Family: Cambaridae
Distribution: Procambarus allenii – known also as Electric Blue Crayfish – is natively distributed in the United States, east of St Johns River and throughout the Florida peninsula, as well south of the Levy and Marion counties.
PH: 6.5 – 8.5
Temperature: 10 – 30°C (50 – 86°F)
Hardness: 9 – 13 dGH
Description: Procambarus allenii will grow to an average of 10cm, although they can reach greater sizes. In the wild, this species will have a brown appearance with some blue or red elements, but selective breeding has resulted in an electric blue variety.
Diet: This species will feast upon your plants if given the chance, so avoid heavily planting your tank. It can be fed tropical food flakes and meat and vegetable pellets. You can provide it with dried oak leaves to boost its health; this species will also eat its own moults to regain lost nutrients.
Breeding: Procambarus allenii females will carry her eggs on her swimmerets until hatching. This species will breed all year around, but is best bred in pairs. You should keep the adults well fed to maximise breeding capabilities.
Comments: The Electric Blue Crayfish will require gravel or sand as a substrate. You should make sure your tank has a cover to stop this species from crawling out. You will need to keep adults in a tank of at least 10 gallons to stop the young from cannibalising each other – a result of having not enough space to move around in. Your tank should also have a full spectrum florescent lighting system in place.
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Recommended Compatible Species: This species will stay mostly at the bottom of your tank and should be kept with fish that will leave them in peace. You can house your Electric Blue Crayfish with fish species that are too big for them to catch and eat.
