Many lovers of aquarium exoticism would like their waters to be populated not only by fish, but also by Australian red claw crayfish. These are not very large underwater inhabitants, which can surprise with their unusual color. But before deciding on such an acquisition, some seek to learn all about cancers. Red claw blue cancer has its own characteristics of maintenance and care, they will be discussed in this article.
Habitats in nature
This vibrant underwater inhabitant is also called the Yabbi Red Claw. It can be met in stagnant water bodies in Australia and New Guinea. Since he is a freshwater inhabitant, he settles in ponds, quiet, small rivers, and sometimes he is found in puddles. Some claim to have noticed this "traveler" in running waters, but in fact he chooses only small streams and other similar places with minimal flow. Given these unpretentious qualities of cancer, it is suitable for inexperienced aquarists.
External characteristics
The main color of Australian cancer is saturated blue, and yellowish "freckles" are scattered throughout the shell. The color of the connections between the segments can be not only blue, but also red, orange, pink. However, the saturation of the shades will depend on the hardness of the water in which Australian cancer lives. To get a bright color, it is better to keep it in hard water. If it is soft in composition, the cancer will turn brown, although the blue tint will remain noticeable.
In nature, they can grow up to 20 cm, and their weight sometimes reaches 500 g. But at home, crayfish do not reach this size a little. Females grow even smaller. In addition, in males, a flat “claw” grows on the outside of the claw, often red, but may be lighter.
Pet character
Despite its large size, Australian red-claw cancer is considered one of the most peace-loving. The description of this creature showed that its hardness affects its color. But this fact also affects the aggressiveness of cancer. A tougher habitat can make it more hostile.
Despite this, Australian cancer is capable of peaceful coexistence with fish, and with those who are larger than it, it even lives in the same shelter. But at the same time, they often do not get along with their brothers, and sometimes they engage in cannibalism, eating young animals. Too aggressive individuals may prey on small fish. In addition, if there are too many males in the aquarium, active molten crabs will eat their rivals during molting.
These inhabitants can be attributed to nocturnal animals, and they spend the day half asleep. In daylight, they can appear in order to eat or if they are going to molt (for this they need free space). But if the cancer did not crawl out for these purposes, perhaps this is a signal that something is wrong in your body of water.
Australian crayfish are creative creatures that can arrange their aquarium decorations in their own way. They also use their claws in order to rummage in the silt and make a new hole, which will become their refuge.
Australian red claw crayfish: keeping in the aquarium
This kind of crayfish is much easier to care for than its cousins. In order for your pet to be calm and not nervous, he needs a 200-liter aquarium. It is also worth remembering that one pair requires 150 liters of space. Keep them better in hard water, although they can live in a softer one.
The aquarium must be decorated with bright little things, it can be colorful pebbles or artificial flowers. They are necessary for the division of the territory. In addition, the crayfish should have many possible shelters in the territory, otherwise conflicts between brothers will begin. All inhabitants love that in their possessions there were several houses at once. It can be minks, snags, they really like pipes (ceramic), pots. It is worth noting that large stones do not interest them. Also, so that they can dig their holes, they need a sufficient soil layer.
A desirable condition for Australian blue cancer to feel comfortable is to get out of the water. So they have the opportunity to warm themselves and breathe. But if you have other pets, such as cats, they should not have access to crawling out of the water.
Above all, there should be space at the bottom where the cancer can shed freely, dropping its old carapace. It is worth noting that these pets live about five years.
Aquarium Neighborhood
It is advisable to run small fish into the water. Besides the fact that it diversifies your fauna, there is another reason. After cancer, there is a lot of waste that settles in the water. Over time, these residues can cause bacterial outbreaks. But, for example, guppy fish or corridors are able to clean them after the crayfish. Such a neighborhood can bring inconvenience only to small fish, because they overeat from inability to control themselves. Or they can be scratched by crayfish for stealing their food.
