Live Crayfish and their mannerisms

[airborne_angler]

Ive always heard that Crayfish (Crawfish,Crawdads,Mudbugs...Whatever you wanna call em) are an invasive species destructive to an ecosystem. Thats why most places tell you to catch as many as you like to erradicate them.

Destructive? I have a hard time believing that. I recently put a single Crawfish in my 55 gallon Aquarium.

It went right ahead and dug out a huge area under some boulders I placed in the tank,displacing the gravel and really clearing it out very nicely

Sounds destructive...Yea it does. But 2 days later I wanted to check out the Crawfish in its home. I was really surprised.The area that had been dug out was totally filled back in,as if nothing had ever disturbed it.

The Critter now lives on the other end of the tank under a single rock.

Now how are the actions I observed considered to be destructive? The little guy moved in and when he moved out he put the area back to the same as when he got there. Pretty clever if you ask me.

I write this only because a Crawfish in some lakes is a LMB'S staple Forage. If we erradicate them from every body of water,then what will the bass feed on? I know the answer is Baitfish...But you get my drift.

[airborne_angler]

Ive always heard that Crayfish (Crawfish,Crawdads,Mudbugs...Whatever you wanna call em) are an invasive species destructive to an ecosystem. Thats why most places tell you to catch as many as you like to erradicate them.

Destructive? I have a hard time believing that. I recently put a single Crawfish in my 55 gallon Aquarium.

It went right ahead and dug out a huge area under some boulders I placed in the tank,displacing the gravel and really clearing it out very nicely

Sounds destructive...Yea it does. But 2 days later I wanted to check out the Crawfish in its home. I was really surprised.The area that had been dug out was totally filled back in,as if nothing had ever disturbed it.

The Critter now lives on the other end of the tank under a single rock.

Now how are the actions I observed considered to be destructive? The little guy moved in and when he moved out he put the area back to the same as when he got there. Pretty clever if you ask me.

I write this only because a Crawfish in some lakes is a LMB'S staple Forage. If we erradicate them from every body of water,then what will the bass feed on? I know the answer is Baitfish...But you get my drift.

[airborne_angler]

Ive always heard that Crayfish (Crawfish,Crawdads,Mudbugs...Whatever you wanna call em) are an invasive species destructive to an ecosystem. Thats why most places tell you to catch as many as you like to erradicate them.

Destructive? I have a hard time believing that. I recently put a single Crawfish in my 55 gallon Aquarium.

It went right ahead and dug out a huge area under some boulders I placed in the tank,displacing the gravel and really clearing it out very nicely

Sounds destructive...Yea it does. But 2 days later I wanted to check out the Crawfish in its home. I was really surprised.The area that had been dug out was totally filled back in,as if nothing had ever disturbed it.

The Critter now lives on the other end of the tank under a single rock.

Now how are the actions I observed considered to be destructive? The little guy moved in and when he moved out he put the area back to the same as when he got there. Pretty clever if you ask me.

I write this only because a Crawfish in some lakes is a LMB'S staple Forage. If we erradicate them from every body of water,then what will the bass feed on? I know the answer is Baitfish...But you get my drift.

[J Francho]

There are over 360 species of crawfish in the US.  One, the "Rusty Crawfish" (Orconectes rusticus) is an invasive species in several areas outside their native Ohio that displace other, indigenous species.

[J Francho]

There are over 360 species of crawfish in the US.  One, the "Rusty Crawfish" (Orconectes rusticus) is an invasive species in several areas outside their native Ohio that displace other, indigenous species.

[J Francho]

There are over 360 species of crawfish in the US.  One, the "Rusty Crawfish" (Orconectes rusticus) is an invasive species in several areas outside their native Ohio that displace other, indigenous species.

[Big Fish Rice]

Just like fish, there are natural and invasive species of crayfish. The dangerous aspect is that the invasive species competes for the same resources, like food and habitat.

There is a fine line between keeping all populations happy; unfortunately we are usually on either side of that line.

We as people may not see the harm in another species of crayfish, but our environment is a product of the "domino effect". One thing will always affect another.

I'm not a professional, but my opinion is that it would be quite difficult to rid our waters of invasive crayfish. We have other invasive species that have proven too tough to get rid of - What strategy is being implemented to gain success over current conditions?

[Big Fish Rice]

Just like fish, there are natural and invasive species of crayfish. The dangerous aspect is that the invasive species competes for the same resources, like food and habitat.

There is a fine line between keeping all populations happy; unfortunately we are usually on either side of that line.

We as people may not see the harm in another species of crayfish, but our environment is a product of the "domino effect". One thing will always affect another.

