Crayfish Compadability

[Shovelman]

So just browsing through planet inverts to see if there are any larger inverts for my 65 gallon archer fish tank. Shrimp (1-2") are a no, as im sure they would be a snack for my African ghost knife i have in there. I researched crays a long time ago, and even kept one. Very interesting creatures and am looking to get on for one of my tanks, granted it would be suitable. I am re-researching them because it was such a long time ago and im a bit rusty. From what i remember-
*they will grab anything they can and will eat anything they can catch
*Plants are as good as gone...
*like to move things around...or at least at their burrow.
*can be fed most anything
*are cool and interesting to watch

So now i have two problems and two questions.
1. I have fish...surprise surprise...Q: Is there really a large risk of a cray grabbing a 3" soon to be 5" archer fish?
2. I have a planted tank.... Q: Will they always eat plants? Even tougher plants like vals, ferns, and crypts, anubias?
So overall are there any more so placid crays or large inverts that wont pounce on my fish given the chance, or turn my plants into poop?

 

[raptorrex]

So just browsing through planet inverts to see if there are any larger inverts for my 65 gallon archer fish tank. Shrimp (1-2") are a no, as im sure they would be a snack for my African ghost knife i have in there. I researched crays a long time ago, and even kept one. Very interesting creatures and am looking to get on for one of my tanks, granted it would be suitable. I am re-researching them because it was such a long time ago and im a bit rusty. From what i remember-
*they will grab anything they can and will eat anything they can catch
*Plants are as good as gone...
*like to move things around...or at least at their burrow.
*can be fed most anything
*are cool and interesting to watch

So now i have two problems and two questions.
1. I have fish...surprise surprise...Q: Is there really a large risk of a cray grabbing a 3" soon to be 5" archer fish?
2. I have a planted tank.... Q: Will they always eat plants? Even tougher plants like vals, ferns, and crypts, anubias?
So overall are there any more so placid crays or large inverts that wont pounce on my fish given the chance, or turn my plants into poop?

I would suggest the answer to fish or no fish is, NO FISH.
same answer for Plants or no plants. NO PLANTS.
the above is if you are thinking of Crayfish (crawfish).
its also worth remembering that there is only ONE tropical crayfish. that's the Australian Redclaw (Blue Lobster) Cherax quadricarinatus.

however. the Vampire shrimp (armoured shrimp/Congo shrimp) Atya Gabonensis. are fine with most fish, loves planted tanks and grows up to 15 cm.
so it may be a better choice, in your case.

 

[Shovelman]

So just browsing through planet inverts to see if there are any larger inverts for my 65 gallon archer fish tank. Shrimp (1-2") are a no, as im sure they would be a snack for my African ghost knife i have in there. I researched crays a long time ago, and even kept one. Very interesting creatures and am looking to get on for one of my tanks, granted it would be suitable. I am re-researching them because it was such a long time ago and im a bit rusty. From what i remember-
*they will grab anything they can and will eat anything they can catch
*Plants are as good as gone...
*like to move things around...or at least at their burrow.
*can be fed most anything
*are cool and interesting to watch

So now i have two problems and two questions.
1. I have fish...surprise surprise...Q: Is there really a large risk of a cray grabbing a 3" soon to be 5" archer fish?
2. I have a planted tank.... Q: Will they always eat plants? Even tougher plants like vals, ferns, and crypts, anubias?
So overall are there any more so placid crays or large inverts that wont pounce on my fish given the chance, or turn my plants into poop?

I would suggest the answer to fish or no fish is, NO FISH.
same answer for Plants or no plants. NO PLANTS.
the above is if you are thinking of Crayfish (crawfish).
its also worth remembering that there is only ONE tropical crayfish. that's the Australian Redclaw (Blue Lobster) Cherax quadricarinatus.

however. the Vampire shrimp (armoured shrimp/Congo shrimp) Atya Gabonensis. are fine with most fish, loves planted tanks and grows up to 15 cm.
so it may be a better choice, in your case.

Sweet! Do you know how many times a day or a week you need to feed them with fine particle food? And would placing a powerhead say, at the bottom right in front of a rock encourage him to filter feed directly in the current?

