African Cichlids + Crayfish?

Cliffizme2 · 12-03-2005, 12:26 AM

Where I work we have a 80+ gallon (guesstimation) with about 10 African Cichlids 2-3" long. At the bottom of the tank is a longpincer Crayfish. A couple of the Cichlids have been picking at him but I don't think they are hurting him, the Crayfish either puts up his claws and the Cichlids run away or the Crayfish will zoom across the tank away from them.
Every 2 minutes or so one of the Cichlids is back poking at the Crayfish's back or pinchers. I put a little rock hide-away in there that the Crayfish immediately inhabited, will he be safe to leave in there since he has his little hiding place? And can the Cichlids harm him even with his armor plating? I'm more worried about his little legs coming up missing but only 1 or 2 Cichlids pick at him and it's every couple of minutes. The Crayfish is coming out of the hiding place and walking around with these fish following him so either he isn't scared or he's dumb, I dunno. These are small African Cichlids and the Crayfish is the same length they are.

**Cichlid Man** · 12-03-2005, 03:32 AM

How long is the crayfish?

swordtail72 · 12-03-2005, 04:41 AM

I think he would be fine.

fishfreaks · 12-03-2005, 05:03 PM

IMO the crayfish would either end up getting eaten when it's time for it to molt or it will kill some of your fish

**Scuba Kid** · 12-03-2005, 05:17 PM

^^ i agree. i think you should be more worried about your cichlids at night than the crayfish. however, they are very vulnerable right after they molt.

Cliffizme2 · 12-05-2005, 10:36 PM

Update: There are now 3 Crayfish (about 3-4" in length) in the tank and the Cichlids are steering clear.

DUSTIN323 · 12-06-2005, 10:43 AM

I don't know if the cichlids are in any harm really because usually most fish are to fast for crawfish but I don't know could also depend on tank size and fish. I use to feed my oscar crawfish all the time.

Lisachromis · 12-06-2005, 08:21 PM

The fish are really only in danger at night. I guess it all depends on what you really want and if you want to try it out.

leveldrummer · 12-06-2005, 11:06 PM

id be much more worried about the fish at night then the crayfish. when the fish sleep, one of the crawdads are gonna find them and eat the fish, thats what they are built to do.

View Poll Results: Is the Crayfish safe?
Yeah he can fend for himself...	4	66.67%
No, you just signed his death warrant by putting him in there...	2	33.33%
Voters: 6. You may not vote on this poll

12-03-2005, 12:26 AM	#1
Cliffizme2 Cliff Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tennessee Age: 24 Posts: 80	African Cichlids + Crayfish? Where I work we have a 80+ gallon (guesstimation) with about 10 African Cichlids 2-3" long. At the bottom of the tank is a longpincer Crayfish. A couple of the Cichlids have been picking at him but I don't think they are hurting him, the Crayfish either puts up his claws and the Cichlids run away or the Crayfish will zoom across the tank away from them. Every 2 minutes or so one of the Cichlids is back poking at the Crayfish's back or pinchers. I put a little rock hide-away in there that the Crayfish immediately inhabited, will he be safe to leave in there since he has his little hiding place? And can the Cichlids harm him even with his armor plating? I'm more worried about his little legs coming up missing but only 1 or 2 Cichlids pick at him and it's every couple of minutes. The Crayfish is coming out of the hiding place and walking around with these fish following him so either he isn't scared or he's dumb, I dunno. These are small African Cichlids and the Crayfish is the same length they are. __________________ 38 Gallon South American cichlid tank

12-03-2005, 03:32 AM	#2
Cichlid Man Super moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,100	How long is the crayfish? __________________ If you have a big enough tank with enough hiding places, pH of around 7, you can keep virtually any fish together as long as all the fish are around the same size and these two groups of fish are avioded: Serrasalmus Tetradon(figure eights and dwarfs are the exception). I keep a successful community of fish in a 4 foot tank including the following families: Cichlids, tetras, loaches, gouramis, barbs, rainbows, livebearers, killiefish, catfish, puffers.

12-03-2005, 05:03 PM	#4
fishfreaks M&F Couple Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: PA Age: 21 Posts: 4,303	IMO the crayfish would either end up getting eaten when it's time for it to molt or it will kill some of your fish __________________ VOTE FOR FISH FORUMS

12-03-2005, 05:17 PM	#5
Scuba Kid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RI Age: 18 Posts: 4,221	^^ i agree. i think you should be more worried about your cichlids at night than the crayfish. however, they are very vulnerable right after they molt. __________________ Current setups: 1800 gallon koi pond, 10 gallon planted, 150 gallon reef, other FOWLR tanks

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12-03-2005, 04:41 AM	#3
swordtail72 Banned Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Harrogate, TN Age: 30 Posts: 10	I think he would be fine.

12-05-2005, 10:36 PM	#6
Cliffizme2 Cliff Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tennessee Age: 24 Posts: 80	Update: There are now 3 Crayfish (about 3-4" in length) in the tank and the Cichlids are steering clear. __________________ 38 Gallon South American cichlid tank

12-06-2005, 10:43 AM	#7
DUSTIN323 ~/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\~ Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 20 Posts: 522	I don't know if the cichlids are in any harm really because usually most fish are to fast for crawfish but I don't know could also depend on tank size and fish. I use to feed my oscar crawfish all the time. __________________ Gen1Performance.com Gen 1 Performance Forum

12-06-2005, 08:21 PM	#8
Lisachromis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 280	The fish are really only in danger at night. I guess it all depends on what you really want and if you want to try it out. __________________ Lisa's Lair Cichlid Room Companion

12-06-2005, 11:06 PM	#9
leveldrummer something like a pimp Join Date: May 2005 Location: atlanta Age: 29 Posts: 1,933	id be much more worried about the fish at night then the crayfish. when the fish sleep, one of the crawdads are gonna find them and eat the fish, thats what they are built to do.

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