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Dwarf Crayfish Care: Everything You Need To Know

Dwarf crayfish are a very small species of freshwater crustaceans that can easily be kept in a nano tank of at least 10 gallons. They are known for their peaceful temperament and hardy nature which makes them an ideal pick for any beginning fish keeper.

Due to their small size, peaceful temperament, and relatively hardy nature, Dwarf Crayfish are an attractive option for both beginners and those looking to add some new life to their community fish tanks.

Hardy nature aside as with any living creature in your care, it’s important to make sure they get the best care possible. To make sure your new Dwarf Crayfish can thrive, we’ve compiled this handy Dwarf Crayfish guide to get you up to speed.

dwarf crayfish guide

Dwarf Crayfish species

Dwarf Crayfish are part of the family Cambarellus, which contains a variety of different freshwater dwarf crayfish species. Three notable examples within this genus include:

Cambarellus Shufeldtii

Also known as the Cajun Dwarf Crayfish, is typified by a reddish-brown to gray coloration that may include broad stripes along its back or a mottled pattern of dots like its more colorful relative. It is native to Mexico and the southern U.S.A.

Cambarellus Patzucarensis

Also known as the Mexican Dwarf Crayfish or the Orange Dwarf Crayfish, as you can probably guess, is a strikingly orange species of dwarf crayfish that originated in Mexico. This is the species most commonly sold in pet stores, and thus the one you’re most likely to encounter when looking for dwarf crayfish to start keeping.

Cambarellus Diminutus

Also known as the Least Dwarf Crayfish, is a slightly rarer species of Dwarf Crayfish (at least in the pet trade) but deserves a mention for being the smallest crayfish in the genus Cambarellus with grown adults coming in at about 1 inch.

Cambarellus Texanus

Also known as the Blue Brazos Dwarf Mexican Crayfish, is a species that’s grown incredibly popular among fish keepers for its brilliant blue coloring, complete with grey stripes or dots. These crayfish are primarily found in the Brazos River in Texas, hence their name.

Lifespan

The average lifespan of dwarf crayfish is about 1.5 to 2 years, with some reports of dwarf crayfish living up to 3 years. This will vary according to the conditions they’re kept in and the overall quality of the water.

dwarf-crayfish-appearance
Dwarf Crayfish Appearance

Appearance

The appearance of dwarf crayfish can be summarized with the term ‘miniaturized lobster’. It does indeed look like a tiny lobster, complete with claws and a strong tail for swimming.

There are some variations in color, with most dwarf crayfish in captivity being either the bright orange Mexican dwarf crayfish, the brilliant blue of the Blue Brazos Mexican dwarf crayfish, or the more natural brown and gray stripes and dots found in other species.

Mexican dwarf crayfish tend not to retain their vibrant colors in the wild because it makes them much more visible to predators. Dwarf crayfish are very very small, with adults of most species coming in at 2 inches or under.

Tank Size

Due to their very small size, these little crustaceans can be kept in nano tanks of 10 gallons and over. When debating what tank size to get, keep in mind that dwarf crayfish feel most comfortable in small groups, and experienced fishkeepers tend to opt for larger tanks.

When it comes to fish tank size, bigger is in fact better, but if you do have spatial or budget constraints, you should at least ensure there’s enough room for all the dwarf crayfish to thrive. Size aside dwarf crayfish don’t do well in strong currents, so you should make sure at least the lower regions of the tank aren’t affected.

There has to be some flow, but not so much it becomes difficult for the crayfish to swim against. You want them to be able to roam the bottom of the tank freely.

Hang-on-back filters and sponge filters are recommended for dwarf crayfish to ensure optimal filtration. You should absolutely know that dwarf crayfish are renowned escape artists, and they will find a way to escape the tank if you don’t close everything off properly. This includes small feeding holes in the lid and any holes for tubing.

Their tank should be covered in a sturdy, solid lid, and you should only lift it during feeding, care, and maintenance.

Aquarium Water Parameters - Dwarf Crayfish
Aquarium Water Parameters – Dwarf Crayfish

Water Parameters

Dwarf crayfish aren’t too demanding when it comes to the water they live in, and don’t require you to change the water parameters too much in order to lead happy lives. This makes them an ideal starter species for those new to the hobby and not yet used to having to balance a delicate set of values to keep their fish healthy. You’ll have a very easy time caring for your crayfish.

They’ll do well at room temperature, so there’s no need for a heater, generally. Swift fluctuations in water temperature can kill your fish. However, if the place you live happens to undergo drastic changes in temperature during the year, you should consider getting a heater just to keep things more stable.

They do require a cycled tank, meaning you’ll have to get a filter of some sort to keep the levels of ammonia and nitrate down as you would for most fish. 25% volume water changes are recommended to start, but this can vary according to the size of the tank and the number of inhabitants inside of it.

Ammonia and nitrate are both byproducts of waste decomposition, which is exactly why staying on top of filtration and water changes are so important. You should also avoid overfeeding your fish, as this too can lead to excess waste.

Whilst it’s true that dwarf crayfish will eat most things and make wonderful little ‘tank janitors’ in that respect, they shouldn’t be handling the workload of keeping things clean all by themselves.

Here’s a quick overview of the exact parameters they require;

  • Water temperature: 60 F to 75 F
  • pH levels: 6.5 to 8.0
  • Water hardness: 6 to 12 dKH

Be sure to pick up some water test kits if you’re a first-time fish keeper! You’re going to need them often if you want to succeed at this hobby and have the healthiest fish, so get acquainted with the various types of tests now whilst things are still relatively uncomplicated.

Setting Up Their Tank

After you’ve established what size tank you’re going to need, the most important thing you need to do is provide substrate for them to sift through and lots of shelters. Dwarf crayfish molt, meaning that as they grow their hard shell cracks and sheds, leaving them incredibly vulnerable for a few hours until their new exterior hardens.

They need places to lay low and hide out as this process occurs, so it’s recommended you provide some hardscape in the tank for them to use as shelter. Examples of hardscape would be rocks for them to hide between or pieces of driftwood to provide cover.

More artificial forms of cover would also do just fine, so long as you can be sure that no harmful substances are being released into the water. Always check if the aquarium is safe before putting it in your tank.

Dwarf crayfish won’t mess with live plants too much, nor would they uproot them, so their tanks are perfectly suited to live plants. Buy lights that suit the needs of whatever plants you include to be sure they get enough light to be able to grow.

Potential for Disease

We’ve been describing dwarf crayfish as ‘hardy’ this whole time, and whilst that is true and they are generally very healthy, there’s one big danger to be on the lookout for.

It’s been given the rather intimidating name ‘crayfish plague’ and is a common, sometimes fatal disease caused by a microscopic water mold found in freshwater. It’s known to be highly infectious, so the best course of action when first spotting the signs in one of your dwarf crayfish is to put them in a second tank away from your main population.

Signs of Crayfish Plague include tail whitening, the sudden presence of dark brown discolorations, and in more advanced stages you’ll note strange behaviors in your crayfish. They’ll have trouble moving, they’ll show themselves during the day, and they might even begin to lose limbs or eyestalks.

The mold can only be brought in by new crayfish, so remember to quarantine any new animals you get and never add wild-caught crayfish to your tank. Whilst dwarf crayfish themselves cannot contract ich.

Copper is highly toxic to them and happens to be a core ingredient in a lot of available treatments for ich. If you’re planning on treating a community tank against this disease, check the ingredient list of the medication you intend to use to ensure there’s no copper.

Alternatively, you could simply move your dwarf crayfish into a separate tank for the time being to make sure they won’t be affected.

Food & Diet

Dwarf crayfish are omnivores, and will happily make do with whatever they can get their claws on. To ensure they’re as healthy as can be, it’s recommended you feed them sinking, pellet-based foods.

Algae wafers, as well as invertebrate-specific fish foods, would also be good. When considering live foods to feed your dwarf crayfish, keep your selection down to critters that would naturally keep to the bottom of the tank like brine shrimp or earthworms.

The bottom of the tank is their domain, so any live foods that’d prefer the top or middle of the tank would be out of their reach. In addition to this, you could also offer your dwarf crayfish a varied diet by blanching and finely cutting some veggies for them. Shelled, cooked peas or blanched cucumber would be a safe bet, and also very healthy for them.