 

[onidrase]

You're right in saying they'll eat anything they can get ahold of. Unfortunately, they can get ahold of anything.

Long story short, I caught a crawdad (one of those more coldwater crayfish that live in the mountains up here) when it was a baby, still in muck, no real claws or anything. Brought it home with me, stuck it in my fish tank, it ate every fish I had as soon as it hit about 2 inches long, including a fully grown angelfish, a school of zebra danios, killed a pleco, and ate all my bleeding heart tetras as well. I have no doubts that a larger crayfish with bigger scarier claws wouldn't have any issues.

you might be able to try bamboo shrimp as well, but they require a water current to feed.

 

[raptorrex]

So just browsing through planet inverts to see if there are any larger inverts for my 65 gallon archer fish tank. Shrimp (1-2") are a no, as im sure they would be a snack for my African ghost knife i have in there. I researched crays a long time ago, and even kept one. Very interesting creatures and am looking to get on for one of my tanks, granted it would be suitable. I am re-researching them because it was such a long time ago and im a bit rusty. From what i remember-
*they will grab anything they can and will eat anything they can catch
*Plants are as good as gone...
*like to move things around...or at least at their burrow.
*can be fed most anything
*are cool and interesting to watch

So now i have two problems and two questions.
1. I have fish...surprise surprise...Q: Is there really a large risk of a cray grabbing a 3" soon to be 5" archer fish?
2. I have a planted tank.... Q: Will they always eat plants? Even tougher plants like vals, ferns, and crypts, anubias?
So overall are there any more so placid crays or large inverts that wont pounce on my fish given the chance, or turn my plants into poop?

I would suggest the answer to fish or no fish is, NO FISH.
same answer for Plants or no plants. NO PLANTS.
the above is if you are thinking of Crayfish (crawfish).
its also worth remembering that there is only ONE tropical crayfish. that's the Australian Redclaw (Blue Lobster) Cherax quadricarinatus.

however. the Vampire shrimp (armoured shrimp/Congo shrimp) Atya Gabonensis. are fine with most fish, loves planted tanks and grows up to 15 cm.
so it may be a better choice, in your case.

Sweet! Do you know how many times a day or a week you need to feed them with fine particle food? And would placing a powerhead say, at the bottom right in front of a rock encourage him to filter feed directly in the current?

if you have enough filter flow, no, no need for a power head. but a good long airstone will be nice.
however, using one will do no harm, so go ahead. uyour experience will help other, in the future.

You're right in saying they'll eat anything they can get ahold of. Unfortunately, they can get ahold of anything.

Long story short, I caught a crawdad (one of those more coldwater crayfish that live in the mountains up here) when it was a baby, still in muck, no real claws or anything. Brought it home with me, stuck it in my fish tank, it ate every fish I had as soon as it hit about 2 inches long, including a fully grown angelfish, a school of zebra danios, killed a pleco, and ate all my bleeding heart tetras as well. I have no doubts that a larger crayfish with bigger scarier claws wouldn't have any issues.

you might be able to try bamboo shrimp as well, but they require a water current to feed.

actually, I do keep my crayfish with fish.(i always have) and have lost no fish in 5 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
putting an immature cray with fish, is asking for trouble. if the fish are immature, its double trouble.

problem with putting Crays with fish, is the experience of the keeper, not the nature of the cray. mind you N American crays , apart from being Temperate, not tropical. are always a problem.
which is why i say NO to mixing with fish.

 

[Shovelman]

So just browsing through planet inverts to see if there are any larger inverts for my 65 gallon archer fish tank. Shrimp (1-2") are a no, as im sure they would be a snack for my African ghost knife i have in there. I researched crays a long time ago, and even kept one. Very interesting creatures and am looking to get on for one of my tanks, granted it would be suitable. I am re-researching them because it was such a long time ago and im a bit rusty. From what i remember-
*they will grab anything they can and will eat anything they can catch
*Plants are as good as gone...
*like to move things around...or at least at their burrow.
*can be fed most anything
*are cool and interesting to watch

So now i have two problems and two questions.
1. I have fish...surprise surprise...Q: Is there really a large risk of a cray grabbing a 3" soon to be 5" archer fish?
2. I have a planted tank.... Q: Will they always eat plants? Even tougher plants like vals, ferns, and crypts, anubias?
So overall are there any more so placid crays or large inverts that wont pounce on my fish given the chance, or turn my plants into poop?

