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Brazos dwarf crayfish

Cambarellus texanus

Also known as Texas dwarf crayfish, Mini lobster

FreshwaterCrayfish

Brazos dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus texanus)
(c) Dan Johnson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dan Johnson · cc-by

Care at a glance

Temperature
64–79°F
18–26°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
1.4 in
3.5 cm
Minimum tank
5 gal
20 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Egg carrier · Easy
Rarity
Common
Family
Cambaridae
Origin
Brazos and coastal drainages, Texas

Overview

The Brazos dwarf crayfish is a small crayfish, calm enough for a planted tank. It is an easy species to keep and to house.

Did you know

Whole colonies of Brazos dwarf crayfish live in roadside ditches that dry out most summers. Their life is short and fast.

Caring for the Brazos dwarf crayfish

Give Brazos dwarf crayfish a planted tank of 5 gal (20 L) or more, with leaf litter. Add enough small caves that each animal can claim one. It is solitary by nature, but small enough to keep in a group when every crayfish has its own cave.

It needs no heater in a normal room, since the seasonal temperature swing in its home waters is why it does well unheated. Keep it at 64 to 79°F (18 to 26°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 8.0.

Feed sinking pellets, blanched vegetables and the occasional frozen food. Like all crustaceans, it molts to grow and needs calcium in the water to harden the new shell.

The Brazos dwarf crayfish is mostly peaceful, but keep it away from long-finned fish. Females carry their eggs and then the young under the tail. It breeds readily, and breeding it is easy.

Good to know

The Brazos dwarf crayfish, Cambarellus texanus, belongs to the family Cambaridae. Dwarf crayfish of this genus stay small enough to be genuine community animals, unlike the larger North American crayfish sold alongside them.

In the wild

The Brazos dwarf crayfish lives in the Brazos and neighboring coastal drainages of Texas. It is found in vegetated ditches, swamps and slow backwaters.

Common questions

What size tank does a Brazos dwarf crayfish need?

A Brazos dwarf crayfish needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Brazos dwarf crayfish need?

A Brazos dwarf crayfish is comfortable at 64–79°F (18–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.

What does a Brazos dwarf crayfish eat?

A Brazos dwarf crayfish eats sinking pellets, blanched vegetables and the occasional frozen food.

How big does a Brazos dwarf crayfish get?

An adult Brazos dwarf crayfish reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).

How does a Brazos dwarf crayfish breed?

Brazos dwarf crayfish breed readily and are easy to breed. The female carries her eggs and then the young under her tail.

Related species