Dwarf crayfish from North America and Central America - interesting little aquarium companions

Dwarf crayfish from North America and Central America like the Cambarellus patzcuarensis "orange", the Cambarellus patzcuarensis "chocolate" and the wild colored Cambarellus patzcuarensis from the Lago Patzcuaro in Mexico are well known and popular. Also the Cambarellus chapalanus, the Chapa dwarf crayfish, the Cambarellus ninae, Nina's dwarf crayfish, Cambarellus puer, the boy crayfish, Cambarellus shufeldtii, Shufeldt's dwarf crayfish, Cambarellus diminutus, the smallest dwarf crayfish, Cambarellus texanus, the Texas Dwarf Crayfish, Cambarellus schmitti, Schmitt's Dwarf Crayfish and many others can be kept in an aquarium of 45 liters or more even in a small group of two female and one male dwarf crayfish. Even in larger groups you should pay attention to a surplus of fem ales.

In nature these small crayfish often live in roadside ditches, drainage ditches, in small to large streams under stones and some Cambarellus species can also be found in standing water types such as ponds, lakes and small ponds, for example the wild form of the CPO, Cambarellus patzcuarensis "orange", which is found in Mexico in Lake Patzcuaro and its tributaries in the dense riparian vegetation.

It is important for a dwarf crayfish aquarium to have a good structure with plenty of hiding places and natural products such as brown autumn leaves as hiding places and permanent food. Dwarf crayfish from the genus Cambarellus do not dig and do not eat plants, so they can even be kept in nicely planted aquariums and also in aquascapes. Well structured tanks with roots and stones are to be preferred, so that the crayfish can avoid each other visually in case of stress.

A good filter is also necessary, crayfish are not proper eaters and make a lot of mess when feeding. Snails can be used as a cleanup crew, but they will be eaten. Cambarellus should only be kept together with fish if the fish cannot be dangerous for the dwarf crayfish. Bottom dwelling fish are nipped and should therefore not be socialized with Cambarellus dwarf crayfish.

As omnivores and scavengers, dwarf crayfish need special crayfish food, but they also like to eat natural products such as foliage, green food such as nettle and spinach (fresh, frozen or as sticks or pellet food), frozen food such as Artemia or mosquito larvae, also sometimes some fresh vegetables or a small piece of raw unseasoned fish. The water in the crayfish aquarium should not be too soft, dwarf crayfish of the genus Cambarellus prefer a pH value of 7 and higher.

Dwarf crayfish females carry their eggs under their abdomen until they hatch, where they perform brood care, constantly cleaning and fanning the eggs with oxygen-rich water. The young crayfish remain with the mother on the abdomen on the swimming legs for a few more days before they are then on their own in the aquarium.

A separate rearing tank with plenty of brown foliage is then advisable, because the adult dwarf crayfish are quite cannibalistic and will prey on the young. The young crayfish are also cannibalistic among themselves. A high-protein crayfish food for young predominantly carnivorous crayfish is helpful and ensures that juvenile Cambarellus are less likely to decimate each other. Hiding places and hiding places are obligatory in the rearing tank for young crayfish. Then one has long joy in the small scissor knights from the genus Cambarellus.