I would suggest the answer to fish or no fish is, NO FISH.
same answer for Plants or no plants. NO PLANTS.
the above is if you are thinking of Crayfish (crawfish).
its also worth remembering that there is only ONE tropical crayfish. that's the Australian Redclaw (Blue Lobster) Cherax quadricarinatus.

however. the Vampire shrimp (armoured shrimp/Congo shrimp) Atya Gabonensis. are fine with most fish, loves planted tanks and grows up to 15 cm.
so it may be a better choice, in your case.

Sweet! Do you know how many times a day or a week you need to feed them with fine particle food? And would placing a powerhead say, at the bottom right in front of a rock encourage him to filter feed directly in the current?

if you have enough filter flow, no, no need for a power head. but a good long airstone will be nice.
however, using one will do no harm, so go ahead. uyour experience will help other, in the future.

You're right in saying they'll eat anything they can get ahold of. Unfortunately, they can get ahold of anything.

Long story short, I caught a crawdad (one of those more coldwater crayfish that live in the mountains up here) when it was a baby, still in muck, no real claws or anything. Brought it home with me, stuck it in my fish tank, it ate every fish I had as soon as it hit about 2 inches long, including a fully grown angelfish, a school of zebra danios, killed a pleco, and ate all my bleeding heart tetras as well. I have no doubts that a larger crayfish with bigger scarier claws wouldn't have any issues.

you might be able to try bamboo shrimp as well, but they require a water current to feed.

actually, I do keep my crayfish with fish.(i always have) and have lost no fish in 5 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
putting an immature cray with fish, is asking for trouble. if the fish are immature, its double trouble.

problem with putting Crays with fish, is the experience of the keeper, not the nature of the cray. mind you N American crays , apart from being Temperate, not tropical. are always a problem.
which is why i say NO to mixing with fish.

If you dont mind me asking, what species of cray is it that you own, and whats in the tank with it then?

 

[Binge]

The best advice I can give is if the fish matter to you do not add your crayfish. I keep and by virtue of thier frisky nature breed blue alleni They lived with fish for a long time. My male stalked and killed anythign he could get close too. My female was worse she would hang upside down from plants to attack swimming fish at any level of the tank. I have seen a 1/4 inch long baby alleni take down a 3 inch molly. It grabbed the mollys fins when it swam over and rode it like a rodeo clown until it went down. ( I was very new to fish keeping and had only one tank when my first hatch of babys came even with a tank seperator the fish and snails had no chance).

I will however agree that crays are probably the most interesting creatures you can keep in a tank.

 

[Shovelman]

The best advice I can give is if the fish matter to you do not add your crayfish. I keep and by virtue of thier frisky nature breed blue alleni They lived with fish for a long time. My male stalked and killed anythign he could get close too. My female was worse she would hang upside down from plants to attack swimming fish at any level of the tank. I have seen a 1/4 inch long baby alleni take down a 3 inch molly. It grabbed the mollys fins when it swam over and rode it like a rodeo clown until it went down. ( I was very new to fish keeping and had only one tank when my first hatch of babys came even with a tank seperator the fish and snails had no chance).

I will however agree that crays are probably the most interesting creatures you can keep in a tank.

Alright thanks everyone for the input! looks like ill drag the old 10 gallon out for a single specimen tank! Which species would i be looking at? Already have the tank, hood, lights and rocks. Would you recommend sand or a large river stone substrate? Or just simple pea gravel?

 

[MisssMarie]

The best advice I can give is if the fish matter to you do not add your crayfish. I keep and by virtue of thier frisky nature breed blue alleni They lived with fish for a long time. My male stalked and killed anythign he could get close too. My female was worse she would hang upside down from plants to attack swimming fish at any level of the tank. I have seen a 1/4 inch long baby alleni take down a 3 inch molly. It grabbed the mollys fins when it swam over and rode it like a rodeo clown until it went down. ( I was very new to fish keeping and had only one tank when my first hatch of babys came even with a tank seperator the fish and snails had no chance).

