I have a blue crayfish, and I think he’s one of the best pets someone can have. That’s because he’s exotic, a pretty bright blue color, interesting to watch, and easy to take care of, very easy. However, what do crayfish eat? Well, let’s take a look.
In this blog, I’ll discuss what crayfish eat in the wild and what they can eat as pets. In short, these guys aren’t too picky.
What do Crayfish Eat? – Most Anything!
Crayfish, also known as “crawfish,” mudbugs, blue lobsters, and freshwater lobsters, are scavengers.
Actually, they are aggressive little things that will try to clamp down their claws on anything in your tank. They are omnivores who will consume both plants and other animals. This includes other creatures in your fish tank.
That’s right, from your favorite minnows to snails to any fish really, a pet crayfish like my blue crayfish will consume whatever it has the opportunity to munch on.
With crays, everything in your aquarium is fair game, pretty much. That’s why it’s important to select the right tank mates for your crayfish, so they don’t end up as food.
Mudbugs In the Wild
In the wild, crayfish wander about, feeding on live and dead animals, as well as aquatic plants. Sounds like a pretty laid-back life.
Most types of crayfish, their diets include fish, shrimp, insects, plankton, algae, and even worms. They aren’t exactly fussy eaters. I mean can you imagine eating worms? So basically, these guys eat just about everything.
Crayfish in the wild eat:
- Fish (live and dead)
- Shrimp
- Insects
- Plankton
- Algae
- Worms
- Decaying plant matter
Crayfish can also live in pretty dirty environments. What a life. Just think, waking up every morning and going through the day eating whatever you can get your hands (or claws) on?
Crayfish and Your Other Fish
As pets, I guess you could feed your freshwater lobster other fish if you wanted. But that’s probably not ideal. That would seem a bit cruel, actually. Having said that, again, you have to be careful about the tank mates that you select to be in your aquarium with your crayfish.
If you put just any freshwater fish into your fish tank along with your crayfish, the fish could get eaten by the crayfish very quickly. Trust me, I’ve lost a few really cool fish myself to my little blue crustacean friend.
I’d suggest reading my article discussing what fish make good tank mates alongside pet crayfish.
Pet Crays at Home
Like other pets, you can feed your mudbug lots of different things.
There are many food options. Remember, pet crayfish aren’t like a picky date or anything like that. So feel free to feed them lettuce, peas, and other vegetables.
You can also give them sinking algae pellets that can be purchased online or at most any pet store. This is a very common way to feed these peculiar creatures and very easily.
Personally, I like to keep things simple and easy. I feed my freshwater lobster a sinking pellet every day or two. When they are younger, you will definitely need to feed them every day. But, as they get older, every other day will do the trick.
Ultimately though, it’s good to switch up what you feed your crayfish. They will love you for it.
What You Can Feed Crayfish at Home:
- Lettuce
- Peas
- Cucumbers
- Other Vegetables
- Sinking Algae Pellets
- Bloodworms
- Dead Fish