Blue Crayfish - Procambarus alleni : Complete Crayfish Profile & Care Guide
Table of contents
Introduction
Blue Crayfish (Procambarus alleni), a freshwater Crayfish, has garnered significant acclaim within the aquarium trade and hobbyist community. Regrettably, due to their aggressive disposition, substantial size, and specific feeding habits, they are most suitable for solitary confinement within a single-species tank. Maintaining Blue Crayfish in a communal setting can prove exceedingly challenging. Hence, unless one possesses prior experience in crayfish husbandry, it is advisable to exercise caution and refrain from housing these creatures.
Maintaining a harmonious cohabitation of fish with Blue Crayfish necessitates careful consideration and balance. Cichlids, given their substantial size and aggressive nature, are prone to engage in aggressive interactions with Crayfish, making them unsuitable tankmates. Conversely, Red Tail Sharks exhibit swiftness that enables them to evade potential confrontations with Crayfish, but they require considerably spacious tanks to thrive optimally. Fish species such as Tiger Barbs, Zebra Danios, Rainbow Darters, Tetras, and similar counterparts tend to be better-suited candidates for inclusion in Blue Crayfish tanks. However, it is essential to note that fish occupying the bottom region of the tank or those with sluggish swimming capabilities are ill-suited for coexistence with Blue Crayfish, as they may fall prey to the Crayfish's formidable claws.
Despite the potential for Crayfish to coexist with fish, it is advisable to exercise caution. Blue Crayfish are opportunistic scavengers and hunters, readily capturing any passing, swimming, or crawling prey. Consequently, snails and shrimp are vulnerable to becoming crayfish prey, and even fast-moving Dwarf Shrimp are not immune to occasional predation.
Individuals considering the maintenance of Blue Crayfish should anticipate the necessity of an aquarium with a minimum capacity of 90 litres to accommodate a single adult specimen adequately. When multiple Crayfish cohabit within the same tank, it is advisable to ensure that they are of equivalent size and exhibit distinct genders. Failure to adhere to this guideline may result in aggressive interactions, with the larger Crayfish displaying predatory behaviour towards the smaller counterparts.
Furthermore, Blue Crayfish are ideally suited for freshwater environments; however, they can also tolerate a minor concentration of freshwater salt without adverse effects on their well-being.
Blue Crayfish thrive when provided with a substrate composed of sand or gravel, offering them the opportunity to burrow. Notably, Procambarus alleni has the remarkable ability to adapt to its environment, manifesting colouration changes in response to the background. This adaptive mechanism serves as a means of camouflage against potential predators. In an aquaculture setting, it is advisable for aquarists to employ a blue substrate to accentuate and enhance the vivid colouration of these Crayfish.
Creating ample dark hiding spaces is essential, achieved through the strategic placement of rocks, driftwood, PVC pipes, and artificial plants, among other suitable elements. It is imperative to recognize that each Crayfish in a communal setting necessitates its dedicated hiding place, dispersing them throughout the tank. This approach is particularly crucial as Blue Crayfish are territorial by nature and are averse to close neighbours.
Blue Crayfish are known for their propensity to rearrange their surroundings, engaging in digging into the substrate and repositioning objects light enough to be moved. Consequently, the inclusion of live plants within the tank should be undertaken with the understanding that they may be trimmed and consumed. Furthermore, it is vital to acknowledge that Blue Crayfish exhibit exceptional climbing abilities. As a preventive measure, a secure and tight-fitting lid is indispensable to prevent their escape from the tank, which can lead to dehydration and fatality within a matter of hours if they do manage to exit their enclosure.
Blue Crayfish exhibit a range of colour morphs, encompassing hues such as red, orange, and brown; however, their bright blue variant is the most prevalent and recognizable. This prominence of the vivid blue form primarily results from dedicated efforts by aquarium enthusiasts and crayfish aficionados who have selectively bred them to attain an increasingly vibrant and intense shade of blue. Typically, they feature distinctive speckles or dots, often in lighter tones, further contributing to their striking appearance.
