Blue pearl crayfish

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep this large, hardy crayfish as the only crayfish in the tank. It is a determined digger and rearranger that will uproot plants, shift substrate, and eat anything slower than itself, so a species tank with hardy or floating plants works best. House it alone, since it is territorial and will fight or cannibalize another crayfish, especially around molting. It needs no heater across a wide, cooler temperature range. Give it a deep soft bottom to burrow in, sturdy caves, and a tight lid. Feed sinking pellets, wafers, vegetables, and occasional protein. A single adult wants at least 75 liters of floor space.

In the wild

The blue pearl crayfish is a color form of the Australian white yabby, which lives in slow lowland creeks, swamps, and farm dams across southeastern Australia. These waters swing widely in temperature and can dry out seasonally, so the species is tough and adaptable. Aim for a temperature of about 18 to 26 C, no heater needed, and hard water around pH 6.5 to 8.0. A deep substrate for burrowing and solid cover complete its setup.

Good to know

This is a Parastacidae crayfish and one of the larger species kept, reaching around 15 cm. The blue pearl is a captive bred blue strain of the naturally pale white yabby, a fish closely tied to the common yabby of the Murray Darling. It is a moderate breeder with direct development: the female carries her eggs and then dozens of miniature crayfish under her tail until they are independent, skipping any free larval stage.

Did you know

When its creek or dam dries out, the white yabby digs down to damp soil and seals itself into a burrow, dropping into a dormant state called aestivation until the rains return and let it walk back out.

Common questions

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