Irianto red crayfish
Cherax snowden
Also known as Snowden's crayfish, Orange tip 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
- Oinsok River drainage, West Papua, Indonesia
- Family
- Parastacidae
Overview
Keep this orange tipped crayfish alone in its own tank. It spends its time on the bottom and, while fairly calm for a crayfish, it will still seize a slow fish, shrimp, or snail, so tankmates are a real risk and are best avoided. Two crayfish together will fight, and a freshly molted one can be killed, so one per tank is the safe rule. Provide a soft bottom, several caves and lengths of pipe to claim, and a tight lid to stop escapes. Feed sinking pellets, algae wafers, blanched vegetables, and the occasional meaty morsel. A single adult is comfortable in about 75 liters.
In the wild
The Irianto red crayfish comes from the Oinsok river drainage on the Vogelkop peninsula of West Papua, warm tropical streams over a firm, rocky bottom. Keep the water hard and slightly alkaline, about pH 7.0 to 8.0, at a warm 22 to 28 C. Give it caves, rockwork, and driftwood for shelter, with steady filtration and stable warmth to keep it active and out in the open.
Good to know
A Parastacidae crayfish of about 12 cm, this species is easy to spot by the bright orange tips on its claws. It was described in 2015 and named after Edward Snowden. Like other crayfish it is a moderate breeder with direct development, the female brooding her eggs and then carrying tiny fully formed young beneath her tail until they can fend for themselves.
Did you know
The scientist who described it, Christian Lukhaup, named it after Edward Snowden to show support for him. It was already selling in the trade as the orange tip crayfish before it got a scientific name in 2015.
Common questions
What size tank does an Irianto red crayfish need?
An Irianto red crayfish needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Irianto red crayfish need?
Irianto red crayfish are comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.
How big do Irianto red crayfish get?
An adult Irianto red crayfish reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Irianto red crayfish?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Planning tankmates
See how Irianto red crayfish fits a stocking plan. Open the stocking calculator
Add to your site
Show this species on your own site: a shortcode for WordPress, or an HTML embed for anywhere else.
Related species
Blue Kong zebra crayfish
Cherax alyciaeFreshwater4.7 in (12 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Thunderbolt crayfish
Cherax pulcherFreshwater4.7 in (12 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Zebra crayfish
Cherax peknyiFreshwater4.7 in (12 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Apricot crayfish
Cherax holthuisiFreshwater4.7 in (12 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Red brick crayfish
Cherax wagenknechtaeFreshwater4.7 in (12 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Red Kong zebra crayfish
Cherax mosessalossaFreshwater4.7 in (12 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)