Breeding the Pulcher Crayfish (Cherax pulcher)

Breeding the West Papuan Cherax pulcher, described in 2015: a colourful Parastacidae crayfish that reproduces as a berried female with direct development of young.

Overview

Cherax pulcher was described in 2015 by Christian Lukhaup, the name from the Latin pulcher ('beautiful') for its bright coloration. It is found at Hoa Creek near Teminabuan on the Bird's Head Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia. The body shows a pink cephalothorax shading to greenish-grey, a dark blue to black pleon with cream margins and blue legs and claws. Males reach 75-98 mm and females 83-90 mm. It is traded as 'Hoa Creek', 'Blue Moon' or 'Irian Jaya'. Reproduction follows the genus pattern of a berried female with direct development.

Sexing

Sex is read from the position of the genital openings on the underside: males have paired papillae at the base of the last walking legs, females the openings at an earlier pair. Mature males generally carry heavier claws, but the underside check is the definitive method.

Conditioning

Steady water parameters and a varied omnivorous diet support reproductive readiness. As described for Cherax, fertilised eggs develop inside the female for about four to six weeks and then transition to the outside of the body, resting on the tail.

Breeding Setup

A roomy tank with plentiful caves limits aggression and gives a berried or moulting female refuge. The pair grapples during mating, after which the male deposits sperm; the female carries the eggs on her tail through incubation until they hatch.

Berried Female & Young

Eggs and then juveniles are held under the female's abdomen. Because development is direct, the young leave as miniature crayfish, not free larvae, and remain associated with the mother before dispersing. Separating the female after release lowers losses to predation.

Common Challenges

Cannibalism of soft, freshly moulted juveniles and adult aggression are the principal challenges, so abundant cover and distributed feeding are advised. The species is unsafe with fish, shrimp and plants and is best kept in a species-only tank.