The Florida crayfish is exceptional and striking, so it triggers a bit of hype. Photos: dpa
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It's been around pet shops for more than 20 years, actually, but only just recently has it come to conquer more and more home aquariums: “Procambarus alleni”. Better known as the blue crayfish or Florida crayfish, its name says it all. The up to 12cm crayfish – plus pincers – is impressive not just due to its size, but also its dazzling blue colour.
“People want things colourful. This has been noticed with regard to many other animals as well,” notes Kai Quante of the Association of German Clubs for Aquarium and Terrarium Science.
Aquarium retail specialist Frank Schenk adds: “Of course, it’s quite different from a small fish or shrimp.”
Now, not a day goes by in which an “Alleni” does not leave its breeding tank in Voerde and is sold directly or transported by a certified animal shipping company.
His son, Frank Schenk junior, believes the popularity of the new trend in aquariums is due to social media.
“When I learned about aquariums in the late 1990s, there were just guppies and angelfish, and every aquarium looked the same,” he says.
In the meantime, however, there are more and more niche pets taking centre stage, as evidenced by the many photos that aquarium owners post nowadays on Facebook and Instagram.
“A blue crayfish is exceptional and striking, colour-wise, so it triggers a bit of hype,” Schenk junior notes.
There’s yet another advantage they have over many fish: “They are large and great to photograph. They simply look cool!”
Those who want to experience the blue crayfish excitement in their home aquarium are advised by Quante to purchase them at a pet shop or a breeder. Schenk sells them at the age of three to six months.
“They are also well suited for beginners,” he says about the crayfish, which have gotten their colour through selective breeding and sell for about £8 (about RM40) in Europe.
But it does not mean that they are not demanding in terms of upkeep, an aspect that has drawn words of caution from animal rights activists.
“There exists the danger that the coloured crayfish are being purchased as an optical accessory, without buyers first informing themselves about the needs of these animals,” says Lea Schmitz of the German Animal Protection Society.
“The most important thing is a sufficiently large aquarium,” advises Schenk. He recommends a minimum edge length of 60cm for a single crayfish, and at least 1m for a pair.
But his advice is only to have just one animal. For one thing, it’s because by nature the crayfish is a loner. For another, keeping a pair can lead to problems in the long run.
Such arthropods can live for up to five years, and the female can lay between 100 and 300 eggs yearly. While on average only a dozen young crayfish survive, an aquarium can quickly be pushed to its limits.
The Blue crayfish is a loner and can grow up to 12cm in length, so it’s best to keep just one in an aquarium.
Those who have too many crayfish should call a local breeder or expert to find a solution, Schenk advises. Simply setting the crayfish out into the open is, at any rate, not a solution.
For one thing, according to animal welfare experts, they might be carrying pathogens such as crayfish plague, and so endanger native biodiversity. On the other hand, they will likely “die quickly and painfully” outdoors.
Then there is yet another problem with keeping several crayfish, Schenk points out. When they grow, they sometimes shed their skin, leaving them temporarily without protection. “Then they are very soft and can be nibbled at by their fellow species,” he said.
For a retreat, a crayfish needs hollow spaces, roots and rocks. And, every week, half the water must be changed.
But for all the upkeep issues, the blue crayfish is a lively little fellow, Schenk says. And Quante confirms: “They are real character creatures! Their advantage is that because they are active during the day, they are easy to observe.”
Schenk cautions aquarium fans who put a lot of love into designing their underwater landscapes. Allenis are like “lawn mowers: They like to dig and go after the plants.” Quante adds: “They are known for redecorating a bit.”
Fish are not safe from them either, he points out: “Thinking you can just add them and it will be fine doesn’t work.”
While it is true Allenis are basically not hunters, when the fish are sleeping and lying on plants or if they drop to the bottom, a crayfish can sometimes help itself to a bit of protein... – dpa/Katja Sponholz
