Lobster / Crayfish - Need Help

[Rufuss]

Hello everyone, I'm not even sure if this topic belongs in this part of the forum.

Anyways, I was wondering if a lobster or crayfish require a air pump? Also, how high can I put the water in the tank? Any information is much appreciated.

Thanks

- Brian

 

[SkiFletch]

Hello everyone, I'm not even sure if this topic belongs in this part of the forum.

Anyways, I was wondering if a lobster or crayfish require a air pump? Also, how high can I put the water in the tank? Any information is much appreciated.

Thanks

- Brian

Hehe well crayfish are freshwater species, and lobster saltwater... Sounds more like you want to keep freshwater varieties so I'll move this into the other inverts section. If you are looking to keep saltwater lobster, come on back and ask more questions. But remember, lobsters require BIG tanks

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Crayfish/Lobsters require filtered tanks which are kept clean by once weekly medium sized water changes etc, but how large a tank you get depends on the exact type of crayfish/lobster you get- generally speaking though, it is always good to get a tank with a securely fitting hood, as most crayfish/lobsters and many types of shrimp for that matter have the ability to crawl out of tanks. Are there any lobsters/crayfish in particular that interest you?

 

[raptorrex]

Hello everyone, I'm not even sure if this topic belongs in this part of the forum.

Anyways, I was wondering if a lobster or crayfish require a air pump? Also, how high can I put the water in the tank? Any information is much appreciated.

Thanks

- Brian

well as tokis says it depends on the Cray, though not so much. most Cray are said to like or need 20ukg tanks, though some North American varients are said to be happy in 10ukg.
you fill up a Cray tank as you would a fish tank, they have no need to be out the water, indeed this is often a sign that the tank is not right for a Cray if the do try top get out. but a secure lid is an absolute must.
they need well filtered water with a high O2 content, but are much less affected by nitrates in the water than fish, so often they are kept with no water changes, the tanks are simply topped off for evaporation.
they seem to love Airstones, performing all sorts of acrobatics in them, but apart from fun they are of little use.
before they mature, anywhere from 7 to 12 months, they need a high protein diet. after maturity this should be changed to a mainly veg bast feeding system, giving meat as a treat once of twice a week. they have comparatively small stomachs so feeding large bits of food is not really much use. suggested feeding is once every two days, but you develop you own system soon enough.

there are actually quite a few thread on this forum on this subject, it may be worth doing a search to see if any of it helps. re post here if you have any questions.

 

[Rufuss]

I'm gonna assume that my pet is a crayfish. My friend was explaining to me that it is a crayfish because it doesn't grow to be huge.
Here are a couple of pictures of the tank that my crayfish is in, I'm not sure if its big enough to be honest. The picture makes the tank look smaller, I think its aboit 1.5 Gallons I'm not sure. Also, I'm not sure if I should add more water to the tank, because I don't want my crayfish to be drowning lol.

 

[raptorrex]

I'm gonna assume that my pet is a crayfish. My friend was explaining to me that it is a crayfish because it doesn't grow to be huge.
Here are a couple of pictures of the tank that my crayfish is in, I'm not sure if its big enough to be honest. The picture makes the tank look smaller, I think its aboit 1.5 Gallons I'm not sure. Also, I'm not sure if I should add more water to the tank, because I don't want my crayfish to be drowning lol.

dont worry your crayfish will not drown, lol it can't, well not in water with enough O2, it has gills. so the tank should be filled up. i have to say that tank is far too small sorry. about 18.5 gallons too small to be more accurate. the pic is not too good but it may be a Redclaw or Blue Lobster. it needs proper filtration too, which i cant see in this tank, sorry but a heater is probably needed too, but only if it is a Redclaw. and sorry again but a plastic/acrylic tank, will soon look like scrap, as the crayfish starts to scratch the walls.

on a more positive note!!!! if you can get a more reasonably sized tank. whilst you cycle it, the Cray will be ok in the current tank, providing you do 100% water changes on a daily basis.

