Zebra Crayfish (Cherax peknyi) Care Guide

A stunningly patterned crayfish from Papua New Guinea with bold dark and light striped markings across its body and claws.

Overview

Cherax peknyi is a species in the family Parastacidae. A stunningly patterned crayfish from Papua New Guinea with bold dark and light striped markings across its body and claws. More peaceful than many crayfish species, though it will still defend its territory. Relatively easy to keep in a species-specific or carefully chosen community setup.

Taxonomy

Family: Parastacidae
Genus: Cherax
Scientific name: Cherax peknyi
Other names: Cherax Zebra, Tiger Crayfish, Papua Zebra Crayfish
Origin: Oceania, Papua New Guinea

Habitat

Cherax peknyi, a striped freshwater crayfish from rivers and streams of Papua New Guinea. An omnivorous scavenger that benefits from caves and hiding places; like other large crayfish it may rearrange the aquascape and is best kept with non-vulnerable tankmates.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 80 L
Temperature: 22-28 °C
pH: 6.5-8
GH: 6-18 °dGH
Water flow: moderate
Adult size: 8-12 cm
Lifespan: 3-5 years
Difficulty: intermediate

Diet

Classified as omnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 1x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.

Compatibility

Temperament: semi-aggressive
Position in tank: bottom
Compatible tank mates: Danios, Rainbowfish, Fast Mid-Dwelling Fish
Avoid with: Bottom Dwellers, Shrimp, Snails, Other Crayfish

Breeding

Breeding strategy: egg-layer
Breeding difficulty: intermediate