I will however agree that crays are probably the most interesting creatures you can keep in a tank.

Alright thanks everyone for the input! looks like ill drag the old 10 gallon out for a single specimen tank! Which species would i be looking at? Already have the tank, hood, lights and rocks. Would you recommend sand or a large river stone substrate? Or just simple pea gravel?

I personally say sand

 

[Binge]

Mine like sand and gravel both they love to dig.

 

[Shovelman]

Mine like sand and gravel both they love to dig.

thanks!

 

[raptorrex]

So just browsing through planet inverts to see if there are any larger inverts for my 65 gallon archer fish tank. Shrimp (1-2") are a no, as im sure they would be a snack for my African ghost knife i have in there. I researched crays a long time ago, and even kept one. Very interesting creatures and am looking to get on for one of my tanks, granted it would be suitable. I am re-researching them because it was such a long time ago and im a bit rusty. From what i remember-
*they will grab anything they can and will eat anything they can catch
*Plants are as good as gone...
*like to move things around...or at least at their burrow.
*can be fed most anything
*are cool and interesting to watch

So now i have two problems and two questions.
1. I have fish...surprise surprise...Q: Is there really a large risk of a cray grabbing a 3" soon to be 5" archer fish?
2. I have a planted tank.... Q: Will they always eat plants? Even tougher plants like vals, ferns, and crypts, anubias?
So overall are there any more so placid crays or large inverts that wont pounce on my fish given the chance, or turn my plants into poop?

I would suggest the answer to fish or no fish is, NO FISH.
same answer for Plants or no plants. NO PLANTS.
the above is if you are thinking of Crayfish (crawfish).
its also worth remembering that there is only ONE tropical crayfish. that's the Australian Redclaw (Blue Lobster) Cherax quadricarinatus.

however. the Vampire shrimp (armoured shrimp/Congo shrimp) Atya Gabonensis. are fine with most fish, loves planted tanks and grows up to 15 cm.
so it may be a better choice, in your case.

Sweet! Do you know how many times a day or a week you need to feed them with fine particle food? And would placing a powerhead say, at the bottom right in front of a rock encourage him to filter feed directly in the current?

if you have enough filter flow, no, no need for a power head. but a good long airstone will be nice.
however, using one will do no harm, so go ahead. uyour experience will help other, in the future.

You're right in saying they'll eat anything they can get ahold of. Unfortunately, they can get ahold of anything.

Long story short, I caught a crawdad (one of those more coldwater crayfish that live in the mountains up here) when it was a baby, still in muck, no real claws or anything. Brought it home with me, stuck it in my fish tank, it ate every fish I had as soon as it hit about 2 inches long, including a fully grown angelfish, a school of zebra danios, killed a pleco, and ate all my bleeding heart tetras as well. I have no doubts that a larger crayfish with bigger scarier claws wouldn't have any issues.

you might be able to try bamboo shrimp as well, but they require a water current to feed.

actually, I do keep my crayfish with fish.(i always have) and have lost no fish in 5 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
putting an immature cray with fish, is asking for trouble. if the fish are immature, its double trouble.

problem with putting Crays with fish, is the experience of the keeper, not the nature of the cray. mind you N American crays , apart from being Temperate, not tropical. are always a problem.
which is why i say NO to mixing with fish.

If you dont mind me asking, what species of cray is it that you own, and whats in the tank with it then?

I keep Redclaw Cherax quadricarinatus. and only females.

 

[Shovelman]

So just browsing through planet inverts to see if there are any larger inverts for my 65 gallon archer fish tank. Shrimp (1-2") are a no, as im sure they would be a snack for my African ghost knife i have in there. I researched crays a long time ago, and even kept one. Very interesting creatures and am looking to get on for one of my tanks, granted it would be suitable. I am re-researching them because it was such a long time ago and im a bit rusty. From what i remember-
*they will grab anything they can and will eat anything they can catch
*Plants are as good as gone...
*like to move things around...or at least at their burrow.
*can be fed most anything
*are cool and interesting to watch

So now i have two problems and two questions.
1. I have fish...surprise surprise...Q: Is there really a large risk of a cray grabbing a 3" soon to be 5" archer fish?
2. I have a planted tank.... Q: Will they always eat plants? Even tougher plants like vals, ferns, and crypts, anubias?
So overall are there any more so placid crays or large inverts that wont pounce on my fish given the chance, or turn my plants into poop?

