This dwarf crayfish is an excellent choice for the nano aquarium, and this particular color morph is a bright blue color that will last through its adulthood under the correct water parameters!
The Blue Cajun Dwarf Crayfish (Cambarellus shufeldtii "Blue") is yet another striking blue color morph of North American dwarf crayfish! This miniature freshwater crayfish features an outgoing personality and this variety is a very striking, bright blue color across its entire body. Dwarf crayfish are also known as mini lobsters, although true lobsters do not exist in freshwater. The Blue Cajun Dwarf Crayfish is very similar to the Orange CPO Crayfish in appearance and behavior, aside from the obvious difference in color. When kept in a pH consistently below 6.8, the Blue Blue Brazos Crayfish will retain its blue coloration throughout its adulthood. If the pH is higher it can revert back to a brown coloration upon a molt, so keeping the pH at or below 6.8 is essential in order for this crayfish to maintain a nice blue coloration.
Dwarf crayfish like this one are among our favorite invertebrates here at Aquatic Arts. They are much larger in size than dwarf shrimp (they can grow up to 1.6 inches long) and tend to live much longer, but are still small enough to comfortably live in a tank as small as five gallons. They are quite active and do not typically hide during the day like most larger crayfish. They make an exciting addition to any aquarium and are a great way to get into invertebrates if you haven't joined the craze already! It is a skilled climber, so extra care must be taken to ensure that it does not escape its enclosure.
Though this crayfish is small enough not to be a threat to most other tank inhabitants, they have on occasion gone after dwarf shrimp, so we cannot guarantee safety for dwarf shrimp when keeping them in the same tank. These are normally peaceful, but all crayfish are opportunistic omnivore hunters/scavengers so there is always a small chance they could try to fin clip slow moving fish or ones with long flowing fins. We have kept them with schools of fast moving small fish like rasboras, rainbowfish, and danios with very little to no issues. Caution just needs to be advised whenever housing a crayfish with other tank mates.
What We Like About This Crayfish:
- Exceptional bright blue coloration and active personality
- Very manageable dwarf size
- Rare and unique
- Excellent scavenger
RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:
- Temperature: 60 – 82.4° F (16 - 28° C), although the middle of this range is more ideal.
- pH: 6.0 – 6.8 (to remain blue) but can live up to 8.0
- KH: 6 - 12 dKH
- Minimum tank size: 5 gallons
CARE INFORMATION:
- Diet: Omnivorous. High-quality sinking pellets, plants, and freeze-dried or frozen foods will be readily accepted. Cuttlebone should be added to the aquarium to supplement calcium, which will aid in exoskeleton production.
- Social behavior: Can be aggressive/territorial with its own kind. Crayfish will typically eat whatever they can catch, but since they are slow-moving, they are not often able to harm fast-moving fish.
- Origin: Tank-bred, but indigenous to states bordering the Mississippi River from Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico
- Average adult size: 1.6 inches (4 cm)
- Average purchase size: .5 - 1 inch (1.3 – 2.5 cm)
- Recommended tank mates: Fast-moving fish (such as Celestial Pearl Danios, Rasboras, Guppies, etc.). While dwarf shrimp can be kept successfully with these crayfish, caution should be exercised, as the crayfish have been known to catch and eat slow, sick, or particularly small shrimp. Most cichlids can be aggressive toward crayfish and should not be kept in the same tank. Most bottom-dwelling tankmates should also be avoided.