Mitigating risk to these tiny creatures will greatly increase their chance of survival. Remember that these baby Mexican Dwarf Crayfish, less than an inch long, are extremely vulnerable, so if you don’t have the capacity to put the mama and babies in a separate tank during the growth period, make sure to include lots of small places for the developing dwarf crayfish to hide. After hatching, the babies stay with their mother until they are ready to survive on their own, about 3-4 months of age. By pushing water to the eggs, the crayfish mama removes dirt and keeps oxygen levels sufficient.Īpproximately 3 to 4 weeks after being laid, the baby crayfish emerge from their eggs. She cleans the eggs by using her swimmerets, which are the limbs below the tail. She carries the eggs for a period of 1-4 weeks, after which the female Mexican Dwarf Crayfish lays 20-60 dark brown-colored eggs in a safe, covered area.Īfter the eggs are laid, she folds her tail under her body, fertilizing the eggs and at the same time forming a mucus sack around the eggs for protection. However, fertilization does not take place at this time. As long as you have a female and a male, you’re good to go.īreeding takes place when the male uses his chelae to pin the female on her back for up to 20 minutes, culminating in the deposit of sperm into the female. No special measures are necessary for breeding Mexican Dwarf Crayfish. ![]() ![]() Next, we’ll talk about the best community members for your Mexican Dwarf Crayfish. Make sure the aquarium water meets the appropriate specifications and that they have a plethora of habitat enhancements.ĭo regular tank checks and maintenance, and provide them with a varied diet of vegetables, plants, and sufficient protein.ĭuring times of molting, breeding, and threats, as well as less than ideal conditions, Mexican Dwarf Crayfish can experience increased stress, which is detrimental to their ability to thrive and live to maximum lifespan. To maximize their chances of the longest life possible, provide them with a high-quality environment as described in the last section. The average lifespan of Mexican Dwarf Crayfish is 2-3 years. Mexican Dwarf Crayfish tend to do OK with smaller fish that are fast-moving, like rainbow fish, danios, and neon tetras, but they do hunt for food, so we can’t rule out the small possibility that they’ll try to pinch a fish fin with those tiny claws. If you have dwarf shrimp or small snails, they may be a target of Mexican Dwarf crayfish. Also, they sometimes get a little bolder when they’re in a group. Mexican Dwarf Crayfish are usually pretty peaceful, but they do have their own personalities, so it’s possible you’ll find one that is territorial or more aggressive. ![]() ![]() A sponge filter or hang on back (HOB) filter would both work to protect the Mexican Dwarf Crayfish from ammonia and nitrates, both of which negatively impact Dwarf Crayfish. Tank ConditionsĪs stated above, invest in a quality filter for your new clawed friends. They are adaptable to many habitats but keep in mind that they are tiny, so you should create conditions in which they’ll thrive, such as providing them with hiding places and keeping the tank free of larger creatures that might see them as a midday snack. You want to make sure that your Mexican Dwarf Crayfish have enough room to freely explore your aquarium community, especially if you’re keeping multiple Dwarf Crayfish.Īs you would do with any freshwater species, you want to make sure you have a decent filter and cycle the tank before adding the Mexican Dwarf Crayfish to your community. Copper is deadly to invertebrate Habitat and Tank Conditions Make sure to check that nothing you add to your aquarium community has any copper in it. Helpful tip: We’ve said this in other guides, but we can’t repeat it enough. vegetables, like peas, cucumbers, and zucchini.
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