Hobbies And Interests

How to Capture & Raise Crayfish

There are many reasons a hobbyist would want to catch and raise crayfish, whether it is to use them as bait, sell them to pet shops or keep them as pets, but it requires plenty of patience, time and skill. The easy part is catching the crayfish, particularly if you live near a body of water in which they live; raising them is more challenging and involves some knowledge about water requirements and knowing how to avoid those pincers.

Things You'll Need

  • Fishing rod
  • String
  • Piece of meat
  • 3 aquariums, 5-gallon
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Instructions

    • 1

      Attach a piece of meat, preferably a dead fish, to a piece of string and tie it to the end of a fishing rod. Ensure the string and the meat are securely attached so the crayfish cannot easily pull them off. Place the business end of the rod into the body of water the crayfish inhabit, and wave it around gently. If there are crayfish in the vicinity, this will get their attention.

    • 2

      Grab the crayfish as it takes hold of the piece of meat; once it has it, it will hold on tightly so it should be straightforward to pull it out of the water and place it into a bucket. Be careful when picking it up -- to avoid its pincers, grip it behind the head using your thumb and forefinger. Avoid grabbing it by the tail, as it can swivel around and deliver a nasty nip.

    • 3

      Place the crayfish in an aquarium that is at least 5 gallons in size, 5 or 6 inches in depth and which has a neutral PH level and plenty of hiding places such as rocks. Keep the crayfish alone at a temperature of between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit until you are ready to mate it. At this point, ensure the temperature is a constant 80 degrees Fahrenheit. About three weeks after mating, the female will lay her eggs and place them under her tail for protection.

    • 4

      Remove the female to another aquarium so the male does not harm her, but be careful of distressing her, as she may let go of her eggs. Ensure the maternity tank has several hiding places for both the mother and her young. Once the babies have hatched and become independent of their mother, remove her immediately, as she will cannibalize them. At this point, add more small rocks and plastic plants so the babies can hide from each other.

    • 5

      Feed the youngsters with conventional fish flakes at least twice or more a day. They will grow quickly, and after less than two months, they will have to separated into more manageable numbers to avoid hygiene problems from overcrowding. Unfortunately, many of the youngsters may die -- some of them eaten by their own siblings -- regardless of how well you raise them. But there should be enough left to sell them or release them back into nature.


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