Tank Mates with Crayfish

**agong** · 14th Aug 2012, 17:00

I'm really new to crayfish and I've just bought 2 freshwater crayfishes (about 7cm each) to add on into my 4 ft aquarium tank.

Tank mates includes:
1. Fire Eel (20cm)
2. Black Ghost Knife Fish (10 cm)
3. Blood Parrot (8cm)
4. Rainbow fish (3 cm)
5. Clown Loach (4cm)
6. Pleco (8cm)
7. SAE (5cm)
8. Angelfish (5 cm)
9. Glass catfish (5cm)
10. Rummynose Tetra (3cm)
11. Small Cory (2.5 cm?)
12. Lots of feeder shrimps (Not really tank mates.. =x)

Seems like a lot of fish in one tank, but I put quite a few plants in them, with 3 glass jars, and some wood.

My question is will my crayfish pose any threat to my other fishes? Or will my other fish pose any threat to the crayfish? Should I house them separately?

When I bought the crayfish from one of the Pasir Ris fish farm, they said the crayfish will not pose much threat to the other fishes.

But as I was reading online, some commented that other fish mught be endangered while they are sleeping. Is that true?

Any opinions and views please? Thanks!!

**agong** · 14th Aug 2012, 17:04

I was reading from this article:
http://www.fishchannel.com/freshwate.../crayfish.aspx

It seems like its possible to have tank mates. Am I worrying too much?

I do have plan B (which is to separate them). But I really prefer them to be in the same tank. Much more vibrant environment this way. =)

**doppelbanddwarf** · 14th Aug 2012, 17:16

I will never forget the horror of seeing HALF a panda cory swimming when I kept my first crayfish in a community setup. Until now I still do not buy panda cories. Also when the crayfish moults it is very vulnerable to attacks from other fishes.

**agong** · 14th Aug 2012, 18:06

Originally Posted by doppelbanddwarf

I will never forget the horror of seeing HALF a panda cory swimming when I kept my first crayfish in a community setup. Until now I still do not buy panda cories. Also when the crayfish moults it is very vulnerable to attacks from other fishes.

**doppelbanddwarf** · 14th Aug 2012, 18:08

In short its better to separate them, especially for vulnerable bottom dwellers like cories.

**lucasjiang** · 14th Aug 2012, 23:22

Originally Posted by agong

I'm really new to crayfish and I've just bought 2 freshwater crayfishes (about 7cm each) to add on into my 4 ft aquarium tank.

Tank mates includes:
1. Fire Eel (20cm)
2. Black Ghost Knife Fish (10 cm)
3. Blood Parrot (8cm)
4. Rainbow fish (3 cm)
5. Clown Loach (4cm)
6. Pleco (8cm)
7. SAE (5cm)
8. Angelfish (5 cm)
9. Glass catfish (5cm)
10. Rummynose Tetra (3cm)
11. Small Cory (2.5 cm?)
12. Lots of feeder shrimps (Not really tank mates.. =x)

Seems like a lot of fish in one tank, but I put quite a few plants in them, with 3 glass jars, and some wood.

My question is will my crayfish pose any threat to my other fishes? Or will my other fish pose any threat to the crayfish? Should I house them separately?

When I bought the crayfish from one of the Pasir Ris fish farm, they said the crayfish will not pose much threat to the other fishes.

But as I was reading online, some commented that other fish mught be endangered while they are sleeping. Is that true?

Any opinions and views please? Thanks!!

Very likely to have conflict between bottom dwellers, especially those without hard scales like fire eel and clown loach. If the crayfish injures them, it might be fatal.

**sqwerc** · 14th Aug 2012, 23:44

What crayfish are you keeping? I have before and I would say they are best kept alone.. They will attack fish, destroy plants.. And not to mention even each other..

**agong** · 15th Aug 2012, 00:13

I do not know the species type of the crayfish (I just bought because the shop owner said it is compatible

)

Sorry for the poor quality pics:

For the past 6 hours it seems like it love hiding beneath a large plant. Black ghost often knock on it and the crayfish will attempt to defend itself, but its pincers are too slow. I have 2 glass as seen in the pics, I could put them vertically and place the crayfish in. In this way it will never be able to threaten the other fish, but it is very pathetic for the crayfish I guess.

Would it be better if I take them out to another tank? Or is the species of my crayfish less aggressive? Please advise.

**agong** · 15th Aug 2012, 00:17

Here is another better view of the crayfish, hope some bros can help me identify, thanks iin advance!!

**sqwerc** · 15th Aug 2012, 13:37

The crayfish you got is know as cherax quadricarinatus. I'v kept several of them before. The one is the photo is male as it has that orange patch on it claws. Females will not have this orange patch.

In my experience, they are highly aggresive. I started to slowly find other livestock "missing" from my tank and witness them stalking and attacking fish that venture too near to their hidouts. I guess you can try keeping them in a community tank if you provide many hiding sports and keep fish that like to stay on the top of your tank. I've lost fish like tiger barbs to these guys before which was a suprise to me.

Good luck! You can google their scentific name and form an opinion of your own. I have one left (she killed all her peers) which I keep in a tank alone hahahaha!

**phyxated** · 17th Aug 2012, 14:00

i've lost a betta and a few tetras to my crays. my pleco has also got nipped in the fin during one of their confrontations.
i've also seen my largest female catch and eat a tetra alive.
they don't seem to bother about shrimps though.
Do provide enough hiding spots if not ur fire eel might possible kill it immediately after the cray molts.

and... when they are young they will actively dig out plants to nip at the tender roots and lower stems. they seem to stop after they reach full maturity (maybe after they learn how to hunt fish)...