Blue Crayfish Photos
Sexual Dimorphism
Distinguishing between male and female Blue Crayfish is a relatively straightforward process. Males can be identified by their significantly larger claws in comparison to females, as well as their narrower tails. Additionally, males exhibit two distinct L-shaped appendages, known as claspers, situated behind their legs, which serve as sperm transfer organs. In contrast, females feature a circular sperm receptacle positioned between the bases of the last two pairs of walking legs, providing an unmistakable anatomical distinction.
Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Procambarus alleni |
|---|---|
| Year Described | 1884 |
| Other Names | Everglades Crayfish, Florida Crayfish, Electric Blue Crayfish, Sapphire Crayfish, Blue Lobsters |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Classification | Malacostraca |
| Order | Decapoda |
| Family | Cambaridae |
| Genus | Procambarus |
| Origins | United States |
| Max Size | 12 cm |
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Aquarium Level | Bottom - Middle |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | No |
| Best kept as | Loners |
| Diet & Feeding | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Livebearer |
| Average Lifespan | Up to 5 Years |
Water Parameters
| Water Type | Freshwater |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.0 - 8.0 |
| GH | 6 - 8 |
| KH | 4 - 6 |
| TDS | 150 - 200 |
| ℉ | 71 - 80 |
|---|---|
| ℃ | 22 - 27 |
Natural Habitat
The Blue Crayfish, native to Florida, United States, is predominantly found within a specific geographical range. Its natural habitat encompasses the area east of the St. Johns River, extending across the entirety of Florida from Levy County and Marion County southward, including select regions within the Florida Keys. These Crayfish inhabit diverse aquatic environments, such as marshes, ditches, streams, wetlands, and floodplains, typically favouring stagnant or slow-moving water bodies. Notably, they have adapted mechanisms to endure prolonged arid conditions by burrowing into sand, mud, or clay substrates to maintain hydration. Additionally, it is noteworthy that some of the waterways accommodating Blue Crayfish may exhibit brackish conditions, with salinity levels reaching up to 18 parts per thousand.
Breeding
Blue Crayfish attain maturity at approximately 4 to 5 centimetres (around 1 inch) in size. During the mating process, a receptive female permits a male to approach, at which point the male securely clamps her claws and positions her on her back. The duration of mating varies, spanning from several minutes to an hour or slightly longer. To facilitate successful mating among Blue Crayfish, it is imperative to ensure adequate space within the tank. However, due to their cannibalistic tendencies, a highly recommended practice is to establish a separate breeding setup.
Once a female becomes berried (carrying eggs), she should be transferred to an individual tank with a minimum capacity of 45 litres.
Reproductive output in this species exhibits a linear relationship with female size, ranging from 50 to several hundred eggs, with fecundity also scaling linearly in response to habitat conditions. Depending on temperature conditions, the eggs undergo hatching within a span of 20 to 30 days. Upon hatching, the juvenile Blue Crayfish initially cling to the mother's back and under her tail for a period extending from a few days to potentially a week or two.
This phase is of paramount importance as the female secretes maternal pheromones that encourage the proximity of the offspring and stimulate her protective instincts. Once these pheromones diminish, it becomes advantageous for the juveniles to distance themselves from the mother to minimize the risk of predation. Consequently, after the detachment of the eggs from the female, she should be reintroduced to the original tank.
As the juveniles grow, transferring them to larger tanks to mitigate cannibalization risks becomes necessary. Adequate space, ample food supply, and the provision of secluded areas for shelter facilitate the transition of these juveniles into adulthood.
Diet & Feeding
Blue Crayfish exhibit omnivorous and opportunistic feeding behaviour, displaying a versatile dietary inclination. Their diet encompasses a wide array of sustenance, as they readily consume virtually any edible matter they can grasp with their claws. While their primary feeding occurs at the substrate level within their tank, they exhibit a propensity to ingest various items, including live plants within their enclosure, deceased or ailing fish, snails, as well as blanched vegetables, sinking pellets and wafers. It is imperative to note their cannibalistic tendencies, as Blue Crayfish may engage in the consumption of other Crayfish within the same tank, particularly in situations where they perceive territorial threats or experience a deficiency of protein in their diet.
