#astacidae

[herpsandbirds]

Shasta Crayfish (Pacifastacus fortis), family Astacidae, found only in isolated parts of the Pit River and Fall River Mills in California, USA

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.

photograph by USFWS

[animalwelfarists]

Do you know what the proper size tank to house a crawfish in is? And a proper diet? Long story short, my parents found one that is lobster size in the middle of the road a really long way away from a water source and decided to keep him (I'm assuming it's a him).

Aquatic pets aren’t something I have a lot of experience with, I suggest going to scalestails. I’ll try my best to answer, but take this with a grain of salt.

First, do you have an ID on the species? Is it legal to keep where you live? Are there any rehabbers nearby that are qualified to care for marine life, which you could take him to instead?

This care sheet suggests 10gal per 6” - 7” crayfish, but Badman says a 10 - 15gal tank is good for a single craw. Seymour Fish says that a 5gal tank is the minimum. Aquariadise lists an 8gal tank as necessary for a dwarf crawfish, so I wouldn’t go any lower than that.

The general consensus seems to be 10 gallons, though.

-Ry