> In a message dated 1/21/02 8:34:04 AM US Central Standard Time,
> jladonski_at_fieldmuseum.org writes:
>
> << What would be the limit of crayfish you would keep in this situation,
in
> terms of numbers and/or size?>>
>
> I've been told you can put several in if they have enough cover. I have a
10
> gallon crayfish tank set up at a public library branch. Originally
occupied
> by one very large crayfish ("Chuckie"). Later I added a lot of cover and
> several other much smaller crayfish. "Chuckie" doesn't like roommates and
> eliminated all but one who stayed hidden. When I vacuumed the gravel and
> moved cover around, "Chuckie" would ignore the siphon and my hand and go
> hunting the lone survivor. I nicknamed it the "Survivor Tank."
>
> <<What have you found to be the best food?>>
>
> I think Josh once told me they need meat and salad. Seems like the
younger
> ones eat more veggies and the older ones tend to eat more flesh. I
partially
> bury excess pond plants and dark green lettuce (iceberg lettuce has almost
no
> nutritional value I am told). For meat I use crushed snails, canned tuna,
> dead fish, live worms and meal worms. When I have plenty of live daphnia,
I
> throw some of that in too. Moon once told me crayfish will eat daphnia
and
> it does disappear.
>
> Overfeeding by well intentioned library staff has been a problem. For
some
> reason, it is worse in the crayfish tank than the native fish tanks.
>
> <<What fish species would you recommend (or avoid) to minimize
fish/crayfish
> conflict? >>
>
> I don't have fish in mine. I was told the fish would get eaten,
particularly
> at night.
>
> << Anything else? I know probably the most important issue with crayfish
is
> "cover, cover, cover", so I will see that they take that into account
when
> setting up the tank. Has anyone had any problems with crayfish
attempting
> to burrow in the gravel? >>
>
> In my experience, it depends on the individual crayfish or perhaps
different
> species. The current two excavate extensively. I position slate and
rocks
> carefully so if they burrow under it and he shifts, it won't break the
> aquarium glass. All the prior ones did minimal renovation to whatever I
put
> in there.
>
> Chuck Church
> Indianapolis, Indiana USA
>
>
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