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Orange dwarf crayfish

Cambarellus patzcuarensis

Also known as CPO, Mexican dwarf crayfish

FreshwaterCrayfish

Orange dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus patzcuarensis)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
64–77°F
18–25°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
10 gal
38 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Egg carrier · Easy
Rarity
Very common
Family
Cambaridae
Origin
Lake Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico

Overview

The orange dwarf crayfish is a small, plant-safe crayfish for the bottom of a freshwater tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

An orange dwarf crayfish is most vulnerable right after it molts, while its fresh shell is still soft. An exposed animal is easy prey then, even for its own kind.

Caring for the orange dwarf crayfish

Keep orange dwarf crayfish as single animals or with plenty of room, since they are solitary and the males squabble. Give each one floor space and its own hides in a tank of 10 gal (38 L) or larger. Break up the bottom with caves, rock piles and other hides, since the floor is where they spend their lives. Fit a tight lid with no open gaps, because they escape.

Keep the water at 64 to 77°F (18 to 25°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Keep it harder than most freshwater setups, with GH around 8 to 15, which helps them molt cleanly. Never use any product with copper in it, since copper is toxic to inverts.

Feed sinking pellets, blanched vegetables and the odd bit of protein, and let them pick over the substrate for food. A molting crayfish tucks itself away until the new shell hardens, so give them enough hides to sit out the soft stage in private.

Orange dwarf crayfish are mostly peaceful, but they will catch and eat dwarf shrimp and small fry. Choose tank mates with that in mind. They breed readily in the tank, and the female carries her eggs and then the hatchlings under her tail. The young drop off as tiny copies of the adults.

Good to know

The orange dwarf crayfish, Cambarellus patzcuarensis, is a dwarf crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It usually lives around two years. Its orange is a bred color form of a plain brown wild crayfish.

In the wild

Orange dwarf crayfish come from Lake Patzcuaro in Michoacan, Mexico. It is a shallow highland lake with hard water and plenty of rocky cover.

Common questions

What size tank does an orange dwarf crayfish need?

An orange dwarf crayfish needs at least 10 gal (38 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does an orange dwarf crayfish need?

An orange dwarf crayfish is comfortable at 64–77°F (18–25°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.

What does an orange dwarf crayfish eat?

An orange dwarf crayfish eats sinking pellets, blanched vegetables and the odd bit of protein. It also picks over the substrate for food.

How big does an orange dwarf crayfish get?

An adult orange dwarf crayfish reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

How does an orange dwarf crayfish breed?

Orange dwarf crayfish breed readily in the tank. The female carries her eggs and then the hatchlings under her tail, until the young drop off as tiny copies of the adults.

Related species