Electric Blue Crayfish... Turning Red?

I'm becoming worried about my procambarus alleni. When I first got him he was this gorgeous blue color. Then one day I noticed his undertone (which is usually white) seemed a little reddish. It came and went and was worse when he was stressed. Recently, it stayed that way and has been getting darker and darker. Now pretty much all of his white is gone, the original blue on the top of his shell is barely visible and he's almost entirely this shade of dark purple. I'm afraid this means he's dying because of things I've heard and experienced. I'm having a hard time determining what would have caused this and if it really is something to be worried about. I don't think it's related to a molt because I haven't seen any molting behaviors recently (that's actually another concern of mine, he hasn't shown ANY molting behaviors - not even those of a failed molt - maybe related to this issue?). He gets lots of calcium - both from his food and cuttlebone - and spirulina and his appetite has not changed. He's still just as active and interactive as he's always been. He isn't stressed and has plenty of hiding space. The water is hard. The pH is neutral. The water is well oxygenated. Nitrites and nitrates are fine. The only parameter issue he's dealt with recently (which has been resolved) is there was an ammonia spike in the tank he used to be in. I'm almost positive the ammonia itself wasn't the problem, but I actually did notice the redness started when I switched the medication I was treating it with. I switched from Kordon AmQuel to API AmmoLock (due to availability at the time). The AmmoLock actually seemed to work better, but now that I think about it, that's when it started and I've been treating his new tank (mostly as a preventative because it's a smudge overstocked at the moment - this one does not have an ammonia problem) with it. Could the AmmoLock be the problem? It doesn't say not to use it with crustaceans... Please help. I can't lose my Larry

 

Sorry I can't help don't know anything about crayfish. Bumping so someone might come and help.

 

wapooshe Thank you!

 

I could use more than a bump now

 

Not much help but I had one for a while and he would get much darker even some like yours, not that dramatic though, before his molt.

 

Not much help but I had one for a while and he would get much darker even some like yours, not that dramatic though, before his molt.

I hope that's all it is :/

 

bump

 

I haven't had any big crayfish, but I have had dwarf ones, they did the same thing when the molted. I don't think it gets darker because of his stress, but he gets stressed over molting. The first time mine molted I thought we was going to die

 

I haven't had any big crayfish, but I have had dwarf ones, they did the same thing when the molted. I don't think it gets darker because of his stress, but he gets stressed over molting. The first time mine molted I thought we was going to die

how long is it supposed to take?? its been over a week

 

It's got the white line going down it's back. It's getting ready to molt. My girl is hiding now but she is showing red tones. She always does before she molts. Today was the first time I saw the white line down her back so she still has a few day. (Oh and your bettas are fat, that's all. They are overfed. No constipation, no dropsy, just fat)

 

It's got the white line going down it's back. It's getting ready to molt. My girl is hiding now but she is showing red tones. She always does before she molts. Today was the first time I saw the white line down her back so she still has a few day. (Oh and your bettas are fat, that's all. They are overfed. No constipation, no dropsy, just fat)

so its not taking him too long its just an indicator that its going to happen soon? and lol thanks. I knew it wasn't dropsy but I wasn't sure what of all the possibilities (including some I may have been unaware of) was causing it. is it fat or bloated though?

 

Crayfish take their time molting. I don't think it is going to have a problem or anything. Your calcium is sufficient. With the coloring, I would say within the next couple of days. The underneath of the claws is still very white though. At least I can't see a pink tinge. The crack down the back looks close. I should really comment on the bettas on the other thread, but no, when I heard what you were feeding, I cringed. They are just fat. (I get it with the bottom feeders, that is why all of mine live alone. I take the snails out once a week and feed wafers in a separate container because mine would eat anything.)

 

Crayfish take their time molting. I don't think it is going to have a problem or anything. Your calcium is sufficient. With the coloring, I would say within the next couple of days. The underneath of the claws is still very white though. At least I can't see a pink tinge. The crack down the back looks close. I should really comment on the bettas on the other thread, but no, when I heard what you were feeding, I cringed. They are just fat. (I get it with the bottom feeders, that is why all of mine live alone. I take the snails out once a week and feed wafers in a separate container because mine would eat anything.)

cringed because of the kind of food or the feeding method?

 

cringed because of the kind of food or the feeding method?

amount. Mine would explode! lol They down their 3 pellets before I can even get the lid closed and they get fasted once a week. (One day they get 2 thawed frozen bloodworms. One day 3 thawed frozen brine shrimp. I don't do live food because of disease transmission. Usually tubifex worms but I have heard cases with other types of live food causing illness as well.)

 

amount. Mine would explode! lol They down their 3 pellets before I can even get the lid closed and they get fasted once a week. (One day they get 2 thawed frozen bloodworms. One day 3 thawed frozen brine shrimp. I don't do live food because of disease transmission. Usually tubifex worms but I have heard cases with other types of live food causing illness as well.)

I use flakes and micro pellets though? should I just try to give them the amount of the size of their stomach? and the frozen foods instead of the pellets or as well as?

 

and being fat won't do hurt them will it? I feel bad when they still seem hungry and i'm guilty of spoiling all my babies. my mice and rats have a good amount of chub on them

 

I'll go to your betta post.

 

I'll go to your betta post.

okie dokie