Snow White Lobster
(Procambarus Clarkii sp. "White" )
Origin : Originally USA , now : almost world wide
Max body size : 12 cm+
Keeping : You can keep 5 or more in an aquarium of 100cm x 40cm. Bigger tanks
allow for a greater number of individuals. A wide range of pH and GH is
possible as long as one avoids the extremes. Very tolerant to a wide
range of water conditions and quality.
Behaviour : Like most crayfish these are omnivorous and will eat your plants .Make
sure to provide enough room if you keep several specimens, if not they
will reduce their numbers with each molt.
Breeding : In aquariums, spawning is possible any time of year. The male makes a
little sperm packet and places it on the female's stomach. The female
then spawns her eggs, passing them through the sperm packet so that
the eggs get fertilized. It is not uncommon for the female to lose a claw
during this process. She then places the eggs under her tail where they
will be kept until they are ready to be released. How long this will be
depends on the water temperature and the species, but it will be at least
4 weeks. A lot of other factors can also affect the length of the egg
carrying period, such as water quality, and food supply and quality. The
mother will watch over the young for a short time after birth.
Fry : The fry is very small when they are born but fully developed crayfish. Fry are
usually detritus feeders which mean that they will feed on decomposing plant
parts and food leftovers they can find while scouring the bottom. Vegetable
food is preferred and they can be feed boiled lettuce leaves that are left to
decay in the aquarium. Beware of the water quality. Fry is often very
cannibalistic and a large aquarium is required if you want higher number of
fry to survive. Sorting fry according to size may help higher the survival rate.
Spread : wild type (red) - most common , white, blue and orange : common
Remark : The wild type is red, there is a blue, orange and a white color morph that
is commonly available. Many more color morphs might be out there.
Max body size : 12 cm+
Keeping : You can keep 5 or more in an aquarium of 100cm x 40cm. Bigger tanks
allow for a greater number of individuals. A wide range of pH and GH is
possible as long as one avoids the extremes. Very tolerant to a wide
range of water conditions and quality.
Behaviour : Like most crayfish these are omnivorous and will eat your plants .Make
sure to provide enough room if you keep several specimens, if not they
will reduce their numbers with each molt.
Breeding : In aquariums, spawning is possible any time of year. The male makes a
little sperm packet and places it on the female's stomach. The female
then spawns her eggs, passing them through the sperm packet so that
the eggs get fertilized. It is not uncommon for the female to lose a claw
during this process. She then places the eggs under her tail where they
will be kept until they are ready to be released. How long this will be
depends on the water temperature and the species, but it will be at least
4 weeks. A lot of other factors can also affect the length of the egg
carrying period, such as water quality, and food supply and quality. The
mother will watch over the young for a short time after birth.
Fry : The fry is very small when they are born but fully developed crayfish. Fry are
usually detritus feeders which mean that they will feed on decomposing plant
parts and food leftovers they can find while scouring the bottom. Vegetable
food is preferred and they can be feed boiled lettuce leaves that are left to
decay in the aquarium. Beware of the water quality. Fry is often very
cannibalistic and a large aquarium is required if you want higher number of
fry to survive. Sorting fry according to size may help higher the survival rate.
Spread : wild type (red) - most common , white, blue and orange : common
Remark : The wild type is red, there is a blue, orange and a white color morph that
is commonly available. Many more color morphs might be out there.
Crayfish / Lobster
Crayfish Sexes
1. Gonopods
2. Opening of the vas deferens
3. Opening of the oviduct
4. Seminal receptacle
This image shows a ventral view of a male and female preserved crayfish. The male is easily distinguished from the female by the presence of a pair of modified first swimmerets called gonopods, which are enlarged and directed forward. These structures are used by the male to transfer sperm to the female. Note also the small openings to each vas deferens at the bases of the fifth pairs of walking legs (the right leg of this specimen has been removed). The vasa deferentia conduct sperm from the testes to the outside of the crayfish. On the female crayfish observe the opening to the seminal receptacle (which receives sperm from the male) as well as the openings to the oviducts at the bases of the third pairs of walking legs.
2. Opening of the vas deferens
3. Opening of the oviduct
4. Seminal receptacle
This image shows a ventral view of a male and female preserved crayfish. The male is easily distinguished from the female by the presence of a pair of modified first swimmerets called gonopods, which are enlarged and directed forward. These structures are used by the male to transfer sperm to the female. Note also the small openings to each vas deferens at the bases of the fifth pairs of walking legs (the right leg of this specimen has been removed). The vasa deferentia conduct sperm from the testes to the outside of the crayfish. On the female crayfish observe the opening to the seminal receptacle (which receives sperm from the male) as well as the openings to the oviducts at the bases of the third pairs of walking legs.
