crayfish molting while carrying sperm

My female dwarf crayfish mated with a male for about 45 minutes a week or two ago. In all my other experiences with the dwarfs, they have their eggs fertilized and under their tail within days of mating.

BUT I have also read that they ARE able to hold that sperm in a special sack for a long long time until they feel ready to use it. So up until now, I was thinking that there is still a chance she may lay some fertilized eggs.

BUT...she molted yesterday. So....if anyones can answer this, I would really appreciate it!! Is it possible for her to still have the sperm? I know she would lose any eggs or babies that were already under her tail if she were to molt, but what about the stored sperm? Any chance that is still there in her "sack" and viable? Or should I re-introduce the male and try it again? (Obviously I will give her a few days to recover from her molt before doing that!)

 

I have read that when the female molts the sperm is lost. I could be wrong I have yet to has one molt while carrying eggs or sperm so I don't have first hand knowledge.

 

I have read that when the female molts the sperm is lost. I could be wrong I have yet to has one molt while carrying eggs or sperm so I don't have first hand knowledge.

I had one molt while carrying babies....the eggs had hatched and everything. But the babies didn't make it. I guess the mom was just too young.

Normally I woudn't even know if the female is carrying sperm or not. But since I had been keeping a close eye on here ever since she mated....and I was expecting to see eggs, my first thought was that if she WAS still hanging onto that sperm...could she still have it despite the molt.

It seems no one can answer that question. The ONLY way that question will be answered will be if she ends up with eggs now after molting (fertilized eggs) Because right now she is living alone. So the only way she could get pregnant is if she still has that sperm. SO...maybe for the sake of answering this question, I should NOT re-introduce the male for a little while and see what happens!

 

Sounds like you are learning a lot of about these little guys. I'm hoping to get my self a pair and start breeding also. I can't really narrow down which ones to get so I might just do a few different ones.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Sounds like you are learning a lot of about these little guys. I'm hoping to get my self a pair and start breeding also. I can't really narrow down which ones to get so I might just do a few different ones.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Since I like colorful fish in my tanks, I have found that I prefer the orange mexican dwarfs (CPOs) and the Blue dwarfs. The cajun dwarfs are brown and a little blah if you prefer some color. I really love my orange ones and blue ones! If you do get a pair and start breeding, keep in touch, because I have had a LOT of experience in the last few months!! If you have any questions, let me know, I might be able to help! I have experienced a little bit of everything with all my dwarfs! its pretty crazy!

 

Yeah. I'd keep the male away from her for a while to let her recover from the molt. We had a male go after our female right after she'd molted, and she lost a claw.