Red Crayfish are a type of freshwater shrimp. They are easily distinguished from other types of crustaceans by their brilliant red body, antennae, and claws.
The color is due to a carotenoid pigment called astaxanthin produced by the body at 10-11mg/kg in the blood and 4-5mg/kg in the tissues.
This is the same pigment that makes flamingos pink, shrimp red (which is a blue-green color in the wild), and salmon orange.
Characteristics
The Crayfish is a very small species of crustacean that can measure up to only 2 inches (1-7.5cm). They have a carapace (or hardshell) that is generally red with areas of black blotches near their head, legs, and along their sides.
The chelae, or claws, are also red and are very large compared to the size of the body. Red Crayfish thrive in freshwater but tolerate brackish water as well.
This shrimp species is native to the southern United States but has been introduced in many other places, including Australia, Cuba, Ireland, The Netherlands, and New Zealand.
They are often found in rice paddies and wetlands. Red Crayfish are an important food source for many other species of life, including birds that live near the water and aquatic mammals such as otters.
The Appearance
Red Crayfish, as noted above, are red. Their antennae also have a black tip, but the rest of the antennae is white. The legs are also black, but most of the body is reddish-brown.
The carapace is very small and curved backward in shape. This species also has a slightly serrated tail end which allows it to hide in the sand when threatened by predators.
Habitat
Red Crayfish thrive in freshwater environments and reproduce quickly and abundantly. They can live in rice paddies and other areas often flooded by water but often found in standing water such as ponds and lakes.
However, they are not limited to the United States and have been introduced in many places all over the world where they have thrived.
Diet
Red Crayfish are herbivores or vegetarians who feed on algae and aquatic plants. This, however, does not mean that they are all vegetarians.
Most red Crayfish will consume various plant materials, including terrestrial plants, aquatic plants from ponds and lakes, and even some animals such as insects when available.
The diet of red Crayfish consists of 85% water plants and algae; 9% algae; 2% aquatic marine worms; and 1% aquatic, terrestrial invertebrates.
Reproduction
Red Crayfish reproduce quickly. Red Crayfish are sexually mature at about two years old, which is only two years for a crayfish.
They can live for up to eight years in the wild. However, sexual maturity does not mean that a female will lay eggs.
Red Crayfish breed year-round, with courtship occurring in the spring and summer months. After mating, the female crawls onto a shore or other protected area and starts to build her nest, which can be as large as twenty feet long and three feet wide.
Once the nest is complete, the female lays her eggs in it and then covers them with soil. She can lay up to 1,800 eggs in her nest within a few days.
The newly hatched young Crayfish stay with their mother for three weeks to ensure survival after hatching.
Red Crayfish are an important part of the food web because they are preyed upon by many birds and aquatic mammals.
Conservation
Red Crayfish are not threatened with endangerment or extinction. They are not listed as threatened or endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
They do not appear on any regional lists of threatened or endangered animals. The species has recently been introduced to many other countries worldwide and has done well.
Use
Red Crayfish are the subject of many studies because of their importance in the food web and in studying the biology of aquatic animals.
Red Crayfish are eaten by many animals, including ducks, swans, geese, otters, frogs, fish, and humans. Red Crayfish are frequently used as bait by anglers when targeting other fish such as catfish or bass. They are commonly kept as pets for those who have aquariums.
Overview Of Red Crayfish
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Class | Cephalopoda |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Order | Malacostraca |
| Family | Procambaridae |
| Genus | Procambarus |
| Species | Clarkii Common |
| Name | Red Crayfish, Red Swamp Crab, Red Swamp Shrimp |
| Scientific name | Procambarus clarkii |
The benefit of Red Crayfish
Here are the Best 10 benefits of Red Crayfish
1. Human Uses
Human uses the Red Crayfish as a source of food and uses their shell for decoration.
2. Ornamental Uses
The Crayfish is used as a decoration in an aquarium because their red body with claw and tail make them beautiful.
3. Pet
people like to keep them as pets because they are very easy to be kept in aquariums, and you can see them move around your aquarium daily.
4. Commercially
people catch the Red Crayfish in the ponds and sell them to commercial restaurants.
5. Bait
people use this Red Crayfish as bait when fishing in the water.
6. Research
many people take an interest in keeping red Crayfish as pets, so research is going on to make a tank of a more appropriate size for them according to their nature.
7. Aquarium
This Red Crayfish is very small when it eats, so people use it in aquariums to eat the algae.
8. Food
It is one of the best food for many other animals, such as fish and birds, so people catch them and make meals.
9. Food Security
The Crayfish can produce a lot of eggs, so people make an effort to keep them to prevent global famine
10. Home
Nowadays, people like to keep them in a home aquarium for fun and as pets, but they also become a food source for the family.
The Threat
When people catch Crayfish and sell them to cook, there is one wrong action made them. They catch Red Crayfish in the water body where young Crayfish live with their mother when they are newly born.
Crayfish Disease
- Viral Ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus
- Viral Hepatitis Virus( VHAV)
- Viral Hepatitis Virus( VHAV)
- Brucellosis disease
- Renal Disease
- Crayfish Plague
- Fish Disease
- Dog Heartworm
- Leptospirosis bacterium
Remedy For Crayfish Disease
1. Remove the Crayfish from the outside water source.
2. Use a long-handled net and ensure the Crayfish is not in the water.
3. Clean up any spilled water or known infected water area with disinfectant or bleach.
4. Take the Crayfish to a local veterinarian to diagnose and treat any infected animals that became sick during transport or capture.
5. If Crayfish is a known carrier of the disease, then keep the Crayfish in a separate tank and administer antibiotics.
6. Taking the animal to an aquatic facility for proper treatment.
7. Tie up Crayfish for transportation to an aquatic facility for proper treatment.
8. Place Crayfish in a plastic container and drop it in a pond or river 20 miles away from your home.
Special Note
Red Crayfish is one of the most important forms of freshwater crustacean, commonly known as crawfish.
There are approximately 225 species, which all belong to the family of Cambaridae. Red Crayfish are found in almost all regions and have been introduced to many countries.
The most common countries that Red Crayfish have invaded include Australia, Nigeria, and Japan. Adult Crayfish live in aquatic habitats such as rivers, lakes, and ponds below the waterline.
Conclusion
Red Crayfish are commonly found in many water bodies such as ponds, lakes, and rivers. But some people have introduced them to other countries such as Japan, Australia, and Nigeria because they are not common in these places.
Red Crayfish are popular with people who like to keep them as pets. They happen to be the source of food for many other creatures.
Red Crayfish have many uses in our daily life, such as decoration, bait, and food. I hope you have enjoyed this article. Thank you.
