In this blog, we are going to answer the question of, where do crayfish live? We’ll take a look at where they can found and what areas of the country they are found in.
Let’s jump in.
Quick Facts About Crayfish
Before we take a closer look at where crayfish live, let’s check out a few random facts about crayfish.
I’ve been keeping crayfish for several years. And, these guys are super interesting. Below are just a few cool facts about crayfish for you to think about.
Facts About Crayfish:
- They are omnivores
- Crayfish are extremely aggressive and territorial
- Crayfish can regenerate their body parts (cool heh?)
- They have gills and can actually breathe outside of water, but their gills have to stay moist
- Blue crayfish get their color from a genetic defect
Where are Crayfish From?
Crayfish live all over the place, and specific types of crayfish are native to different parts of the world.
For example, the blue crayfish (Procambarus alleni) is native to Florida. Although blue crayfish can also be found in Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, and other states.
Then there are red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), these guys can wreak havoc on the ecosystem. They are an invasive species and native to Mississippi. They are destructive because of their aggressiveness and eating habits.
Then you have the harmless little Mexican dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus patzcuarensis), this guy is from, of course, Mexico. These dwarf crayfish are actually pretty peaceful and passive little creatures.
Unlike other crayfish, my pet blue crayfish, for example, Mexican dwarf crayfish can live in community fish tanks with other smaller and peaceful fish. Other crayfish, like blue crayfish, and white crayfish, would devour a lot of fish that are kept in many fish tanks. These types of crayfish do best with fish that swim in the middle to the top of the tank.
Then you have the white crayfish (Procambarus alleni). And, actually, the white crayfish is a variant of the blue crayfish if you can believe that. So these guys are from Florida, specifically, they can be found in the St. John’s river.
Where Do Crayfish Live in the Wild?
Crayfish are actually found all throughout the world. They are primarily found in ponds, streams, lakes, and rivers. They also have gills, so they can live in any area where they can keep their gills moist.
Where Do Crayfish Come From?: Where to Look
- Ponds
- Streams
- Lakes
- Rivers
Are Crayfish Easy to Keep as Pets?
I’ve kept pet crayfish for years, both white and blue crayfish. Since crayfish are hardy creatures and omnivores, they are pretty easy to care for and keep as pets.
If you wanted to keep a pet crayfish, I’d suggest nothing smaller than a 20-gallon fish tank. That’s because you might eventually want other fish in your tank, plus, anything smaller gets dirty fast with a crayfish. Because crayfish put out a lot of waste.
In the wild, crayfish will eat decaying plants, worms, insects, fish (alive or dead), and pretty much anything. However, in captivity, you might want to feed your crayfish some other stuff. Check out the list below.
What to feed pet crayfish:
- Sinking algae pellets
- Vegetables (peas, carrots, cucumber)
- Bloodworms
- Brine shrimp
Recap: Where Crayfish are Found
In this blog, we answered the simple question of, where do crayfish live? We also looked at the backgrounds of some specific types of crayfish and where they are native to.
White crayfish, blue crayfish, Mexican dwarf crayfish, and red swamp crayfish are well-known types of crawfish. But, as we saw with the red swamp crayfish that is from Mississippi, the behavior of crayfish can be wildly different than others.
For example, the peaceful Mexican dwarf crayfish is not known for being super-aggressive and can live in a community fish tank whereas blue crayfish and white crayfish will eat the other freshwater fish in the tank.
If you plan on keeping a crayfish, I’d suggest a tank no smaller-than a 20-gallon aquarium. I’d also suggest getting a blue crayfish. One of the most popular and beautiful crayfish around.
