What Do Baby Crawfish Eat?

Early Feeding

• Baby crawfish are born ravenous. During the formative weeks they spend under their mothers' tails, they survive by eating whatever waterborne food floats their way. The feeding mother will often drop smaller pieces of her own meals, which her babies then devour as they float by. They also eat small insect larvae, other small waterborne organisms and floating bits of organic waste.

Hunting

• After baby crawfish leave their mothers, they adopt the feeding habits that are best suited to survival in their environment. If adequate live food is available, crawfish get their food by hunting. Small crawfish may pursue their meals in the form of insect larvae and small insects. Larger animals may also be eaten, if they are relatively slow and defenseless against the crawfish's claws. Worms, for instance, are a high-protein food source for growing crawfish. As they grow, they pursue larger prey which may include snails, tadpoles, small fish and even other crawfish

Scavenging and Foraging

• A lack of moving prey will not stop baby crawfish from eating. Crawfish are content to make meals of algea and decaying plant matter, as well as the eggs of several other aquatic animals. If a baby crawfish finds a cache of fish eggs, or the eggs of amphibians such as frogs, toads and salamanders, it will make a quick meal of them.

Cannibalism

• When adult crawfish meet, they often fight to the death, and the winner dines upon its victim's body. This form of cannibalism may also occur among baby crawfish, especially if they are kept in captivity. When crawfish are confined to too small a space after leaving their mother, the larger ones will kill and eat the smaller ones.

Captive Feeding

• Crawfish in captivity are as omnivorous as their wild counterparts, and will attempt to catch and eat any small fish who share their tank. They also scavenge the aquarium floor for uneaten food and waste, and will readily accept fish food that sinks to the bottom. Some hobbyists also offer dry cat food, which sinks to the floor and serves as a convenient source of protein. However, sinking pellets and cat food may pollute the water if left uneaten, so feed your captive crawfish in a separate feeding tank or remove any uneaten food.