Home >> Science & Nature >> Nature

How to Raise Crawfish in an Aquarium for Food

Crawfish ̵2; also called crawdads or crayfish ̵2; are found in abundance in their natural habitat. For people who don't live around rivers or lakes where the crayfish reside, raising them in a home pond or aquarium may be an acceptable substitute. Raising crayfish in an aquarium is quite a bit of work, but it can be done. If you plan to have lots of these creatures, you need a good amount of tank space, as the crawfish are aggressive and need plenty of room to spread out.

Things You'll Need

Aquariums
Filters
Air Bubblers
Assorted hiding places
Water test equipment
Aquarium heaters
Calcium blocks
Siphon hose
Tank lids

Instructions

- 1
  Set up the tanks in a warm room. Crayfish do best in temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the room warm or put a heater in each tank. The number of tanks depends on the number of crayfish you have. You also need a couple empty tanks if you plan to breed the crayfish. A single crayfish needs at minimum a 6-gallon tank. If you have breeding pairs or plan to keep more than one in each tank, have at least 10 gallons per 6-inch crayfish ̵2; larger species need 25 gallons each ̵2; and use long, shallow tanks to give them plenty of room to hide, as they will fight each other.
- 2
  Fill the tanks with 4 to 12 inches of water. The water needs to be kept at a neutral pH. Place rocks, broken pots or other items in the tanks to provide cover and hiding spots for the crayfish. Use side filters with filter media that will not harm humans if you plan to consume the crayfish. Don't put any chemicals or food in the tank that people can't consume. Each tank needs a tight lid that doesn't have any large gaps. Crayfish climb and jump and will escape if given a chance.
- 3
  Check the water quality daily. Add calcium blocks or egg shells to the tank to help regulate the pH and provide the crayfish with nutrients. Do partial water changes frequently; ammonia and nitrates build up in the water and will kill the crayfish. Use air bubblers to provide oxygen, or your crayfish may drown.
- 4
  Feed the crayfish a couple times a day. They eat most plant and animal matter, as well as crayfish feed. Small bait fish make good treats. If you have multiple crayfish in one tank, drop some food in front of each creature's hiding spot so they don't fight over the food.
- 5
  Raise the water temperature to 80 degrees Fahrenheit to promote breeding. Once you see eggs on the tail of a crayfish, remove it to its own tank. The tank should be large enough that the fry can spread out and hide, meaning fewer will be eaten. Lure the crayfish into a container; don't use a net or you may knock the eggs off the tail. When the eggs hatch, remove the adult or she will eat the fry. Feed the fry flake food or vegetable matter daily, so they don't get hungry and eat each other. Once they grow large enough, place them in tanks like the other crayfish.

Nature