I would suggest the answer to fish or no fish is, NO FISH.
same answer for Plants or no plants. NO PLANTS.
the above is if you are thinking of Crayfish (crawfish).
its also worth remembering that there is only ONE tropical crayfish. that's the Australian Redclaw (Blue Lobster) Cherax quadricarinatus.

however. the Vampire shrimp (armoured shrimp/Congo shrimp) Atya Gabonensis. are fine with most fish, loves planted tanks and grows up to 15 cm.
so it may be a better choice, in your case.

Sweet! Do you know how many times a day or a week you need to feed them with fine particle food? And would placing a powerhead say, at the bottom right in front of a rock encourage him to filter feed directly in the current?

if you have enough filter flow, no, no need for a power head. but a good long airstone will be nice.
however, using one will do no harm, so go ahead. uyour experience will help other, in the future.

You're right in saying they'll eat anything they can get ahold of. Unfortunately, they can get ahold of anything.

Long story short, I caught a crawdad (one of those more coldwater crayfish that live in the mountains up here) when it was a baby, still in muck, no real claws or anything. Brought it home with me, stuck it in my fish tank, it ate every fish I had as soon as it hit about 2 inches long, including a fully grown angelfish, a school of zebra danios, killed a pleco, and ate all my bleeding heart tetras as well. I have no doubts that a larger crayfish with bigger scarier claws wouldn't have any issues.

you might be able to try bamboo shrimp as well, but they require a water current to feed.

actually, I do keep my crayfish with fish.(i always have) and have lost no fish in 5 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
putting an immature cray with fish, is asking for trouble. if the fish are immature, its double trouble.

problem with putting Crays with fish, is the experience of the keeper, not the nature of the cray. mind you N American crays , apart from being Temperate, not tropical. are always a problem.
which is why i say NO to mixing with fish.

If you dont mind me asking, what species of cray is it that you own, and whats in the tank with it then?

I keep Redclaw Cherax quadricarinatus. and only females.

And they dont bother the fish at all?

 

[raptorrex]

So just browsing through planet inverts to see if there are any larger inverts for my 65 gallon archer fish tank. Shrimp (1-2") are a no, as im sure they would be a snack for my African ghost knife i have in there. I researched crays a long time ago, and even kept one. Very interesting creatures and am looking to get on for one of my tanks, granted it would be suitable. I am re-researching them because it was such a long time ago and im a bit rusty. From what i remember-
*they will grab anything they can and will eat anything they can catch
*Plants are as good as gone...
*like to move things around...or at least at their burrow.
*can be fed most anything
*are cool and interesting to watch

So now i have two problems and two questions.
1. I have fish...surprise surprise...Q: Is there really a large risk of a cray grabbing a 3" soon to be 5" archer fish?
2. I have a planted tank.... Q: Will they always eat plants? Even tougher plants like vals, ferns, and crypts, anubias?
So overall are there any more so placid crays or large inverts that wont pounce on my fish given the chance, or turn my plants into poop?

I would suggest the answer to fish or no fish is, NO FISH.
same answer for Plants or no plants. NO PLANTS.
the above is if you are thinking of Crayfish (crawfish).
its also worth remembering that there is only ONE tropical crayfish. that's the Australian Redclaw (Blue Lobster) Cherax quadricarinatus.

however. the Vampire shrimp (armoured shrimp/Congo shrimp) Atya Gabonensis. are fine with most fish, loves planted tanks and grows up to 15 cm.
so it may be a better choice, in your case.

Sweet! Do you know how many times a day or a week you need to feed them with fine particle food? And would placing a powerhead say, at the bottom right in front of a rock encourage him to filter feed directly in the current?

if you have enough filter flow, no, no need for a power head. but a good long airstone will be nice.
however, using one will do no harm, so go ahead. uyour experience will help other, in the future.

You're right in saying they'll eat anything they can get ahold of. Unfortunately, they can get ahold of anything.

