Sky Blue Crayfish care guide
Sky Blue Crayfish (Cherax snowden) — minimum tank 80 L, temperature 22-28 °C, pH 7-8.5.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Sky Blue Crayfish (Cherax snowden) is an Australasian freshwater crayfish of the family Parastacidae, listed in the Aquairi knowledge base as an intermediate-level species. Sky-blue Cherax described in 2015, named after Edward Snowden. Brilliant blue body and orange-tipped claws. From West Papua.
Taxonomy
- Family: Parastacidae
- Genus: Cherax
- Scientific name: Cherax snowden
- Common synonyms: Snowden, Sky Blue Cherax
Habitat
Cherax is a large Australasian crayfish genus (Parastacidae) with species distributed across Australia, New Guinea and adjacent islands. Many species are aquacultured for food and several brightly coloured forms have entered the ornamental trade since the 2000s. The Aquairi knowledge base records this entry from: West Papua (Indonesia).
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L (21.1 US gal)
- Adult size: 8-12 cm
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 7-8.5
- GH: 10-22 °dGH
- KH: 5-14 °dKH
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Diet
An omnivore. Diet includes plant matter, biofilm, algae, detritus and protein in the form of carrion, small invertebrates or fish remains. In the aquarium a daily portion of sinking pellet, regular blanched vegetables and occasional frozen bloodworm or shrimp meet nutritional needs and reduce intraspecific aggression.
Compatibility
Territorial and aggressive; large adults will harm tank mates and damage plants. A solo, species-only or split-by-divider setup is the only reliable arrangement. Suitable tank mates listed in the Aquairi knowledge base: Solo recommended. Should be kept away from: Fish, Shrimp, Plants.
Breeding
Reproduces in fresh water without a planktonic larval stage. After mating, the female carries the eggs glued to her pleopods for several weeks; hatched juveniles cling to the mother for additional moults before becoming independent. Stable water chemistry and abundant shelter for the brooding female are required. Cherax females typically produce moderate to large broods of comparatively large juveniles, which is one reason for the genus’ aquaculture importance.
Breeding the Sky Blue Crayfish (Cherax snowden)
Overview
Cherax snowden was described in 2015 by Lukhaup, Panteleit and Schrimpf and named after Edward Snowden. It comes from the Oinsok River drainage in the Sawiat District of the Vogelkop (Kepala Burung) Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia. Its body shows green to bluish tones with orange-tipped claws; it had circulated in the trade as 'orange tip' and was earlier confused with Cherax holthuisi. Males reach about 10 cm and females about 7 cm. It breeds as a berried female with direct development.
Sexing
Sex is determined from the genital openings on the underside: males bear paired papillae at the base of the last pair of walking legs, females show openings at an earlier pair. Males of this species also grow larger than females and tend to have heavier claws, which can support a tentative field guess before the underside is checked.
Conditioning
Stable water within tolerated ranges and a mixed omnivorous diet bring adults into breeding condition. As documented for the genus, fertilised eggs develop inside the female for roughly four to six weeks and then move to the exterior of her body, where they are carried on the tail.
Breeding Setup
Provide a spacious tank with many caves so the pair can establish space and a berried or moulting female can hide. During mating the pair grapples and the male transfers sperm; the female then incubates the eggs on her tail until hatching.
Berried Female & Young
Hatchlings remain attached under the female's abdomen and emerge as fully formed miniature crayfish, since development is direct rather than larval. They stay with the mother for a time before dispersing; relocating the female after release reduces predation by tank mates.
Common Challenges
Aggression between adults and cannibalism of soft, newly moulted juveniles are the main hurdles, so dense cover and several feeding stations help. The species is not compatible with fish, shrimp or plants, so a species-only tank is the practical choice.