The Electric Blue Crayfish, sometimes known as the Florida Crayfish has popped into popularity in the freshwater aquarium keeping hobby. Their remarkable vibrant blue color sticks out like a sore thumb in any aquarium. They’re quite easy to care for as long as certain conditions are met. This guide will go into more detail on proper crayfish care.
Water Parameter Requirements
Like many invertebrates, these crayfish need good water conditions. Your water should not have any ammonia and nitrites. It is almost impossible to have a reading of 0 nitrates due to decomposing food and fish waste so having a nitrate reading of 10 or less shouldn’t be a problem. The goal is to keep very stable water conditions for your wonderful crayfish!
A few other water parameters that should be mentioned are pH, water temperature, and water hardness. They are quite versatile animals and they do well in a wide range of water conditions. They will do just fine in pH levels ranging from 6.5 – 7.5. They shouldn’t have a problem with water temperatures ranging from 65 – 75 degrees Fahrenheit but catching the temperature in the middle is ideal. Lastly, a water hardness level ranging from 3 to 10 dkh is just fine for these large invertebrates. An API Freshwater Master Test Kit and an API GH & KH Test Kit are great to have on hand for any aquarium.
Crayfish Care
An electric blue crayfish is pretty easy to care for. I wouldn’t recommend keeping them in anything smaller than a 30-gallon aquarium because they will be 4″ – 6″ long when they are fully grown! They have a life span of 5 to 6 years as long as they are living under stable water conditions. Be mindful that these invertebrates will shed their exoskeleton as they grow out of it!
Electric Blue Crayfish are not picky eaters. They will eat just about anything that comes their way whether it’s flake food, pellets, or anything else. I would recommend dropping a few algae wafers to keep them busy and fed. Be cautious as to what fish to add to the aquarium because a slow fish or fish that lingers at the bottom of the aquarium will become a quick meal for the crayfish.
I would not keep them with live plants. I have heard quite a bit of horror stories of these invertebrates taking plants, uprooting them, and munching on the leaves. I would recommend keeping them with plastic plants and decorations with caves varying in size. In their natural habitat they burrow so imitating a “burrow” is ideal for this creature. Otherwise, they do not require much else.
Animals that can be kept with Crayfish
This is a gray area because a lot of things can become a meal for the crayfish but there are fish that do much better at staying alive in the same enclosure than others. I would not keep fish that dwell at the bottom of the aquarium or that are slow. For example, keep these guys away from slow-moving Goldfish and bottom-dwelling Cory Catfish.
Fast-moving fish that spend most of their time in the center of the aquarium or at the top are ideal for a crayfish enclosure. Danios are great because they move incredibly fast. Certain rainbowfish are incredibly fast and hang out at the center of the aquarium. You cannot go wrong with hatchet fish because they stick to the top of the fish tank. Be mindful of the fish you add with a crayfish! Snails should be okay to have with crayfish and are useful for keeping algae away from your aquarium.
Final Thoughts
Electric Blue Crayfish are a fantastic animal to keep. Watching them move their legs, collect food, and dart away backward from time to time is a fun experience. They have a good personality and are easy to care for! If you’re thinking of setting up a new 30-gallon (or larger) aquarium, check these out!