Red Claw Crayfish care guide
Red Claw Crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) — minimum tank 200 L, temperature 22-28 °C, pH 7-8.5.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Red Claw Crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) is a large Australian freshwater crayfish reaching 25 cm. Mature males develop a striking red patch on the outer edge of the claws — the feature that gives the species its common name. It is widely farmed for aquaculture and kept by hobbyists in large aquaria.
Taxonomy
- Family: Parastacidae
- Genus: Cherax
- Scientific name: Cherax quadricarinatus
- Common synonyms: Redclaw, Australian Red Claw
Habitat
Native to rivers and lakes of tropical northern Australia (Northern Territory and northern Queensland) and southern Papua New Guinea. The species favours warm, well-oxygenated, hard, alkaline freshwater with abundant cover.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L (52.8 US gal)
- Adult size: 18-25 cm
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 7-8.5
- GH: 12-25 °dGH
- KH: 6-14 °dKH
- Lifespan: 4-6 years
Diet
An omnivore. The diet includes sinking pellets, vegetables, occasional protein (fish, mussels), and live snails. Provide calcium-rich foods or cuttlebone to support shell formation, especially around moulting.
Compatibility
Large and predatory. Cherax quadricarinatus will hunt fish, eat plants and fight conspecifics. Solo keeping or species-only setups with multiple hideouts are recommended. Do not mix with shrimp or smaller invertebrates.
Breeding
Intermediate difficulty. Berried females carry around 100-1,000 eggs under the abdomen for 6-10 weeks; juveniles release as miniature crayfish. The species is commercially farmed because of its high yield.
Blue Red Claw Crayfish Breeding Guide
Overview
The Blue Red Claw is a selectively bred blue color form of Cherax quadricarinatus, sharing the large size and biology of the wild type, which can reach up to 30 cm (12 in) and 600 grams (21 oz). It is the same aquaculture-grade parastacid, very tolerant of environmental changes, kept here as a vivid blue ornamental strain.
Sexing
As in the wild type, adult males show a distinct red patch on the outer margin of the claws, while females lack it and are smaller. The red claw marking remains the reliable sex indicator even in the blue color strain.
Conditioning
Maturity and harvestable size are reached somewhere between six and twelve months under optimal conditions, so robust, well-fed adults make the best breeders. The species' broad tolerance makes conditioning forgiving in a stable, warm tank.
Berried Female & Young
After mating, the male deposits a spermatophore and the female spawns 300–800 olive-green eggs per brood, attached to her pleopods beneath the tail. Incubation takes approximately six weeks, and the newly hatched juveniles rapidly become independent, with no free-swimming larval stage.
Juvenile Care
Large broods mean juveniles need ample space and cover to reduce cannibalism. They are omnivorous and grow readily on prepared and natural foods; blue coloration in the strain develops as the animals mature.