I really do hate to be so negative, but unless you dump the Cray and get a beta, or perhaps a couple of crabs. there is really no stock that tank can be used for.

it is true that the sea lobster is normally bigger than crayfish, but a look at the threads in the invert section will show a picture of a Cray, a Redclaw, that weighs in at just on a Kilogram and a Marron that puts many true Lobster to shame on size. but in the main cray grow to 4-8 inches, that is without claws, and tend to weigh a max of 90 150 grams.

 

[Shrimper]

Fill the tank up... Crayfish are totally aquatic they don't need any dry land. They definatly wont drown.

1.5 gallons is a very small tank. I think the minium recomended for a crayfish is 10 Gallons for the smaller species and 20 gallons for the bigger one. Your crayfish will quickly out grow at 1.5 Gallon tank and it will need upgrading.

 

[Rufuss]

Alright I'll probably be getting a new tank then with a filteration system. What I don't understand is why does it need such a huge tank? He barely even moves. lol

"I really do hate to be so negative, but unless you dump the Cray and get a beta, or perhaps a couple of crabs. there is really no stock that tank can be used for."

Well actually I'm getting a Betta this Sunday so it all works out

Thanks for the help btw.

 

[Shrimper]

Alright I'll probably be getting a new tank then with a filteration system. What I don't understand is why does it need such a huge tank? He barely even moves. lol

"I really do hate to be so negative, but unless you dump the Cray and get a beta, or perhaps a couple of crabs. there is really no stock that tank can be used for."

Well actually I'm getting a Betta this Sunday so it all works out

Thanks for the help btw.

If he has the room he will be a lot more active. Plus he will grow up to be quite big, probably 20cm+, its easier and cheaper in the long run to put him in a big enough tank at the begining rather than upgrading every 6 months...

 

[raptorrex]

Alright I'll probably be getting a new tank then with a filteration system. What I don't understand is why does it need such a huge tank? He barely even moves. lol


Well actually I'm getting a Betta this Sunday so it all works out

Thanks for the help btw.

it may be worth sitting up one night and watching your Cray, they can be very inactive with the lights on, indeed they should have less light than you need if it were fish, but are at their most active in the dark. though the size of the natural territory of the cray in the wild is more to the point than exercise. plus as stated they are mostly veg eaters, and rotting veg at that, so you need a big filter colony and water area to dilute the toxins before they are filtered. very few cray will be ok even in a 10ukg tank. look at it like this: your Cray may well grow to over 7 inches in 6 months, add the claws and you are closer to 10 inches. its antenna are the same length as its body, so out at night searching for food your cray will be over 13 inches long antenna to tip of tail, makes a 12 inch long tank look very small, come to that they make a 40ukg look small when out and about!

 

[Rufuss]

Ah I see, yeah a big tank is needed then lol..

One more question.

I have a food product for lobsters called Crab and Lobster Bites from HBH. About how many pellets in total a day should a lobster get? I'm never sure so everday I put around 12-16 Pellets mainly because he looks like he eats a lot.

Thanks Again

- Brian

 

[raptorrex]

Ah I see, yeah a big tank is needed then lol..

One more question.

I have a food product for lobsters called Crab and Lobster Bites from HBH. About how many pellets in total a day should a lobster get? I'm never sure so everday I put around 12-16 Pellets mainly because he looks like he eats a lot.

Thanks Again

- Brian

ouch!! me and my mouth . check the protein, fat and fiber in these things:
taken from http/www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=1582

Crab and Lobster Bites from HBH
Minimum Crude Protein 45%
Minimum Crude Fat 12%
Maximum Crude Fiber 3%
Maximum Moisture 10%

for a Cray the protein should be around 20%, fat at 5% and fiber should be over 10% .

i would look at something like, JBL NovoCrabs Food Chips, they have added wood fiber, and lower fat and protein or use a mixture of algae waffers and shrimp pellets, with fresh veg on the odd time. i will try tosort out some true crayfish feeds, and post their names and where to get them, thats if you can in the uk.