Marbled crayfish
Procambarus virginalis
The only known clonal crayfish: every one is female and breeds without males, so a single animal can found a colony of hundreds.
Key facts
- Body length
- 3.9 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 19 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Sinking pellets, vegetables, frozen foods
- Origin
- Captive origin (German aquarium trade)
- Hardier than81%
- Bigger than59%
- Calmer than28%
Water: their range vs yours
Marbled crayfish tank mates
- Bladder snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Malaysian trumpet snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Assassin snailMarbled crayfish eats snails: Assassin snail.Risky
- Mystery snailMarbled crayfish eats snails: Mystery snail.Risky
- Ramshorn snailMarbled crayfish eats snails: Great ramshorn snail.Risky
- Colombian ramshornMarbled crayfish eats snails: Colombian ramshorn.Risky
- Great pond snailMarbled crayfish eats snails: Great pond snail.Risky
- Rabbit snailMarbled crayfish eats snails: Rabbit snail.Risky
- Neon tetraMarbled crayfish can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 2.5 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraMarbled crayfish can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 2.5 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppyMarbled crayfish can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 2.5 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasMarbled crayfish can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 2.5 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusMarbled crayfish can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 2.5 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpMarbled crayfish can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 2.5 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for marbled crayfish: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 10 cm (body)
- Adult mass
- 6.00 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 4.38 BU
- Min. water
- 60 L net
- Group
- 1+ (best 1)
- Swims in
- bottom
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- invertebrate, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Sources: Invasive Species Centre: Marbled crayfish · Wikipedia: List of invasive alien species of Union concern
Care notes
Marbled crayfish appeared in the German aquarium trade around 1995 and are known only from captivity. Each female lays 200 to 700 eggs, and released animals have harmed fisheries and rice crops.
Keep one alone in a 15-gallon tank with a lid and hiding places for moulting. It destroys plants and catches bottom fish and shrimp; it is banned in the EU, and must never be released into the wild.
Questions
What size tank does a marbled crayfish need?
At least 19 gallons (60 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 3.9 inches without fins.
How many marbled crayfish should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do marbled crayfish need?
64–77 °F, pH 7–8 and 0–0 dGH. Marbled crayfish come from Captive origin (German aquarium trade).
How long do marbled crayfish live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with marbled crayfish?
Good tank mates include Bladder snail and Malaysian trumpet snail. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.