Long story short, I caught a crawdad (one of those more coldwater crayfish that live in the mountains up here) when it was a baby, still in muck, no real claws or anything. Brought it home with me, stuck it in my fish tank, it ate every fish I had as soon as it hit about 2 inches long, including a fully grown angelfish, a school of zebra danios, killed a pleco, and ate all my bleeding heart tetras as well. I have no doubts that a larger crayfish with bigger scarier claws wouldn't have any issues.

you might be able to try bamboo shrimp as well, but they require a water current to feed.

actually, I do keep my crayfish with fish.(i always have) and have lost no fish in 5 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
putting an immature cray with fish, is asking for trouble. if the fish are immature, its double trouble.

problem with putting Crays with fish, is the experience of the keeper, not the nature of the cray. mind you N American crays , apart from being Temperate, not tropical. are always a problem.
which is why i say NO to mixing with fish.

If you dont mind me asking, what species of cray is it that you own, and whats in the tank with it then?

I keep Redclaw Cherax quadricarinatus. and only females.

And they dont bother the fish at all?

I have never experienced any problems.

 

[Shovelman]

So just browsing through planet inverts to see if there are any larger inverts for my 65 gallon archer fish tank. Shrimp (1-2") are a no, as im sure they would be a snack for my African ghost knife i have in there. I researched crays a long time ago, and even kept one. Very interesting creatures and am looking to get on for one of my tanks, granted it would be suitable. I am re-researching them because it was such a long time ago and im a bit rusty. From what i remember-
*they will grab anything they can and will eat anything they can catch
*Plants are as good as gone...
*like to move things around...or at least at their burrow.
*can be fed most anything
*are cool and interesting to watch

So now i have two problems and two questions.
1. I have fish...surprise surprise...Q: Is there really a large risk of a cray grabbing a 3" soon to be 5" archer fish?
2. I have a planted tank.... Q: Will they always eat plants? Even tougher plants like vals, ferns, and crypts, anubias?
So overall are there any more so placid crays or large inverts that wont pounce on my fish given the chance, or turn my plants into poop?

I would suggest the answer to fish or no fish is, NO FISH.
same answer for Plants or no plants. NO PLANTS.
the above is if you are thinking of Crayfish (crawfish).
its also worth remembering that there is only ONE tropical crayfish. that's the Australian Redclaw (Blue Lobster) Cherax quadricarinatus.

however. the Vampire shrimp (armoured shrimp/Congo shrimp) Atya Gabonensis. are fine with most fish, loves planted tanks and grows up to 15 cm.
so it may be a better choice, in your case.

Sweet! Do you know how many times a day or a week you need to feed them with fine particle food? And would placing a powerhead say, at the bottom right in front of a rock encourage him to filter feed directly in the current?

if you have enough filter flow, no, no need for a power head. but a good long airstone will be nice.
however, using one will do no harm, so go ahead. uyour experience will help other, in the future.

You're right in saying they'll eat anything they can get ahold of. Unfortunately, they can get ahold of anything.

Long story short, I caught a crawdad (one of those more coldwater crayfish that live in the mountains up here) when it was a baby, still in muck, no real claws or anything. Brought it home with me, stuck it in my fish tank, it ate every fish I had as soon as it hit about 2 inches long, including a fully grown angelfish, a school of zebra danios, killed a pleco, and ate all my bleeding heart tetras as well. I have no doubts that a larger crayfish with bigger scarier claws wouldn't have any issues.

you might be able to try bamboo shrimp as well, but they require a water current to feed.

actually, I do keep my crayfish with fish.(i always have) and have lost no fish in 5 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
putting an immature cray with fish, is asking for trouble. if the fish are immature, its double trouble.

problem with putting Crays with fish, is the experience of the keeper, not the nature of the cray. mind you N American crays , apart from being Temperate, not tropical. are always a problem.
which is why i say NO to mixing with fish.

If you dont mind me asking, what species of cray is it that you own, and whats in the tank with it then?

I keep Redclaw Cherax quadricarinatus. and only females.

And they dont bother the fish at all?

I have never experienced any problems.

Interesting.... anywho what species would you recommend for a 10 gallon?