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| Red Clarkii |
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| Blue and Red Clarkii |
Procambarus Clarkii
Alternative names : Red Swamp Crayfish, Red Crayfish, Red Swamp Crawfish, Louisiana Crawfish, Louisiana Crayfish, Mudbug
Snow White for White Clarkii
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Family: Cambaridae
Genus: Procambarus
Subgenus: Scapulicambarus
Species:
Procambarus Clarkii
Difficulty : Easy
Min. Tank Size : 75.7 Litres (20 US G.)
Size : 12.7-30.5cm (5-12 ")
pH : 7.5 - 8.0
Temperature : 19 -25 °C (66.2-77°F)
Water Hardness : 8-18 °d
Stocking Ratio : 1:1 M:F
Diet : Omnivore, Live Foods
Life Span : 2-5 years
Habitat : North America
Procambarus Clarkii is a freshwater crayfish species, native to the Southeastern United States, but found also on other continents, where it is often an invasive pest. It is known variously as the red swamp crawfish, red swamp crayfish, Louisiana crawfish, Louisiana crayfish or mudbug
The native range of
Procambarus Clarkii is along the Gulf Coast from northern Mexico to the Florida panhandle, as well as inland, to southern Illinois and Ohio. It has also been introduced, sometimes deliberately, outside its natural range to countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and elsewhere in the Americas. In northern Europe, the populations are self maintaining but not expanding, while in southern Europe,
Procambarus Clarkii is multiplying and actively colonising new territory, at the expense of the native crayfish, Astacus astacus and Austropotamobius spp.. Individuals are reported to be able to cross many miles of relatively dry ground, especially in wet seasons, although the aquarium trade and anglers may have hastened the spread in some areas (it is believed that anglers using Procambarus Clarkii as bait introduced it to the American state of Washington). Attempts have also been made to use Procambarus Clarkii as a biological control organism, to reduce levels of the snails involved in the life cycle of schistosomiasis, leading to the dispersal of
Procambarus Clarkii in, for instance, Kenya.
Origin
This Cray is native to the Southeastern United States.
Sexing
The male crayfish's first set of swimmerets are longer and more prong shaped. The female crayfish has a seminal receptacle to receive sperm from the male.
Tank compatibility
These Crayfish can be furiously territorial and aggressive to other Crayfish and any other inhabitants that don't get out of their way. A large tank is thus required and only compatible with species that will give it a wide berth. This species should not be kept with long finned fish or slow fish because those fish are easy targets for the crayfish. Do not mix with other species of crayfish. In addition multiple crayfish should only be kept together if they are roughly the same size otherwise the larger and more powerful crayfish will eat the smaller one.
Diet
Pretty much anything it can get its claws on. From sinking food pellets, soft vegetation, detritus and co-inhabitants. It can also eat bloodworms and frozen algae. Do not feed shrimp to this species of crayfish.
Feeding regime
Feed once or twice a day.
Environment Specifics
These Crayfish will seriously disrupt any vegetation or decoration. They can be very active and will often attempt to escape. It is imperative that these animals are provided with a substrate they can burrow in as well as adequate hiding spaces such as a clay pipe or hollow bogwood.
Behaviour
An aggressive species of crayfish that will harass the other inhabitants of the aquarium. Thus crayfish should be given a lot of room with an adequate amount of hiding places. These Crayfish are cannibalistic.
Identification
A large Cray which is available in several colour forms. The wild form is brown-red, orange, blue and white morphs are also available.
Harvests of Procambarus Clarkii account for a large majority of the crayfish produced in the United States and elsewhere. Crayfish farming began in Louisiana in the 18th century, taking place in rice fields in a concurrent or alternate culture system. The concurrent culture of rice and crayfish makes use of land, resources, equipment, and infrastructure already being used for rice production. However, crawfish production has decreased in recent years due to an increase of imports from China, which is now the world's leading producer of crawfish and is also using a rice-based system. A number of species of crustaceans were introduced to China to create markets for aquaculture and because they are better adapted to growing in a rice field than native fish species. Rice-fish farming originated in China and is once again growing as the yields from Green Revolution practices used to grow rice are no longer increasing and resources, such as land and water, are becoming more limited.
Procambarus Clarkii has also been introduced elsewhere for cultivation, such as Spain, where its success is attributable to its ability to colonise disturbed habitats that would be unsuitable for the native crayfish. Procambarus Clarkii is also marketed by biological supply companies for teaching and research. Procambarus Clarkii also exhibits different color morphs, including white, blue, and orange and are commonly sold in pet stores.
The introduction of
Procambarus Clarkii has also resulted in economic losses in some regions. In the Baixo Mondego region of Portugal, it caused a decrease in 6.3% of profits in rice fields. However, this was on a wet-seeded field. All negative effects of crawfish can be avoided if adult crawfish are separated from the seed and seedlings
Procambarus Clarkii are eaten in United States, Cambodia, Europe, China, Africa, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the Caribbean. About 98% of the crayfish harvested in the United States come from Louisiana, where the standard culinary terms are crawfish or écrevisses.
Louisiana produces 90% of the crawfish in the world and consumes 70% locally.
Louisiana crawfish are usually boiled in a large pot with heavy seasoning (salt, cayenne pepper, lemon, garlic, bay leaves, etc.) and other items such as potatoes, corn on the cob, onions, garlic, and sausage. There are many differing methods used to season a crawfish boil and an equal number of opinions on which one is correct.They are generally served at a gathering known as a crawfish boil.
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| Blue Clarkii, Red Clarkii and White Clarkii (Snow White) |
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| Clarkii Marlborow |
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