I'm not a professional, but my opinion is that it would be quite difficult to rid our waters of invasive crayfish. We have other invasive species that have proven too tough to get rid of - What strategy is being implemented to gain success over current conditions?

[Big Fish Rice]

Just like fish, there are natural and invasive species of crayfish. The dangerous aspect is that the invasive species competes for the same resources, like food and habitat.

There is a fine line between keeping all populations happy; unfortunately we are usually on either side of that line.

We as people may not see the harm in another species of crayfish, but our environment is a product of the "domino effect". One thing will always affect another.

I'm not a professional, but my opinion is that it would be quite difficult to rid our waters of invasive crayfish. We have other invasive species that have proven too tough to get rid of - What strategy is being implemented to gain success over current conditions?

[grimlin]

http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/ais/rustycrayfish_invader#impacts

Read that....It'll show the Negatives impact of  "Rusty Crawfish" (Orconectes rusticus) that J Francho mentioned.

[grimlin]

http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/ais/rustycrayfish_invader#impacts

Read that....It'll show the Negatives impact of  "Rusty Crawfish" (Orconectes rusticus) that J Francho mentioned.

[grimlin]

http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/ais/rustycrayfish_invader#impacts

Read that....It'll show the Negatives impact of  "Rusty Crawfish" (Orconectes rusticus) that J Francho mentioned.

[7mm-08]

I've had crawdads in my aquariums in the past and they were more entertaining than the fish.  They constantly build caves and fill them back in, make rock piles and move them around, etc.  They'll disappear a while to molt and then reappear and go back to digging/moving.

Surprisingly, they got along with my pet Warmouth and it never tried eating them.  The Warmouth was awesome but too costly to feed.  It would eat a dozen feeder goldfish a day if you'd let it.  Poor thing would be so bloated it could barely move lol.

[7mm-08]

I've had crawdads in my aquariums in the past and they were more entertaining than the fish.  They constantly build caves and fill them back in, make rock piles and move them around, etc.  They'll disappear a while to molt and then reappear and go back to digging/moving.

Surprisingly, they got along with my pet Warmouth and it never tried eating them.  The Warmouth was awesome but too costly to feed.  It would eat a dozen feeder goldfish a day if you'd let it.  Poor thing would be so bloated it could barely move lol.

[7mm-08]

I've had crawdads in my aquariums in the past and they were more entertaining than the fish.  They constantly build caves and fill them back in, make rock piles and move them around, etc.  They'll disappear a while to molt and then reappear and go back to digging/moving.

Surprisingly, they got along with my pet Warmouth and it never tried eating them.  The Warmouth was awesome but too costly to feed.  It would eat a dozen feeder goldfish a day if you'd let it.  Poor thing would be so bloated it could barely move lol.

[WRB]

The problem is transporting crayfish from region to region, as mentioned with the Rusty. Today the zebra/quagga mussel issue is a problem and the mussels can hitch hike on the crayfish transported by anglers. Otherwise crayfish are an important prey/food source for a variety of animals, including bass.

Tom

[WRB]

The problem is transporting crayfish from region to region, as mentioned with the Rusty. Today the zebra/quagga mussel issue is a problem and the mussels can hitch hike on the crayfish transported by anglers. Otherwise crayfish are an important prey/food source for a variety of animals, including bass.

Tom

[WRB]

The problem is transporting crayfish from region to region, as mentioned with the Rusty. Today the zebra/quagga mussel issue is a problem and the mussels can hitch hike on the crayfish transported by anglers. Otherwise crayfish are an important prey/food source for a variety of animals, including bass.

Tom

[Bobby Uhrig]

Those scoundrels!!!!!

[Bobby Uhrig]

Those scoundrels!!!!!

[Bobby Uhrig]

Those scoundrels!!!!!

[Sam]

I never heard that crawfish are destructive animals.

I do know that the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries asks that crawfish from outside of Virginia not be introduced into Virginia waters.

According to what I know, there are 530 species of crawfish with over 400 in the USA.

Crawfish boils are outstanding!!!!

[Sam]

I never heard that crawfish are destructive animals.

I do know that the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries asks that crawfish from outside of Virginia not be introduced into Virginia waters.

According to what I know, there are 530 species of crawfish with over 400 in the USA.

Crawfish boils are outstanding!!!!

[Sam]

I never heard that crawfish are destructive animals.

I do know that the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries asks that crawfish from outside of Virginia not be introduced into Virginia waters.

According to what I know, there are 530 species of crawfish with over 400 in the USA.

Crawfish boils are outstanding!!!!