Crayfish, also known as crawfish, crawdaddies, crawdads, freshwater lobsters, mountain lobsters, mudbugs, etc. are freshwater invertebrates. Because of their unique personality, shape, and beautiful colors, they have also become very popular among fish keepers in recent years.
Crayfish are quite attractive, lively, and fun to watch as they scavenge for food in display tanks. They feed on detritus, animals, and plants, either living or decomposing. Also, their low demands and easy care make them excellent candidates for freshwater aquaria.
A lot of people are interested in knowing what crayfish eat, both in the wild and in aquariums. This is one of the questions that fishkeepers and fish lovers get asked the most.
This article will talk about the different kinds of food that crayfish can eat at home and how often they should be fed when they are kept as pets.
Crayfish, also known as crawfish or crawdads, are popular freshwater crustaceans kept as pets in home aquariums. Their small size, unique appearance and active scavenging make them fun to watch. However, crayfish are omnivorous and will eat almost anything they can catch. This leaves aquarists wondering – will crayfish eat shrimp if housed together?
When setting up a successful community tank, it’s important to understand crayfish diets, predatory instincts and compatibility with shrimp and fish tankmates. Learning whether crayfish and shrimp can coexist peacefully prevents expensive losses of pets.
An Overview of Crayfish Diets in the Wild
Crayfish are found in freshwater streams, rivers, ponds and swamps across North America. They are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they will eat both plant and animal matter. Their diverse diets include:
- Decaying plants and animals
- Algae
- Aquatic vegetation
- Small fish
- Snails and mollusks
- Worms and insect larvae
- Frog eggs and tadpoles
- Plankton and crustaceans like shrimp
Crayfish use their claws and front pinchers to shred and consume food. They prefer easy-to-catch prey like worms but will pursue small fish and shrimp. Fast-moving live foods require more energy to catch yet provide a nutritional boost.
Why Crayfish Will Eat Shrimp in Captivity
The opportunistic feeding nature of crayfish continues when kept as aquarium pets. Given the chance, most crayfish will readily eat shrimp tankmates. There are a few key reasons:
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Hunting Instinct – Crayfish enjoy the stimulation of pursuing and capturing live foods. Their innate drive to hunt makes shrimp an appealing target.
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High Protein – Shrimp provide a concentrated source of protein and nutrients for growth and fertility This makes them valuable prey
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Limited Food – With no other food available, crayfish see shrimp as an easy meal Hunger can trigger predatory responses
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Confined Space – The close quarters of an aquarium make shrimp easy for crayfish to find and catch. There is no escape.
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Molting Times – Soft-shelled shrimp after molting are defenseless against crayfish and easily consumed.
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Nocturnal Feeding – Crayfish are most active at night and may pick off sleeping shrimp in darkness.
Knowing crayfish consider shrimp a desirable food is the first step in managing their coexistence.
Crayfish Species Most Likely to Eat Shrimp
While all crayfish are omnivorous, some species and individuals are more predatory toward shrimp and small fish. Breeds to use caution with include:
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Red Swamp/Louisiana Crawfish – Larger and more aggressive crayfish that actively pursue shrimp.
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Australian Yabby – Grows over 6 inches long and will eat ornamental fish. Needs plenty of hiding spaces.
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Common Crayfish – Native to Europe, they eat anything they can catch and mutilate fish.
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Electric Blue Crayfish – Despite small size, have voracious appetites for tankmates if not fed enough.
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Mexican Dwarf Orange Crayfish – Less aggressive but may snack on juvenile shrimp and attack weakened specimens.
Ask about specific crayfish dispositions when buying and watch behaviors with new introductions.
Ideal Tank Setup for Housing Crayfish and Shrimp
While risky, some aquarists successfully keep dwarf shrimp species with less aggressive crayfish. To increase chances of a safe community tank:
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Use at least a 10 gallon planted tank, the larger the better. This allows territory.
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Include lots of hiding places like rocks, driftwood, pipes and live plants. Give shrimp spots to flee and hide.
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If housing with fish, choose upper-level schooling varieties like tetras or danios. Avoid slow bottom fish like loaches.
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Introduce the most aggressive species last after the hierarchy is established for the best results.
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Never house shrimp or fish that are too large for the crayfish to consume. Watch for babies being eaten.
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Avoid placing anything too valuable with them. Expect some losses, especially with shrimp molting.
Even in ideal setups, shrimp fatalities may still occur. Never fully trust crayfish and shrimp to coexist.
Best Tank Mates for Crayfish With Shrimp
When keeping crayfish, here are some suitable shrimp and fish that may fare better together with precautions:
Shrimp
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Amano shrimp – Fast and get too large for most crayfish to eat.
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Ghost or glass shrimp – Inexpensive option to try with good survival rates.
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Bamboo shrimp – Fan filters help them avoid being grabbed.
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Vampire shrimp – Size and aggressive nature deters crayfish.
Fish
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White cloud minnows – Fast moving top layer schooling fish.
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Endler’s livebearers – Quick and breed rapidly to replenish losses.
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Zebra danios – Zippy fish that are difficult to catch.
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Guppies – Quickly repopulate while hiding in plants at the top.
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African dwarf frogs – Avoid being eaten due to toxic skin secretions.
Keeping a Close Eye on Crayfish and Shrimp
Even in ideal community tanks, crayfish may still manage to catch shrimp and fish. Keep a close eye on their interactions and be prepared to remove aggressors.
Signs a crayfish is being too predatory:
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Stalking and pursuing tankmates relentlessly
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Catching and shredding fins of fish
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Hiding and waiting to ambush unsuspecting shrimp
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Rapid decrease of shrimp or fish numbers
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Finding partly eaten carcasses
Monitor for these behaviors and remove any problem crayfish. Have backup tanks ready to isolate victims if needed.
