Archivarium 2004

[cichlid_dude123]

I have a 55 gallon tank and a albino tiger oscar in it and a bristlenose catfish which just hides all the time. Anyway I would like to put some sort of crayfish with him, is this possible? I could get some rock caves and stuff for it to hide in. What do I feed them? And would they fight?

[cichlid_dude123]

ohh I forgot to mention that hes been in there for about 4 months now and he might have established terriotry. is there anyway I could still put one in with him?

[benedictj]

I can't say I've heard of anyone trying this combo but just going on gut and what I do know about Oscars, it sounds like it would end as a lobster sushi lunch for the oscar. Or, at the very least, it would be a miserable existance for the crayfish, who would probably wind up spending most of its time hiding.
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Best,

Jake

[haname]

Or possibly the other way around...

[Greatwhite]

I have a magazine called Aquarium Fish Magazine, and I just got an article all about crayfish. For your aquarium, I would choose something of similar size to your other fish. I would also buy some plants(fake or real) and hiding spaces. Crayfish normally live in areas of densse vegitation and lots of cracks and crevices to hide in. Here are the eight most popular crayfish. Here we go:
Louisiana Crayfish: Red, 6 inches, escape artists, live 2-3 years.
Yabby/ Australian Crayfish: Bright Blue, 8 inches, 68-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Florida Lobster:Brown, 2.3-2.75 inches, 68-80 degrees F
Shufeld's Dwarf Crayfish: red-brown, 1.5 inches, live 12-18 months, minimal agression.
Orange Dwarf Crayfish: Orange with two stripes,1.6 inches, Larger fish will eat it
Red Claw:Blue-green to black, 8.5 inches, 72-90 degrees F
The Marron: brown, black, blue, 15 inches, up to 4 pounds, 60-72 degrees F,
Miami Cave Crayfish: Orange, 3 inches, 68-86 degrees F
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Gotta love our little fine-finned friends.

[cichlid_dude123]

so I shouldnt put it with my oscar. I don't think my oscar would bother it but he might and he won't take crap from a crayfish. but I don't know I mgiht ask the guys at the pet store as well.

[benedictj]

Yeah, I'd say no. While haname's point is valid. I think in the long run, it would be the oscar who overtakes the crawfish, sheerly based on growth rate (oscars grow much faster than crawfish).

Also, even if they didn't kill each other, the crawdaddy could potentially cut the Oscar , which could lead to disease issues (especially since O's are often a harbinger of dirty water).
_________________
Best,

Jake

[cichlid_dude123]

I went to the pet store today(PJs) and I asked a guy there and he said that I could do it if theres a lot of rocks and plants for it to hide in. I was thinking of just a blue crayfish with some lava rocks and some of my fake plants in one corner and the rest of the tank is oscar town ohh and the bristlenose could hide with the crayfish

[Taratron]

And the crayfish will take chunks from the bristlenose.

Seriously, if you mix a cray with fish, you are always taking the risk of the cray getting a few good chomps here and there; fish do sleep sometime. And oscars are not above an easy live meal.

My crayfish Skit was a little over six inches when he died; he had eaten over $20 worth of fish, including a Platydoras costatus, a striped raphael catfish.
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But if you tame me, then we shall need each other....You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.
~Antoine de Saint-Exupery