Apricot crayfish
Cherax holthuisi
Also known as Holthuis's crayfish, Orange Papuan crayfish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–82°F (22–28°C)
- pH
- 7.0–8.0
- Adult size
- 4.7 in (12 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal (75 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Aitinjo lake region, West Papua, Indonesia
- Family
- Parastacidae
Overview
Keep this crayfish one to a tank. It is calm by crayfish standards and unusually gentle on plants, but it is still a bottom dwelling opportunist that will grab a slow fish, shrimp, or snail if it can. House it alone, or take real care with tankmates and choose only fast, open water fish that stay well clear of the floor. Give it a soft sand or fine gravel bottom, several caves or pipes to claim as territory, and a tight fitting lid, since crayfish climb out. Feed sinking pellets and algae wafers with blanched vegetables and the odd meaty treat. A tank of about 75 liters suits a single adult.
In the wild
The apricot crayfish comes from Lake Aitinjo and its inflow streams in the Vogelkop, or Bird's Head, peninsula of West Papua, warm tropical fresh water over a firm bottom with rocky cover. Match that with hard, neutral to alkaline water around pH 7.0 to 8.0 and a temperature of 22 to 28 C. Provide caves and rockwork for shelter, good filtration, and steady warmth so it stays out and feeding.
Good to know
This is a member of Parastacidae, the crayfish family of the southern hemisphere, and reaches around 10 to 12 cm. It was described in 2006 and named for the Dutch carcinologist Lipke Holthuis. Wild adults are naturally apricot to peach colored, so the aquarium animal is close to the wild type rather than a bred color line. Like other crayfish it is a moderate breeder, the female carrying her eggs and then tiny fully formed young under her tail, with no free swimming larval stage.
Did you know
The apricot crayfish has strikingly small eyes for its size, a trait linked to life in dim, cave like waters, and it turned up in the aquarium trade before scientists formally described it in 2006.
Common questions
What size tank does an Apricot crayfish need?
An Apricot crayfish needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Apricot crayfish need?
Apricot crayfish are comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.
How big do Apricot crayfish get?
An adult Apricot crayfish reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
Where to buy
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