r/Crayfish • u/Gullible-Check9599 • 2d ago
Photo HELP!!! EGGS?!
I rescued this crayfish from my friend a few weeks ago. It’s been eating and active, but for the past couple days, it has not been eating and it dug itself a little hole under the driftwood. from my research it looks like these eggs are fertile.?? Can someone confirm that? I’m still very new to crayfish ownership. Any advice would be very very appreciated. What should i do?! Its currently alone in a 10gal hospital tank as i thought she was severely underweight when we rescued her
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u/BioConversantFan 1d ago
Do you want to abort or keep the young?
Without biofilm and meiofauna, the survival rate tends to be low.
If you want to keep them and it's legal where you are, we can give you tips on increasing the survival rate.
I'm not sure that I agree with the other poster, it's pattern looks off for a marmorkreb.
They can store milt for awhile, so it's possible that it's not, depending on how long it has been isolated.
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u/Gullible-Check9599 1d ago
I never considered aborting them. I called a local fish shop that said they would take them and sell them once theyre a bit more grown. I am in the US though, and had no idea theyre banned?? This crayfish was bought at a pet store by the original owner. Im not sure what the right thing to do is
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u/BioConversantFan 1d ago
It's state by state, so you might be fine.
It sounds like you are looking to keep them?
If so, some suggestions.
Separate the mom once she sheds/births the young.
Go to the pet store now and buy their literally cheapest shittiest large container of sinking fish food. The more fillers and lower the protein the better. Lots of fiber and carbohydrates are ideal. Start "ghost" feeding the tank with this food. Lightly at first but slowly ramp up till birth. This will feed biofilms and microfauna. The idea is to always have a little bit of fish food rotting away. If the protein is low, it shouldn't create any ammonia
Let a thin layer of mulm to form
Keep her main hide(s) very clean so that the eggs are never sitting in filth when she hides
A cheap new pesticide sprayer with a wand and hose is great for flushing hides.
Buy a big but low cost mortar for grinding a good quality food to dust to feed the hatchlings
If you can get any copepods, ostracods or rotifers then get them ASAP and add them. They are the single best food in my experience.
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u/sglifeisshit 2d ago edited 2d ago
Looks like a marbled crayfish which is self cloning, They are able to reproduce at a small size 5-6 months after hatching. They tolerate each other well but babies may be more cannibalistic. They need more protein as babies. The eggs will develop eyes when they are about to hatch. They should spend a few days clinging to the underside of the abdomen and then crawl about the tank. Feed them pellets when they start crawling around. People use these as feeders for monster fish or puffers. Also, they are banned in some countries and US states. Drop the temperature to 18 degrees to slow down their metabolism.