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Darters and crayfish?


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#1 juhason

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Posted 17 October 2017 - 12:58 PM

I have a crayfish in my 55 gallon. I am getting some more fish online and the tank im putting them in is getting a little full. Since my 55 is a native tank I was thinking to move my darters from the tank (2 blackside and 2 johnny) to the 55 gallon. 

 

Is this a bad idea because of the crayfish? I know darters are fast but at night I'm thinking the crayfish might have a decent shot at killing them, which I do not want. Let me know what you guys think!  



#2 NotCousteau

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Posted 17 October 2017 - 01:31 PM

I wouldn't risk it. Crayfish are a dime a dozen. Those darters -- purchased or collected -- are way more valuable. I'd give the crayfish its own, smaller tank.

#3 Josh Blaylock

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Posted 17 October 2017 - 03:38 PM

I do it all the time.  Perhaps a fish or two disappears, but I typically try to use small crayfish.  They do a good job cleaning up the missed food in the gravel.


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#4 mattknepley

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Posted 17 October 2017 - 06:35 PM

Crays are interesting creatures and very good at eating food the fishes miss. Eventually they will get good at eating fishes, too. My experience has been they specialize in the personal favorites of the aquarist. So if there isn't anybody you are emotionally invested in swimming in that tank, go for it. But keep 'em out of any tank with favorite wet pets that aren't big enough to eat a cray for lunch...
Matt Knepley
"No thanks, a third of a gopher would merely arouse my appetite..."

#5 juhason

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Posted 17 October 2017 - 10:41 PM

Ok thanks guys! I am a wuss I suppose when it comes to nature's circle of life. I don't want to be directly involved in the death of another animal if it can be avoided lol. I think I will get the crayfish his own tank... just gotta find where to put it. 



#6 Michael Wolfe

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Posted 17 October 2017 - 11:24 PM

Crayfish eat sleeping fish. Put the fish in the tank and put the crays in a five gallon bucket.

Dispose of the bucket.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#7 mattknepley

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Posted 18 October 2017 - 05:50 AM

Crayfish eat sleeping fish. Put the fish in the tank and put the crays in a five gallon bucket.

Dispose of the bucket.


Methinks Michael, too, to have been emotionally invested...
Matt Knepley
"No thanks, a third of a gopher would merely arouse my appetite..."

#8 Evan P

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  • Knoxville, TN

Posted 18 October 2017 - 11:29 AM

Crayfish eat sleeping fish. Put the fish in the tank and put the crays in a five gallon bucket.

Dispose of the bucket.

 

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#9 Matt DeLaVega

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Posted 18 October 2017 - 04:13 PM

Brian Z. keeps Cambarellus shufeldtii with various fish and reports no problems. I suppose the common name is Cajun dwarf crayfish.Guess their small size keeps them from bothering with fish. Pretty sure he had them with bluefin killi's and least killi's.


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#10 juhason

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Posted 18 October 2017 - 09:00 PM

Haha thanks for the tip, but I do love the crayfish. Pretty colors and very silly behavior. I'd honestly do a tank full of them if they weren't territorial






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