Ghost Crayfish Care Guide - Setup, Diet & Breeding

Ghost Crayfish are a striking colour form of the Red Swamp Crayfish, with a pale, translucent or milky body that can reveal subtle orange, red, blue or grey shading. Their long antennae, jointed legs and large front claws give them the unmistakable appearance of a miniature freshwater lobster. Colour intensity varies between individuals and can change with age, mood and surroundings.

This is an active, bold and opportunistic crayfish that spends much of its time walking across the substrate, exploring shelter and searching for food. It may rearrange objects, uproot plants and investigate anything entering its territory. Although it can appear entertainingly confident, it is not a peaceful community invertebrate and may seize slow-moving tankmates.

Procambarus clarkii is naturally associated with warm, slow-moving or still freshwater, including marshes, ditches, ponds, swamps and seasonally flooded areas. It is capable of surviving periods when surface water recedes by retreating into damp burrows, which contributes to its success in a wide range of habitats.

The Ghost form is produced through selective breeding rather than representing a separate species. Like other members of its species, it grows by periodically shedding its hard exoskeleton. A newly moulted crayfish is temporarily vulnerable and relies on hiding places while its shell hardens.

The Ghost Crayfish is a selectively bred colour morph of Procambarus clarkii, a species native to the south-eastern United States and parts of north-eastern Mexico in North America. The species has also been introduced to many regions outside its natural range.

Allow at least 75 litres for one adult Ghost Crayfish, with a floor area of roughly 60 by 30 cm or larger being more useful than a tall aquarium. Use a secure, tightly fitting lid because crayfish are capable climbers and may escape through equipment openings. Provide robust filtration, good oxygenation and stable water quality, along with several caves made from rock, ceramic tubes or wood. Use a firm sand or smooth fine-gravel substrate, and choose tough plants or attach vegetation securely because digging and rearranging are normal behaviour.

Up to about 12.5 cm (5 inches) in body length, excluding the claws and antennae. Males are often slightly larger and more heavily built than females, although individual size varies.

Ghost Crayfish are omnivorous scavengers and should receive a varied diet of quality sinking crayfish or shrimp pellets, algae-based foods, blanched vegetables and occasional meaty foods such as prawns or earthworm. Their diet should include a reliable source of calcium to support shell development, while uneaten food should be removed promptly. They will also graze on biofilm, soft plant matter and naturally occurring organic debris.

Ghost Crayfish are best kept alone or with carefully chosen, fast-moving fish that occupy the upper levels of the aquarium. Larger danios, robust livebearers and some active barbs may be possible companions, although no fish is completely safe. Avoid small, slow, long-finned or bottom-dwelling fish, dwarf shrimp, snails and other crayfish, which may be attacked or eaten. They should not be housed with delicate community species or fish that may injure a crayfish during moulting.

Ghost Crayfish can breed readily in suitable aquarium conditions. After mating, the female carries fertilised eggs beneath her abdomen until they hatch, then protects the young for a short period. Provide plenty of caves and cover, as adults may eat newly hatched crayfish. Young should be separated or raised in a densely furnished grow-out tank and offered small sinking foods.

Mature males are generally slimmer through the abdomen and have larger claws and more prominent modified swimmerets used during mating. Females usually have a broader abdomen for carrying eggs and may appear more rounded, while their claws are often proportionally smaller.