Thunderbolt crayfish
Cherax pulcher
Also known as Blue moon crayfish, Hoa Creek 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
- Hoa Creek, Vogelkop Peninsula, West Papua
- Family
- Parastacidae
Overview
Keep this pastel blue and pink crayfish on its own. It spends the day on the bottom and, calm as it looks, it will still catch a slow fish or pick off shrimp and snails, so tankmates are a gamble and it is safest in a species tank. Two crayfish together will fight, and a freshly molted one is vulnerable, so keep just one. Give it a soft bottom, a set of caves and pipes to claim, plenty of rockwork, and a firmly fitted lid. Feed sinking pellets, algae wafers, blanched vegetables, and an occasional meaty item. A single adult is at home in about 75 liters.
In the wild
The thunderbolt crayfish comes from Hoa Creek, a small, clear stream on the Bird's Head peninsula of West Papua, warm tropical water over sand and stone. The water should be hard and alkaline, near pH 7.0 to 8.0, and warm at 22 to 28 C. Smooth stones, driftwood, and caves reproduce its stream bed and give it shelter, while steady filtration keeps the water clean and oxygenated.
Good to know
A Parastacidae crayfish of about 12 cm, this species wears a marbled pattern of sky blue, cream, and rose across its shell, and its scientific name pulcher is simply Latin for beautiful. It was formally described in 2015. Breeding is of moderate difficulty, the female carrying her eggs and then fully formed young under her tail rather than releasing free swimming larvae.
Did you know
This crayfish was traded in the aquarium hobby for years under names like blue moon before anyone knew where it lived. Scientists eventually traced it to a single creek on the Bird's Head peninsula and described it in 2015.
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 do Thunderbolt crayfish need?
Thunderbolt crayfish are comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.
How big do Thunderbolt crayfish get?
An adult Thunderbolt crayfish reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
Where to buy
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