Corys and a Crayfish

LUkeG2006

Small Fish
Jun 28, 2004
12
0
0
41
Chicago IL
#1
OK...I put in a small (2.5 in) crayfish in my 10 gal tank with my 2 cory's and my 4 rasboras...so far the crayfish dug itself a little cave under one of my rocks...it only comes out when i feed it Shrimp Pellets, and then it drags as many as it can into its cave before the cory's come and scare it away and eat the rest of the food...it seems to me that the crayfish does not pose a threat to the corys as they seem to pay no attention to it, and it always reatreats from them...has anyone else had a crayfish in with some corys? I've read that in theory I shouldn't keep crayfish in with other bottom feeders...but I like the crayfish a lot...some one set me straight if I have made a big mistake....
 

Kyle

Large Fish
Aug 5, 2004
399
0
0
My House
#4
I have a lobster/crayfish with my fish. He will grab them sometimes and go for a ride, but he has never been able to kill any of them, nor does it seem as if he wants to. My fish are to big for him to be able to eat though. I feed him brine shrimp, tropical fish flakes, ect.. How big are your corys??? If they are small enough for the crayfish to eat, it's possible that he might eventually catch and kill one if they aren't fast enough. Being bottom feeders they are at even a higher risk. Even if you didn't have bottom feeders though if you have rocks or something that he can climb up onto he will climb up onto it and try to get fish that way. My lobster dus that, but I don't know if he is trying to get my fish, or he just likes being up high. The more you feed him the less likely he is to try and kill your fish. Try to keep your temperature as low as you can, that way the crayfish won't be as hungry.

How long have you had the crayfish. At first they will hide alot, but eventually after a week or so he should start coming out more in the day. Especially if he is hungry. When I got mine he molted the first day I had him and stayed in his log for four days. Now he comes out all of the time and scavenges for food, day and night.

Oh and make sure you have your tank well covered so they can't escape. They are very good climbers and I have even seen mine climb up things like an air hose.
 

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dethjam316

Large Fish
Mar 24, 2004
409
0
0
44
gainesville, fl
plaza.ufl.edu
#5
it is a bad idea. the cray could live happily in his own 10g, if you could get one. i have one in a 10g now by himself. in the past, he lived with danios (yumyum) and 1 blue gourami who was imprisoned with him for being too mean. only the gourami has come out alive!!!! he WILL kill them given time, especially if the water gets a couple degrees warmer and that crayfish metabolism heats up.

agree with kyle about cover...mine once took a jaunt and i found him greeting me for breakfast on the kitchen floor.
 

Evilhead

Small Fish
Aug 22, 2004
48
0
0
Kanzaki-cho, Japan
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#7
Like everyone said, your crawdad will eventually kill your fish. He might be small and skittish now, but when crawdads get bigger they have real attitude problems (which I think are hilarious). I suggest setting up a 10 gallon for him. If you put another crawdad in there along with a few rocks or peices of wood, they will set up their territories and their interaction is really entertaining. Crayfish are one of the most interesting pets you can get for the money, I think, and they've got great personalities. But they are murdering bastards. If you get a 10 gallon, throw some feeders in there with him. Then at least you'll have something swimming around that you don't mind getting eaten.
 

Bruckm

Large Fish
Mar 31, 2004
487
0
0
63
Texas
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#8
Fry baby, fry. Get some livebearers in your other tank (Platys) and feed that invert their fry. I've been doing that for my Betta. He's in his 2.5G with a nice piece of driftwood and Java Fern. One week I dropped in 6-5-6-4 fry. They were all gone within minutes. Funny though, when I watch he never can catch them. There you have it, a self-sustaining (mostly) food supply for your invert. Only problem is inconsistancy, either they ALL give birth or none do. Feast or famine, kinda like in the wild.