Providing Proper Feeding Can Reduce Predation
One of the best ways to curb crayfish preying on tankmates is providing adequate protein-rich foods. Make sure to:
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Feed a high quality omnivore pellet or shrimp pellet daily.
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Supplement with frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia several times a week.
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Drop algae wafers, blanched veggies and calcium-rich foods regularly into the tank.
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Use feeding dishes sunk into the substrate to prevent foods fouling the water.
Keeping their appetite satisfied reduces the urge to hunt shrimp and small fish. Removing uneaten foods also helps.
Monitor Molting Cycles for Vulnerable Times
One of the most dangerous times for shrimp is immediately after molting. Their soft new shells make them nearly defenseless against crayfish.
To protect vulnerable shrimp:
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Provide moss, leaf litter and other soft surfaces to help shrimp hide during molting.
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Increase calcium-rich foods like spinach and kale to help speed molting periods.
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Test water quality frequently and do water changes to reduce stress during molts.
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Have backup tanks and dividers ready to isolate doomed shrimp if needed.
Can Crayfish and Shrimp Work in a Community Tank?
While it requires close observation and planning, some aquarists do successfully keep crayfish with shrimp and fish. The keys are providing plenty of territory, hiding spots and well-fed protein sources.
However, there is always a risk of predation. Never fully trust crayfish not to live up to their opportunistic, omnivorous natures! Expect some casualties along the way and be prepared to intervene.
With species research, wise tankmate selection and close monitoring, though, you may just be able to create a thriving community tank with crayfish, shrimp and compatible fish. Just be ready to adapt as needed to keep the peace in your freshwater ecosystem.
Marble crayfish (Procambarus virginalis or Self-cloning crayfish)
Many aquarists and scientific studies agree that the Marbled crayfish’s main food sources are algae and trash.
Another fact that you have to keep in mind is that they also feed on plants (voraciously). So be careful putting them in tanks with live plants, because they will eat them right away.
Nonetheless, Marbled crayfish are not completely vegetarians. Once or twice a week they need to eat organic (protein-rich) food.
| Diet | Detritivore / omnivore |
| Plant Safe | No |
| Temperament | Slightly aggressive |
What Do Crayfish Eat In The Aquarium?
Having discussed what crayfish eat in their native environment, let’s look at what they eat in the aquarium.
Before you think about what to feed your pet crayfish, it’s best to make sure it has a healthy environment that is similar to its natural habitat.
But when you start making their new home, you should also know what the limits are, since it may have something to do with how they like to eat.
In the wild, many crayfish species are found in dense vegetation. However, if you decide to put your crayfish in planted tanks, it will be a huge mistake!.
As I already said, many types of crayfish will eat, cut, and pull out any plant in the tank. In the aquarium, crayfish become lawnmowers.
| Most crayfish species and planted tanks are not compatible (except, dwarf crayfish species like Brazos Dwarf Crayfish, Dwarf Mexican crayfish, Cambarellus Diminutus). So, do your research beforehand! |
The crayfish love plants and will often eat and damage them because they are quite destructive. That’s why experienced aquarists who own planted aquariums tend to shy away from crayfish.
Instead, unless you want to buy cheap plants that you know you’ll lose, you should look into floating plants or fake plants.
Floating plants will be a good choice for crayfish tanks. They simply will not be able to get them, so you should have a problem.
It is important to give crayfish a varied diet of both plant and animal matter to make sure they get all the nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals) they need to grow and stay healthy.
Ideal food sources include the popular Dry pellet foods and Frozen foods. These are high-quality foods that are made for sale and have a lot of protein.
In this regard, sinking shrimp pellets and fish foods are very much acceptable by crayfish.
Good examples of these are (links to check the price on Amazon):
You can also give crayfish small live foods like feeder fish, shrimp, snails, grindal worms, detritus worms, and grindal worms. Crayfish like these foods because they use their natural instincts to catch live prey.
Note: Crayfish are not adapted for efficient hunting. Therefore, live food should be considered only as supplement feeding.
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Crayfish also like vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, spinach, and carrot, as well as peas in their shells and small pieces of fruit.
Additionally, because these insects like to eat dead plants, you can give them your old vegetables that are about to go bad, and they will eat them right away.
Some crayfish species seem to have an appetite for algae. So it shouldn’t be a surprise to see them eating algae that is growing on rocks and wood in your tank every once in a while. They will also make a meal out of the shoots of your live plants.
How to Take Care of Crayfish
Can crayfish eat shrimp?
Shrimp food is a popular choice for feeding adult crayfish. These foods are designed to provide a balanced diet and are often high in protein. It is important to choose a high-quality shrimp food that is free from contaminants. Intrigued by the enigmatic world of pet crayfish? You’re not alone, and there’s no need to fret.
What do crayfish eat?
Crayfish are omnivorous scavengers and feed on both plant matter as well as small animals like insects, snails, worms and other crustaceans. This includes shrimp. While they can be found grazing on aquatic plants in rivers or ponds during the day, at night they actively hunt for food such as small fish, tadpoles and even other crayfish.
Can crayfish eat algae?
While they may eat algae, it should not be their only food source. How long can pet crayfish go without food? Pet crayfish can go several days without food, but it is not recommended to leave them without food for extended periods of time. It is important to provide a balanced diet and to avoid overfeeding.
Do dwarf crayfish eat shrimp?
In general, crayfish should be fed once or twice a day in small amounts that can easily be consumed within two hours. It is important to not overfeed the crayfish as this can lead to waste build up in their habitat and affect water quality. Yes, dwarf crayfish will eat shrimp. These small crustaceans are omnivores and scavengers.