▷ Blue-Pink Cancer | All information and details

Data sheet blue-pink cancer

German name:
Blue-Pink Cancer

Scientific name:
Cheraxpulcher

Origin:
Papua New Guinea

Size:
Body length 12cm – 15cm

Aquarium

Length:
Length from 80 cm width

Contents:
from 100 liters

water values

Temperature:
20°- 25° C

pH:
6 – 7.5

GH:
20° dH

Behave

Area:
Floor

Lining:
mostly herbivoresbrown autumn leaves, vegetables, nettles, frozen food, granules, flakes

Behave:
peacefulactive

Number:
In pairs, single keeping possible

Difficulty level:
Beginner

Christian Lukhaup, Cheraxpulcher 43003 (1), CC BY 4.0

Regardless of whether Blue-Pink Crayfish, Hoak Creek Crayfish or Irian Jaya Crab called, the crabs only got their scientific name Cherax pulcher in 2015 and were described as a separate species. Previously, the beauty closely related to the Cherax Blue Moon was known as Cherax sp. known to Hoak Creek.

Look

The species was given the name pulcher (beautiful) because of its appearance gorgeous colors. Blue and pink come in different intensities and color variants. The back is pink to violet, the legs and claws are blue to turquoise. At the scissors of adult males glow white scissor bubbles. In the case of young animals, the males can be recognized by the gonopods at the base of the 5th pair of legs. The females have their genital openings on the 3rd pair of legs.

The colors become more intense with each moult. The pale juveniles do not show their later splendor of colour.

Posture recommendation

The animals are peaceful and have a pronounced social behavior. In a suitably large tank (at least 360 liters), they can be kept in small groups. Older males sometimes get rough with each other. Keeping several crabs requires sufficient hiding places, caves, roots, possibly halved coconuts, etc. to be available.

Cherax pulcher does not bother plants in the tank. They are neither eaten nor dug up.

The active animals can often be seen during the day.

They like to climb up the silicone seal of the pool. To prevent them from escaping is a cover is mandatory.

breed

Breeding is easy. The female gives birth every three to four months 40 to 90 eggs under her abdomen. It takes 4 to 6 weeks for the larvae to hatch from the oval, 2 mm long eggs. Only after they have molted several times do they leave their mother at night. During the day they find themselves under their tail again. After about 14 days they leave their mother for good. The little ones are then 7 mm long.

The parents do not pursue their offspring. The young need plenty of hiding places under foliage or between plants. During molting periods, they can become cannibalistic.

Granules, leaves or artemia are suitable as rearing food. The young crabs grow slowly and become sexually mature at the age of one year.

socialization

Blue-Pink Crayfish can be socialized with smaller shrimp. Medium-sized peaceful fish are possible in the upper tank area. Bottom-dwelling species such as catfish could accidentally swim into the crab’s claws.

Long arm shrimp, fan shrimp, other crabs or crabs are not suitable. Snails and mussels are also not recommended.