Dwarf Crayfish Temperament
Dwarf Crayfish Temperament

Behavior & Temperament

What truly separates dwarf crayfish from their larger cousins is their peaceful nature. Instead of seeking confrontation, a dwarf crayfish is more likely to go into hiding to avoid a confrontation. This makes them an ideal candidate for community tanks! Behavior-wise, dwarf crayfish are nocturnal, meaning they are more likely to be spotted at night.

They’ve also been found to gain confidence when in groups, growing bolder, coming out of their shelter more often, and socializing with others. They even play fight and participate in fake skirmishes amongst themselves!

Dwarf crayfish are well known to be an engaging, zany presence in any aquarium they inhabit, and as long as they’re given enough shelter to feel safe in your tank, you’ll surely find out for yourself how much fun they can be!

Tank Mates

A lot of fish keepers and aquarists are attracted to the variety and excitement of having a community tank with several types of fish. Dwarf crayfish are uniquely suited to life in such a tank due to the fact they’re not as aggressive as their larger relatives.

However, it’s important to point out that each individual fish has its own personality and temperament, which might veer away from what you’d expect from the species at large. To be on the safe side when choosing suitable tank mates, opt for those who mainly keep to the middle and top of the tank to minimize contact and avoid territorial disputes.

The claws of a dwarf crayfish are too small to damage any of its tank mates, but the repeated stress of fighting could negatively affect the health of all combatants involved, so it’s best avoided. It’s also best not to house any large fish with your dwarf crayfish, as they’d likely put them on the menu.

Rule of thumb, if a fish is known to prey on shrimp, it will likely prey on your dwarf crayfish as well. Bearing all of this in mind along with the fact any tank mates would have to require about the same water parameters to be compatible, the best tank mates for dwarf crayfish include:

Some people report successfully raising dwarf crayfish and betta fish in the same tank, but this is so highly dependent on the individual personalities involved, so, it’s still not recommended.

Keeping dwarf crayfish alongside their larger relatives is also not advisable seeing as the larger species wouldn’t hesitate to eat the smaller one. Small freshwater fish known to be suitable for nano tanks are your best bet.

Breeding

Breeding dwarf crayfish is very easy and requires no extra effort on your part. If there’s a male and female present in the same tank, they are going to breed at some point, although it’s highly likely you won’t get to see the act itself.

Their mating ritual is interesting in that the male will pin down the female, and the female will then store some of the male’s sperm so she can fertilize her own eggs later. The first sign of breeding you are likely to see is what follows, which is that the female will carry a sac containing from 20 to 60 eggs between her back legs.

If you want to raise fry in your tank it’s important to cover the filter intake so that they won’t get sucked into it. Dwarf crayfish fry hatch as smaller versions of their parents, not larvae. If you intend to keep the fry in the same tank as their parents, it’s imperative you provide enough food to go around.

Whilst the fry doesn’t need anything and will live off whatever the adults leave behind, the adults are known to eat fry if they can’t get anything else to eat. Make sure everyone has enough to eat so your fry doesn’t end up on the menu.

Dwarf Crayfish are very peaceful
Dwarf Crayfish are very peaceful

Are Dwarf Crayfish Aggressive?

To answer simply, no. Whilst individual dwarf crayfish might be more temperamental or territorial than others, there haven’t been any known deaths, and it’s widely accepted that their claws are simply too small to do any real damage, (that doesn’t make getting pinched a very pleasant experience, so you should still try to avoid it!)

For the most part, dwarf crayfish are very peaceful and will opt to hide instead of seeking confrontation. As long as there are enough places to hide, everything will usually work itself out without bloodshed, so they’re great additions to any (suitable) community tank!

Conclusion

We hope that our dwarf crayfish guide has taught you all you need to start keeping these wonderful little creatures! Hopefully, now you know that dwarf crayfish are colorful, hardy, very low maintenance, easy to keep adding to any tank, and very peaceful to boot!

If you have any questions remaining, don’t hesitate to drop them in the comments and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!

Safe to say any dwarf crayfish would be a dream for any beginning aquarists out there! Keep the water clean and make sure your new friends can hide away if they want, and you’ll be able to enjoy your dwarf crayfish for a long time yet!

About Rencel Leyran