adult Louisiana dwarf crayfish, Cambarellus schufeldtii, have a body length, i.e. without scissors, of about 3 centimeters. They are too small to hold and eat shrimp or fish. At most, small juvenile fish could be eaten. Guppies’ tail fins can also be nibbled on. With Corydoras pygmaeus, for example, they can be kept together.
Of all the Cambarellus species, Cambarellus shufeldtii are the easiest to keep and the most peaceful. They can easily be kept together with not too large and peaceful fish or shrimp. Ancistrus, guppies and 4 Caridina serrata are suitable, for example. Nannacaras have also been successfully kept together with Cambarellus shufeldtii. The socialization with Hemichromis, for example, is completely unsuitable. Apistogramma species are also not recommended.
Louisiana dwarf crayfish can be kept in an uncovered tank. There must be a distance of at least 3 centimeters between the water surface and the uppermost edge of the aquarium. The crabs can also be kept in relatively soft water with approx. GH 3 to 4 and KH 1 to 2.
A filter is not absolutely necessary. In nature, crabs also live in ponds with less oxygen. Regular water changes that are not too heavy and without too much temperature fluctuation are recommended. The bottom of the tank should be covered with oak or beech leaves, which the crabs like to eat.
Numerous caves should be offered as hiding places. Basically any cave they fit into will be accepted.
Even a 10 liter aquarium can be designed with aquarium mortar, for example from Zoo Zajac, in such a way that around 20 crabs and a few shrimp can be kept in it. Many plastic cavities with a diameter of about 2 to 3 centimeters are hidden under the mortar. If there aren’t enough hiding spots, the crabs will decimate each other. Then you find, for example, animals whose arms and legs have been eaten off.
Numerous hiding spots also feature POROTON bricks cut in half. POROTON bricks are made of clay and are manufactured without chemical binders. For visual improvement, the brick can be overgrown with java moss.
Many branches that criss-cross the entire tank also offer many hiding places. The crabs also dig their own caves under stone structures.
The tank can be planted with a jungle of mainly Anubias najas, crytocorynes, duckweed, mussel flowers, etc.
Bamboo for further decoration is available, for example, as a one-metre-long lawn edge made from lined-up 30-centimetre poles at Kölle-Zoo.
General information about Cambarellus montezumae
Mexican dwarf crayfish, Cambarellus montezumae, are slightly larger than Cambarellus schffeldtii. Because of their size, they are better able to hold and eat shrimp or fish. So they seem more aggressive.
Shrimp that are less able to defend themselves are cut up and eaten. A socialization with Neocaridina or more delicate Macrobrachium species, for example, is therefore not recommended.
Reasonably fast fish are not eaten. According to one report, pieces of the caudal fins of newly introduced guppies were missing in the first few days. After a few days the guppies seemed to have gotten used to the crabs and the fins were no longer damaged. Mexican dwarf crayfish can also be kept together with Corydoras and Chaetostoma thomasi.
Plants are not eaten by the crabs.
Food for dwarf crayfish
Orange dwarf crab, Cambarellus patzcuarensis, eats a food pill: