish caught at the river a few hours ago. There is a morph or maybe it was living conditions that has some of them showing with dark legs and bluish tint. Age has nothing to do with it I have a tiny one showing this color and a couple 2-1/2" crays showing it. Its the first time I have seen it (first pic). The colors are actually darker and more blue than in the pic its the flash that distorted the color.
If these are like the "non ringed crayfish" I had a 2 years ago (also from the river) they should be fairly non-aggressive. Reason I dont have the ones from 2 years ago or at least some decendants is because they love to propel themselves up the sides of the tank and grab onto things like the tank edge and HOB filters =< Everything was fine for weeks then in 1 night I lost all but 1. Found their bodies all dried up and shriveled under a couch that was near a *large* number of cumputers in another room. I was impressed at how they all ended up in the same area and how they all went out of this room, down the hall and then under the couch that was in another room! Reason I mentioned the computers is that I thought maybe they were drawn to the AC electrical field or heat... IOTW: missing a cray? check the hot spots and where there are electronics =>
Anyway back to the crays I have now... they are in about an inch of water where I will keep them until they have had a chance to empty their systems. I am trying to prevent the introduction of filamentous algae!... using tap water as a "mild" spore destroyer and waiting until they stop pooping.
I remember once I was in the room when I heard the noise of crays beating the glass with tails and claws. It was far too much noise to be normal, another cray was being attacked and before I could get the lid off to put my hand in the way a cray had 2 limbs ripped off and was caught in a death grip that lasted about 5 seconds. Just curled up its tail and then never moved again. The real tradgedy is that the attacker just let go and made no attempt to even eat. I left it in the tank for a day and no sign of any eating... cold blooded killer =/
Well anyway these are my non ringed-crayfish caught at the river a few hours ago. There is a morph or maybe it was living conditions that has some of them showing with dark legs and bluish tint. Age has nothing to do with it I have a tiny one showing this color and a couple 2-1/2" crays showing it. Its the first time I have seen it (first pic). The colors are actually darker and more blue than in the pic its the flash that distorted the color.
If these are like the "non ringed crayfish" I had a 2 years ago (also from the river) they should be fairly non-aggressive. Reason I dont have the ones from 2 years ago or at least some decendants is because they love to propel themselves up the sides of the tank and grab onto things like the tank edge and HOB filters =< Everything was fine for weeks then in 1 night I lost all but 1. Found their bodies all dried up and shriveled under a couch that was near a *large* number of cumputers in another room. I was impressed at how they all ended up in the same area and how they all went out of this room, down the hall and then under the couch that was in another room! Reason I mentioned the computers is that I thought maybe they were drawn to the AC electrical field or heat... IOTW: missing a cray? check the hot spots and where there are electronics =>
Anyway back to the crays I have now... they are in about an inch of water where I will keep them until they have had a chance to empty their systems. I am trying to prevent the introduction of filamentous algae!... using tap water as a "mild" spore destroyer and waiting until they stop pooping.
