Crawdads and mudbugs are freshwater crustaceans that can be kept in a home aquarium.A roomy tank, the right kind of food, time, and attention are all you need to raise one of your own.Crayfish are excellent pets, and can be seen building mounds, digging and hiding among plants and rocks at the bottom of their tanks.
Step 1: If you want to catch a crayfish, buy it.
Some marine shops sell tropical fish, as well as some pet stores.Before you start shopping, read about the different species and their needs.It is a good idea to start with a single crayfish until you know how to look after them.The price for a curafish is usually $20 or more.They can get rarer varieties for $30 or more.In some parts of the world, you can catch crayfish in shallow bodies of water.If you want to find a suitable pet, start by grabbing a small net and hunting under rocks.
Step 2: A tank should be set up.
The tank you choose should be large enough to hold at least 5–10 gallons (19–38 L) for each inside crayfish.For larger varieties, a 15–20 US gal tank is ideal.It is possible for crayfish to drown if they stay submerged for too long without a separate source of oxygen, so an air bubbler or long bubble wall is a must.Don't bother with heated aquariums because kelfish thrive in cool conditions.To keep the water clean and circulating properly, look for tanks that feature built-in aeration and filters.
Step 3: Fresh, well-balanced water is what you need to fill the tank.
Water with a neutral pH is preferred by fish.The temperature of the water should be between 70 and 75 F.If you have set up your tank indoors, you should be able to keep the water at the right temperature.It's possible to determine how acidic or basic the water in your tank is with a pH testing kit.These kits can be found in the fish section at pet stores.Foreign minerals can throw the pH of the water off, so don't add objects like seashells to your tank.
Step 4: At least once a week.
Large amounts of waste products can be taxed on standard aquarium filters when the water in the tank is changed.It is necessary for you to stay on top of your water changes in order to ensure a clean living environment.To change the water in your tank, first drain 14-12 of its total volume, then top it off with fresh, clean water.The water in your tank may need to be changed twice a week if you don't have a filter.Only mount tube or sponge filters.The kelfish can end up jamming undergravel filters.
Step 5: Natural environmental features should be incorporated.
There are elements at the bottom of your tank.It's a good idea to have a place for your crayfish to hide or play in.Large structures like hollow rocks, gerbil tubes, or enclosed containers are good for making crayfish feel safe.If you want to minimize the amount of light that gets in, keep one side of the tank covered.The fish like it dark.
Step 6: It's a good idea to give your crayfish a small amount of shrimp pellets.
Most of your crayfish's diet should be made up of shrimp and lobster bites.All the vitamins and minerals the crayfish need to grow and develop healthy shells can be found in pellet-type foods.It is easy to get to your pet's favorite hiding spots if you sprinkle the pellets around them.daphnia, bloodworms, and brine shrimp can be found in frozen aquarium foods.Don't feed your crustaceans live or raw.Shrimp can carry diseases that can be fatal.
Step 7: Vegetables can be used to supplement your crayfish's diet.
Drop some leaf lettuce, cabbage, zucchini, or cucumber into small strips at the bottom of the tank every now and then.peas, carrots, and sweet potatoes are okay.If they disappear in a hurry, it will be because they love munching on plant matter.crayfish can eat spoiled or decaying organic matter.If you want to kill two birds with one stone, treat your crayfish to veggies that are going bad.
Step 8: Don't over feed your crayfish.
One or two shakes of shrimp pellet or vegetables per day should be enough to keep your crayfish happy.Immediately after feeding your crayfish, remove any leftover food.Anything left at the bottom of the tank will quickly degrade and make more frequent changes to the water.It's okay to double the amount of food you give if you care for more than one crayfish.If you find leftovers, scoop them out quickly.crayfish can become soft and weak if they are eaten too much.
Step 9: Your crayfish should be protected from other fish.
When given a large tank, curafish do well.They live in harmony with small fish like goldfish, barbs, mollies, swordtails, and neon tetras.It is not uncommon for kelfish to display aggressive tendencies, but they are too slow to catch and eat fast fish.There are sickly fish that sink toward the bottom of the tank.Chances are your crayfish was close to death if you discovered it eating one of its tankmates.If you want to keep the crayfish in a community tank, you can cut half of the inner claw to prevent it from getting aggressive with a knife or scissor.The crayfish can pick up food.Every few months, cut the tips of their claws to make sure they don't start nipping fins again.The reverse isn't always true when it comes to crayfish.Crays have been known to be injured or killed by large catfish and cichlids.It's not a good idea to keep more than one crayfish.It will be important to make sure they have enough space to themselves, and that they are the same species.They are more likely to try to kill each other.
Step 10: Provide the right conditions for your crayfish to thrive.
The outer shell of your crayfish will be removed every few months to make room for a new one.Don't remove the old shell after.It needs to feed on the shell for several days in order to make a new layer of armor.Don't feed your crayfish in the first few days after it gets sick.It will only eat the old one during this time.When your crayfish is leaving its shell, add a few drops of Potassium Iodide to the tank.There are animals that die off as a result of being deficient in iodine.You can find it at any store that sells aquatic pet accessories.Your crayfish is vulnerable to being attacked by other fish with its soft body exposed.
Step 11: Make sure your tank is covered.
When no one is looking, curafish can turn into escape artists.If you want your cray to stay confined, you should choose a tank with a lid.If that isn't an option, use small pieces of sponges to seal off any openings near the top of the tank.If they eat plastic or aluminum foil, it will be harmful to their crays.All potential escape routes should be blocked off.If your crayfish finds a way out of its tank, it can die in a few hours.It's never a good idea to put a runaway crayfish back in its tank.Place it in a shallow container with enough water to cover it.It can drown if it doesn't get acclimatized to the water in time.