What Freshwater Crayfish Eat

Plant Material

• Decaying plant matter makes up the primary diet of crayfish, because it is both abundant and easy for them to eat. The decaying matter is easily shredded by their claws and readily available at the bottom of the pond. One crayfish-farming practice that takes advantage of this natural food is draining ponds of the water then refilling them a few days later after the vegetation has begun to die off. The crayfish that then inhabit the pond have a bountiful harvest of dead plant matter to eat --- and at little cost to the farmer.

Small Creatures

• Snails and insects are a common diet item for freshwater crayfish and are found in just about every location the crustaceans live. Snails in ponds are often abundant and enjoy the same conditions as the crayfish. They are soft and small and not quick enough to get away, so crayfish will eat snails whenever they can find them. Insect larvae or those adult insects that accidentally stumble into the water are a prime target for crayfish, ever the opportunists. Dead or alive, an insect is a tasty meal for the little lobsterlike creatures, which can easily collect them if they are struggling in the water or sink to the bottom.

Fish

• Fish are a favorite meal for crayfish, but normally unless they have an unusual opportunity, this menu item is usually a scavenged one. A dead fish attracts crayfish, which consider the fish so attractive that crayfish farmers use them as bait. Live fish tend to be somewhat difficult for crayfish to catch. Even though they are quick, fish are usually faster. However, in a tank environment, a freshwater crayfish will usually catch and eat any small fish that inhabit the tank with them.

Other Crayfish

• When food is not in abundance or when the opportunity is right, crayfish are not above eating each other. They are most likely to become a menu item to other crayfish during moulting when the shell and body is soft enough. Crayfish in captivity require regular feeding to make them less likely to digest their pond mates, and too many crayfish in one area is sure to cause some cannibalism regardless of the food availability. Crayfish are scavengers and opportunists, so to them even another crayfish is a tasty meal if they can get it.