Dwarf Crayfish Keepers!!! I have questions :)

Okay so Multi-tank-syndrome strikes again so here are my questions

1) mexican dwarf cray vs blue dwarf crayfish, what are the major differences and which would you recommend.

2)do you have tankmates/what and what size tank

3) can either species be kept in a 5.5 gal? Would a nano tank mates be possible (assuming my cray is chill)

Thank you in advance

 

I've got a Mexican dwarf crayfish, Felipe. bizaliz3 had the blue ones, if I'm not mistaken.
1) Coloration is the only difference I'm aware of(assuming the blue crayfish you are referring to is the dwarf variety.)
2) I used to have tank mates, but I saw him catch and kill a perfectly healthy guppy, so he is in a temporary critter keeper while I get him his own tank. I will be getting him either a 5 or 3 gallon. I would not keep these guys with fish, but I could have gotten an "odd one out" aggressive one.
3) Yup! A 5.5 would be perfect for one! I would not keep one with fish or shrimp, snails might be possible though.

 

Thanks Fins! I thought I remembered you having one!
1) They are different species so I figured it would be worth asking

2&3) There's part of me that will be tempted to try it unfortunately I'll probably cry if it goes wrong but I'm glad to hear they can be kept in a five gallon I bought one for a quarantine tank and I was thinking after I finished adding fish to my tanks I could turn it into a crayfish home ...okay truth is I bought two to have a qt still but it will already be filtered and such so it will be easier

I was just commenting on someone's thread who bred the blues ... I definitely should have asked them about there expirence... oops.

 

From what I have heard blues will devour live plants and Mexican dwarfs do not, I tried one and he was fragile and docile....my barbs ate him up!

 

I was just commenting on someone's thread who bred the blues ... I definitely should have asked them about there expirence... oops.

That was me
Blue dwarf crayfish are TINY. There is no way they would be able to devour live plants. Maybe damage them with their tiny pinchers, but they would not be able to uproot them or do any significant damage. They are not like large blue crayfish. Their average adult size is just one inch long! The regular sized blue crayfish that you see most often at the stores, they would try and escape your tank, they would uproot plants, they could catch and eat small fish etc. And a 5 gallon would be WAY too small.

The blue DWARFS (cambarellus diminutus) are actually even smaller than the orange dwarfs. And like I said in my other thread....they are not naturally blue. The are usually more grey and sometimes even brown. I had to selectively breed for quite a while to get them as blue as I got them.

 

That was me
Blue dwarf crayfish are TINY. There is no way they would be able to devour live plants. Maybe damage them with their tiny pinchers, but they would not be able to uproot them or do any significant damage. They are not like large blue crayfish. Their average adult size is just one inch long! The regular sized blue crayfish that you see most often at the stores, they would try and escape your tank, they would uproot plants, they could catch and eat small fish etc. And a 5 gallon would be WAY too small.

The blue DWARFS (cambarellus diminutus) are actually even smaller than the orange dwarfs. And like I said in my other thread....they are not naturally blue. The are usually more grey and sometimes even brown. I had to selectively breed for quite a while to get them as blue as I got them.

I misread and thought you meant the standard blue guys....sorry

 

I misread and thought you meant the standard blue guys....sorry

The OP's first post doesn't specify DWARF blue crayfish. So its understandable....you didn't really mis-read.

 

I've been wanting to keep a crayfish in my tanks but I'm not willing to risk 1) My kuhli's with them and 2) If I put them in my big tank they would eventually become a meal

 

Okay so I went back and specified blue dwarf sorry about that!
To make sure I'm understanding bizaliz3, 5 gallons would be way too smal for a dwarf or for the standard blue? Also did you ever try with tankmates?

Thank you all for your replies! Sorry if I was confusing!

 

Okay so I went back and specified blue dwarf sorry about that!
To make sure I'm understanding bizaliz3, 5 gallons would be way too smal for a dwarf or for the standard blue? Also did you ever try with tankmates?

Thank you all for your replies! Sorry if I was confusing!

I feel 5 gallons is large enough for one or two blue dwarfs. But no more than that.

It would be the standard blue crayfish that require something more like a 20 gallon long aquarium.

As for tank mates for the dwarfs....if you are using a 5 gallon, I wouldn't do anything more than maybe a nerite snail. A tank that size isn't really suitable for much else. Some people have kept them with shrimp I THINK, and I personally don't like the idea because the shrimp and the dwarf crays are approx. the same size....but the poor shrimp have no pinchers to protect themselves. You know? It just seems like a bit of a gamble.

 

Could a person do one of each or should I stick to one or the other? Edit** also since you kept both which would you recommend?
Thank you all for taking the time to reply

 

Could a person do one of each or should I stick to one or the other? Edit** also since you kept both which would you recommend?
Thank you all for taking the time to reply

I personally preferred the blue dwarfs. But the orange ones are much more vibrant (naturally) so they are prettier to look at. The orange ones also get slightly bigger than the blues.

You could probably get one of each if you want....but I prefer just keeping one or the other.....

 

I personally preferred the blue dwarfs. But the orange ones are much more vibrant (naturally) so they are prettier to look at. The orange ones also get slightly bigger than the blues.

You could probably get one of each if you want....but I prefer just keeping one or the other.....

Okay thank you for all your input, thankfully I have plenty of time to think about it while I work on cycling and stocking the two tanks I already have!

It's confusing to me why more people aren't working on breeding the bluer colors as I'm sure they could charge a higher price?

 

Well found out dwarf crayfish are illegal in my state

 

I've found Amazon selling a pair of the Orange Dwarf Crayfish (male and female) and I am so tempted but I have some Hillstream Loaches in my tank - would the crayfish pose a threat to them? The Loaches are really fast but hang around a lot on rocks. I also have Corys, Neons and guppys at the mo.

 

Well found out dwarf crayfish are illegal in my state

Aww, I'm sorry

I've found Amazon selling a pair of the Orange Dwarf Crayfish (male and female) and I am so tempted but I have some Hillstream Loaches in my tank - would the crayfish pose a threat to them? The Loaches are really fast but hang around a lot on rocks. I also have Corys, Neons and guppys at the mo.

You would get more responses if you started your own thread.