Red Kong zebra crayfish
Cherax mosessalossa
Also known as Klademak crayfish, Red Kong 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
- Klademak Creek, Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia
- Family
- Parastacidae
Overview
House this banded crayfish on its own. It lives on the bottom and will take any slow moving tankmate within reach, so keep it alone or accept the risk and use only quick fish that stay near the surface. Two crayfish in one tank leads to fighting, and a soft, newly molted animal is an easy meal, so a single specimen is the sensible choice. Give it a soft bottom, several caves and pipes to defend, and a tightly fitting lid. Feed sinking pellets, algae wafers, and blanched vegetables, with meaty foods now and then. About 75 liters suits one adult.
In the wild
The red Kong crayfish is known only from the Klademak creek system at Sorong, on the western Bird's Head peninsula of West Papua, warm clear water over sand and stone. Aim for hard water around pH 7.0 to 8.0 and a steady temperature between 22 and 28 C. Provide caves, rock, and driftwood for cover, along with steady filtration and stable warmth.
Good to know
A Parastacidae crayfish of about 12 cm, this species was described in 2018 and had been sold as a red form of the zebra crayfish before then. Breeding is moderate, with direct development: the female holds her eggs and then the newly hatched young beneath her tail until they are big enough to leave, with no free larval stage. Hard, alkaline water helps it build a strong shell.
Did you know
Its entire known range is one creek system running through the city of Sorong in West Papua, which makes it one of the most narrowly distributed crayfish anyone keeps.
Common questions
What size tank does a Red Kong zebra crayfish need?
A Red Kong zebra crayfish needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Red Kong zebra crayfish need?
Red Kong zebra crayfish are comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.
How big do Red Kong zebra crayfish get?
An adult Red Kong zebra crayfish reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
Where to buy
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…or ask your local fish store.
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