Snakeskin blue Moon - Cherax sp. Blue Moon snakeskin

The Cherax sp. "Snakeskin Blue Moon" is not yet determined to species. Its home is in Papua / Indonesia. Here the dark blue snakeskin crayfish can be found in rivers and stagnant waters. Its white claws have blue markings, the tips of the claws are deep dark blue to indigo. The legs and claw legs are bright blue. The carapace of this Cherax variant has a light blue-green base color and a conspicuous darker snakeskin pattern. The abdomen is dipped in deep indigo blue, punctuated by a narrow light blue horizontal stripe on each segment.

Males have white scissor blisters, females usually do not. Furthermore, the males can be distinguished from the females by looking at the sexual orifices. Those of the females are at the base of the third pair of walking legs, while those of the males are at the base of the fifth. The Blue Moon Snakeskin is a fairly peaceful crayfish species. It grows to about 12-15 inches in length (measured without claws) and can live about 5-8 years.

Keeping this beautiful cherax is not particularly difficult. A pair of the crayfish needs an aquarium with an edge length of 80 cm or more. Several pairs should be kept in an aquarium from 120-150 cm edge length. A tank suitable for crayfish must have a very good structure and always contain at least one cave more than crayfish. Please make sure that the setup is stable and especially place heavier stones in such a way that they cannot be buried, thus protecting your crayfish from being crushed. This can also prevent broken glass caused by aquarium decorations toppling over. Since Blue Moon Snakeskin crayfish are not very fond of plants when fed a varied and high-quality diet, you can also plant the crayfish aquarium - choose more robust plants such as Anubias, Cryptocoryne and Hornwort if possible here, but floating plants are also good. Cherax crayfish like to migrate. They come through every gap and also actively leave the aquarium - so please make sure that your tank is absolutely covered without gaps!

Cherax Snakeskin Blue Moon does not make any special demands on the water values. If the pH value is between 6,5 and 7,5, the total hardness is up to 20 and the carbonate hardness up to 10 degrees, the animals feel well. Water temperatures of approx. 20 to 24°C and clean, oxygen-rich water are further conditions for Cherax sp. "Blue Moon Snakeskin" to do well in the aquarium.

If the Cherax Snakeskin Blue Moon are healthy and feel comfortable in the aquarium, they can reproduce several times a year. After the act, the female squeezes out about 20-40 eggs and attaches them under her abdomen. Even after the baby crabs hatch, the mother carries them around for a few days. After that they are completely independent. In the rearing tank, hiding places should be provided - this can be done excellently with brown autumn leaves , for example - to prevent cannibalism.

In the wild, adult Cherax sp. "Blue Moon Snakeskin" eat mainly plant food: detritus, fallen leaves, plants from the water's edge and so on. Adolescent Cherax from Papua also need animal food such as insect larvae and fish. In the aquarium, cherax eat all kinds of food: green food such as dandelion, nettle or spinach, granulated food and flake food, but also frozen food. These beautiful crayfish also take special crayfish food very gladly. Be sure to feedadult Cherax Snakeskin Blue Moon only vegetable foods if possible!

The rather nocturnal Cherax sp. Blue Moon Snakeskin can be kept well in a community aquarium, provided the associated fish do not have long fins and do not live on the bottom. Also shrimps usually leave the Cherax alone. Snails, on the other hand, are readily eaten.

Avoid contact with crayfish and dwarf crayfish from the Americas: they can transmit crayfish plague, which would be fatal to Cherax sp. "Blue Moon Snakeskin".

Our food recommendation: Freshwater crayfish have a very varied diet in the wild. The Natureholic Crayfish Feed Sticks contain in a biologically balanced form only those ingredients that these crayfish in this or similar form to their natural food spectrum. This naturally supports and promotes moulting, growth and reproduction. Due to their protein content they are ideally suited for omnivorous crayfish of the genera Procambarus, Cambarus, Cambarellus, Astacus and the Cherax crayfish from Australia, which are basically omnivores that like to eat animal as well as vegetable food. The crayfish of the genus Cherax from Papua also like to eat a portion of animal food when they are young, but later they switch mainly to plant food.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.