CrayfishKings March 2014 | Page 25

Your crayfish can live in a tank with other fish, as long as you don't have any bottom dwellers. Crayfish like to clean the bottom of your tank and more than likely they will eat other bottom dwellers. With the small crayfish (such as Cambarellus), you can keep neon tetras, mollies, platies, swordtails and small catfish like Ancistrus. Larger crayfish does well with fish like, Aulonocara and  Pseudotropheus (Malawi and Tanganyika cichlid fish ). Catfish like Ancistrus, Gibbiceps, South American cichlid fish, barbs, goldfish and labyrinth fish. The number one thing to remember when adding tank mates to a tank with crayfish is, don't put your show fish in a tank with crayfish. Nothing is certain when it comes to keeping a aquarium and there is a chance that the crayfish may eat the fish.

Crayfish are omnivorous scavengers, feeding primarily on plants, algae and organic detritus. They prefer foods like shrimp pellets or various vegetables, but will also eat tropical fish food, regular fish food, algae wafers, and small fish that can be captured with their claws. They will consume their old exoskeleton after it has moulted. In the aquarium, they will eat all offered foods, including frozen red worms, snails, mussels, shrimp, krill and artemia; fresh carrots, corn and cucumbers (try nearly any vegetable); and all kinds of dried foods. Cooked chicken makes a great occasional treat. When purchasing your crayfish food make sure to get different kinds of food. Don't feed you crayfish the same food over and over Give them a mixed diet to bring out the best in your crayfish.

Crayfish are not picky about their home. They need lots of caves for hiding spots to feel safe. I recommend two hiding caves per crayfish. Gravel is not a must but it makes your tank look better. A hang on filter or sponge filter will work. I recommend a sponge filter. Crayfish are escape artist. The sponge filter allows you to lower the water so the crayfish can't reach the top of the tank. If you use a hang-on filter make sure the top of the tank is completely covered. PH is not a big concern as long as it stays stable. A heater is not needed. Crayfish does well in room temperature water 70 to 75 degrees. Unlike setting up a tank for tropical fish, the crayfish can be added to the tank 48 hours after the tank is setup. As long as you add a chlorine remover to the tank.

3. Tank Setup

4. Food for Your Crayfish

5. Tank Mates

ENJOY YOUR NEW CRAYFISH