Few Questions About Blue Clawed Lobster

[bennett418]

Saw these as my lfs at weekend and i am thinking of getting one, what is minimum size tank for one?

they are currently about 2 1/2 to 3 inches long

do they need to be alone can i put certain fish in there or snails?

 

[bennett418]

anyone?

 

[raptorrex]

Saw these as my lfs at weekend and i am thinking of getting one, what is minimum size tank for one?

they are currently about 2 1/2 to 3 inches long

do they need to be alone can i put certain fish in there or snails?

well the Blue Lobster is an Australian Redclaw Cherax quadricarinatus, they are a tropical Cray needing a temp between 72-82f. i would suggest you look at a tank of 20-40 gallons. they can grow to 12 or more inches, nose to tail, but 5-8 inches is more normal. they can live for 5 or so years. as for fish!!!!!!!!! well i keep my Cray and Crab in a community, 50g, and have lost no fish. but my experience seems to be less then usual. whatever happens you will need a mature tank and fish, before thinking of keeping a Cray with fish. if you a really interested in doing the community thing, add to this thread. that said you must realise it is a great risk.

 

[angel_lover]

I recently purchased a lobster and he escaped at night and I didn't find it until it was too late . So if you get one make sure the lid is very secure. All I had open was the space around the filter.

The guy at the lfs told me that they can go with other fish but they may eat some. He said to steer clear of smaller slow moving fish. There are some smaller ones that are too fast for the lobster he said. Definatly look for more info on that because you can never trust what they say at lfs. I've heard everything

We were having a look at some crabs instead since we were a little upset about the lobster and don't want that to happen again . They are very cute.

 

[raptorrex]

Cray slow??? just try picking one up, at 5 inch, mine can shoot itself, halfway down a 4 foot tank, with one flick of her tail. and i've had a nip from a Cray, that turned in half its length to have a go, i didnt even see it move till it latched on. i've seen them catch tetras, plucking them out the water as they swim by. and heard of them setting traps for fish, and dropping onto them from hight!! however, not all Cray have the same disposition, mine, will have my fingers off if i try to get her out the tank. but has not taken a single fish! Err yet. and properly done, you have a better than 50% chance of having a peaceful community, IMO. but even so loosing fish is distressing, so its not a course for many.

 

[bennett418]

Ok thanks, and do they pull up plants???

 

[Dany]

YES. i had one not so long ago, an have reserved one in my work. they need a 20 gallon plus as somebody has aready said. as for the 72* they are mainly a cooler water crayfish living in waters of 65 - 70*. a unheated tank in the uk will be adiquate for the srvival of a red claw crayfish.

 

[raptorrex]

YES. i had one not so long ago, an have reserved one in my work. they need a 20 gallon plus as somebody has aready said. as for the 72* they are mainly a cooler water crayfish living in waters of 65 - 70*. a unheated tank in the uk will be adiquate for the srvival of a red claw crayfish.

please get your facts right!!!!!!!!!!!!! Redclaw are a tropical Cray NEEDING 72-82f this is not an opinion it is a fact!!!!!!!! keeping them below 70 reduces growth, anything below 50 is lethal.

though most cray are cool water the Redclaw is not. indeed its breeding cycle is started at82-85f, though it can happen at lower temps, this is the optimum.

there is a theory that keeping redclaw at lower temps, avoids bacterial infections. helping prolong the life of the Cray, this may be true, but keeping an animal outside it optimum range just for your own convenience, is not a good idea IMO.

if you do a search you will find i have quote a US department of agriculture document, stating the temp range for the Redclaw, i honestly cant be bothered to look it up, but a search on the internet, avoiding shops, will reveal the same information.