Freshwater Crayfish are fascinating creatures and are sure to add color and interest to your aquarium. This Blue Moon species really sport some attractive coloration with bright blue and yellow orange.

 

We obtain a number of very beautiful species of the genus Cherax from New-Guinea. One of them is the "Blue Moon", which is not yet determined on a scientific basis. The legs are bright blue and the carapax is of a deep midnight blue. The outer ridge of the claw is bright yellow-orange - this is the moon. In males, there is a kind of bubble in the moon which is lacking in females. The females can be recognized also by the smaller claws and the broader abdomen. Another, species-specific feature is the broad, bright yellow-orange stripe on the fan of the tail.

 

The Blue Moon attains a maximum length of about 10 cm and is suited very well for the keeping and breeding in aquaria. One should keep in mind that these animals feed mainly on plant materials. So, dead leaves collected in autumn should form the main part of the diet of the animals. For many of them the leaves of cherry trees are a real delicacy and the menu should also always contain oak leaves as a prevention of fungus diseases. Each individual crayfish needs a shelter on its own. Despite the fact that Cherax species are comparably peaceful against conspecifics, cannibalism may happen (especially after the molting) if not enough hiding places are extant.

 

The water chemistry is of little meaning for these crayfish. The pH can be between 6 and 8 (even a little more or a little less), water temperature between 18 and 28°C. Cherax species are mainly active during dawn light, so an expensive and costly strong illumination is not necessary.

 

For our customers: the animals have code 481462 on our stock list. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

 

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer