Blue Crawfish

[fishn00b]

I have my blue crayfish in a ten gallon right now (he's only about two inches big) and he hasn't drowned yet. He's been in there for just about two months or so. I wouldn't imagine you need an air stone in there. But he is a nasty fellow. He attacks the other gourami I have in the tank and leaves them with nasty cuts if they come to close to them. But it seems to happen to only one of the gourami... a gold one. The other Blue Paradise Gourami hasn't been hurt yet.

[arnola]

Other tank mates, currently in the tank now, are: 1 Blue gourami, 1 rasbora, 2 danios, 2 barbs, 1 pictus, 1 raphael, and 1 plecostomus.

I'd like more fish, but every time I add new ones, they either die or disappear. Sometimes I find remains and sometimes I don't. I've tried platys, swordtails, mollys, ...

Any ideas? As far as the crayfish, I just can't make up my mind.

[fishfreaks]

the pictus and raphael may be the culprit. How big are they? if the other fish can fit in their mouth they most definatly will eat them. I wouldnt be suprised if the crayfish was snacking too since your finding remains. The catfish would just swallow them whole.

[fishfreek4life]

I have raised many crayfish, and currently breed them. I feed them ghost shrimp, shrimp pellets, goldfish, and random other dead fish I have. I have had a blue guy get to be almost 7'' body length. I do know he wasnt a pure bred blue, but he sure was popular.
I have had them in a show tank, and they like to pick on bottom dwellers, and expecially ropefish, bichirs, and eels. I wouldnt chance having those guys live together unless there was tons of cover and hiding in a huge tank so everyone has their corner or spot.
The smallest I have raised one in is a 10 gal his whole life, and he got about 9'' full length with claws sticking straight forward. I suggest a 20L.
As for drowning, its possible, but only for someone who isnt careful. Give him some sort of air, as in bubbles or give him the ability to crawl out of the water like a crab likes to.
As for getting out, they love that. I let one of my pretty blue ones dance on the table for about 5 mins. They can live 10+ mins out of water, as long as their gills arent fully dry. You can have a small dish of water for him to play in like a hermit crab, and he can live sans-water for a few hours.