Lobster/Crayfish 20th Edition

These have not been named yet, they are just Cambarus sp. right now.

It's true that there are alot more crays in north america, but Australia and Indo Have some awesome freshwater snails and shrimp as well as some huge, colorful crayfish.
Australia also has some of the most fantastic gecko species in the world.

I got the impression from the Lobster/Crayfish 19th Edition that alot of cray keepers are having there crays fighting while being housed together and during breeding.
I have been breeding crays including some cherax species for several years.
I'm not claiming to be great at it, I just really enjoy them.
I have a couple things I do that helps protect my crays from babys all the way to adults. Look at the pictures.



Those are regular sports drink plastic bottles with holes melted or drilled in the sides.
Each bottle has a crayfish inside and the sex is marked on the lid with an M or F.
Young crays are unsexed.
For feeding I move the bottles to a small plastic tube, unscrew the lid and use a small funnel to pour food inside.
I replace the lid and float it back in the tank with an air bubble under the cap to make it float upright.
That tank is a 4 foot long 55 gallon tank, there is almost 30 bottles in there right now and I have room enough for 30 more.
Filtration is a mat sponge filter at the left end and a large round sponge filter, no heat.
I can raise baby crays to adults this way with any fighting and losing crays.

For breeding, I always simulate winter by cooling the water with a small refrigerator or by using a piece of 4 inch flexable duct running from the A/C vent to under the lid of a small no larger than 20 gallon tank.
The breeders are kept floating in the containers in this tank for a few weeks and when it feels right I turn them loose in the tank together.
If they do not mate in 30 minutes I put them back in the containers.

These things work well for me, it is a system I have developed over the years after seeing the same problems arise.
Every crayfish I know of breeds in the spring after winter cooling.
Some breed a couple times a year, but always after winter.

Alot of you probly already know this stuff, but I'm new here and just trying to help.
Take care.
Bill

[dnsfpl]

wow nice collection...

any tips in mating clarkii?
failed so many times

[Gus]

Thanks for sharing

Originally Posted by slowhand35

I got the impression from the Lobster/Crayfish 19th Edition that alot of cray keepers are having there crays fighting while being housed together and during breeding.
I have been breeding crays including some cherax species for several years.
I'm not claiming to be great at it, I just really enjoy them.
I have a couple things I do that helps protect my crays from babys all the way to adults. Look at the pictures.



Those are regular sports drink plastic bottles with holes melted or drilled in the sides.
Each bottle has a crayfish inside and the sex is marked on the lid with an M or F.
Young crays are unsexed.
For feeding I move the bottles to a small plastic tube, unscrew the lid and use a small funnel to pour food inside.
I replace the lid and float it back in the tank with an air bubble under the cap to make it float upright.
That tank is a 4 foot long 55 gallon tank, there is almost 30 bottles in there right now and I have room enough for 30 more.
Filtration is a mat sponge filter at the left end and a large round sponge filter, no heat.
I can raise baby crays to adults this way with any fighting and losing crays.

For breeding, I always simulate winter by cooling the water with a small refrigerator or by using a piece of 4 inch flexable duct running from the A/C vent to under the lid of a small no larger than 20 gallon tank.
The breeders are kept floating in the containers in this tank for a few weeks and when it feels right I turn them loose in the tank together.
If they do not mate in 30 minutes I put them back in the containers.

These things work well for me, it is a system I have developed over the years after seeing the same problems arise.
Every crayfish I know of breeds in the spring after winter cooling.
Some breed a couple times a year, but always after winter.

Alot of you probly already know this stuff, but I'm new here and just trying to help.
Take care.
Bill

oooooo..we're onto the 20th already...hahahah sweet.

[dnsfpl]

Originally Posted by slowhand35

tired drilling bottles but there are some sharp edges in the inner potion
how can i remove it?
will it pose any danger to the baby crayfish?

thanks for the innovative idea

[Jon409]

hi,
will crayfish die of overfeeding?
any bro have any experience with that?
regards

[Gus]

Just gotten a pair of white Cray hee.......hee.........

Check your PM....

Originally Posted by dnsfpl

wow nice collection...

any tips in mating clarkii?
failed so many times

[Gus]

Not i know of but too much uneaten food your water will have big problem

Originally Posted by Jon409

hi,
will crayfish die of overfeeding?
any bro have any experience with that?
regards