On the other hand, if guppies die from overeating, Australian cancer will become a nurse. So, for the neighborhood it is better to purchase a small fish, which multiplies rapidly. Large fish can eat small crustaceans. Snails and shrimp in the same aquarium with crayfish should not be bred.
Aquarium vegetation
Australian crayfish love vegetation, so they eat everything they can get. But you can decorate a home pond with plants that stay on the surface. For a constant supply of greenery, it is better to start a donor aquarium.
Of all the plants, clidiflora lasts the longest. The duckweed also spreads quickly, so that the crayfish do not have time to eat it. In addition, in a proven reservoir in the summer, you can stock up on thread. Young crustaceans like to swarm in this plant, gradually eating it. But when bringing thread from a pond, be careful not to infect the aquarium.
To the purity of water, this type of crayfish is not too demanding.
Water temperature
Although Australian cancer is resistant to temperature fluctuations, it is still better not to allow its indicators below 18 ° C: with a prolonged decrease in degrees, the pet may die from hypothermia. The most comfortable temperature will be in the range of 20–26 ° . If the summer heat has come, the cancer can withstand 30 ° C, but in this case there should be enough oxygen in the water.
Crayfish feeding
Young crayfish are not too demanding on food, but at the same time they are inconsistent in choosing a menu. Despite the fact that by nature they are vegetarians, these creatures are not averse to tasting a frog, small fish, snails. But the diet for your pet needs to be made, given its menu in vivo. Usually they have oak or beech foliage daily. This "dish" for Australian crayfish is considered a delicious delicacy. In addition to this, foliage is a real antiseptic, without which the health and immunity of cancer will decline. If there are no leaves in the diet, your pet will become susceptible to disease.
But besides this, you can dilute your pet’s menu with frozen food, peas, earthworms, a variety of vegetables, snails, fish food (with mineral additives and calcium).
It is better if there is a place in the aquarium where you can put down the fallen leaf, hay, sleeping tea and other plant residues. Although these components are not eaten so quickly, the crayfish will be strong and healthy.
What to feed is not worth it
Despite the fact that Australian crayfish can eat everything, there are foods that they better not offer. Crayfish poorly eat banana peels, grated raw beets, carrots, potatoes. In addition, they spoil the water. Crayfish do not eat apples at all. However, there are products that are eaten perfectly, but at the same time they spoil the state of water. These include: boiled egg, cottage cheese, bread, raw meat or minced meat. The last two products can be thrown a little. It is rational to give bread if there are fish in the aquarium.
Gender characteristics
In order to breed Australian red claw cancer, it’s important to learn how to identify males that are ready to breed. This is usually indicated by a flat protrusion on the claw. This is a red growth (the color intensity depends on the hardness of the water). This protrusion is not formed from birth, but only after the cancer becomes sexually mature. At that moment, when the male is ready for copulation, his ledge will acquire a more saturated tone, which will differ from its usual color.
The female can be identified by her neat claws. Also, the size of the female is slightly inferior to the male.
Crayfish breeding
Just as keeping, breeding, and growing Australian crayfish is not as time-consuming as it may seem. An important condition is an aquarium of the necessary size.
In order to stimulate the desire for mating games among males and females, it is better to relocate them for a week from each other to different aquariums. Seven days later, the couple is united, and the "lovers" several times increased sexual activity.
At the end of the mating, the female under the abdomen lays eggs. She carries eggs, and then larvae from 8 to 9 weeks. The duration of this period depends on the temperature of the water. At the end of gestation, about a hundred crustaceans appear in the aquarium.
It is necessary to plant young animals in other tanks. But in order for the offspring to be preserved, many shelters must be provided for the crustacean aquarium. By the way, after the young growth has been resettled, you need to carefully monitor it. They grow fast enough, and you should have time to plant them in size.
These cancers do not fade at the same time, therefore, from one female there can be large and small individuals. This phenomenon is natural, and gradually their size will even out. But until this happens, it is important to settle large and small crustaceans in different aquariums.