Thunderbolt crayfish
Cherax pulcher
Also known as Blue moon crayfish, Hoa Creek crayfish
FreshwaterCrayfish
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
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Egg carrier · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Parastacidae
- Origin
- Hoa Creek, Vogelkop Peninsula, West Papua
Overview
The thunderbolt crayfish is a solitary crayfish from West Papua that needs a tank of its own. It is best with some experience.
Did you know
The thunderbolt crayfish was traded in the hobby for years under names like blue moon before anyone knew where it lived. Scientists eventually traced it to a single creek and described it in 2015.
Caring for the thunderbolt crayfish
A single adult thunderbolt crayfish is at home in 20 gal (75 L) or more. Set up a soft bottom with a set of caves and pipes to claim. Smooth stones, driftwood and plenty of rockwork reproduce its stream bed and give it shelter. Finish with a firmly fitted lid.
The water should be hard and alkaline, at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. Steady filtration keeps it clean and oxygenated. Feed sinking pellets, algae wafers, blanched vegetables and an occasional meaty item.
Calm as it looks, it will still catch a slow fish or pick off shrimp and snails. Tank mates are a gamble, so it is safest in a species tank. Two crayfish together will fight, and a freshly molted one is vulnerable, so keep just one.
Breeding is of moderate difficulty. The female carries her eggs and then fully formed young under her tail, rather than releasing free-swimming larvae.
Good to know
The thunderbolt crayfish, Cherax pulcher, is a crayfish in the family Parastacidae. It wears a marbled pattern of sky blue, cream and rose across its shell. Its scientific name, pulcher, is simply Latin for beautiful.
In the wild
The thunderbolt crayfish comes from Hoa Creek, a small, clear stream on the Bird's Head peninsula of West Papua. Its warm, tropical water runs over sand and stone.
Common questions
What size tank does a thunderbolt crayfish need?
A thunderbolt crayfish needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a thunderbolt crayfish need?
A thunderbolt crayfish is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.
What does a thunderbolt crayfish eat?
A thunderbolt crayfish eats sinking pellets, algae wafers, blanched vegetables and an occasional meaty item. It will also catch a slow fish or pick off shrimp and snails.
How big does a thunderbolt crayfish get?
An adult thunderbolt crayfish reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
How does a thunderbolt crayfish breed?
Thunderbolt crayfish are moderate breeders. The female carries her eggs and then fully formed young under her tail, rather than releasing free-swimming larvae.
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