So a friend of mine in the area got a brown cloning cray a while back. The first batch of babies were, of course, brown...then the second batch was half brown and half BLUE. The third is all blue, along with the fourth. Is this some weird color variation (don't understand how considering they clone themselves) or what? She kept one from the third and she's currently berried up. We'll see what happens.
Note: Her water has not changed in alkalinity (what some are saying cause it) and the diet has always been the same. So it can't be that.
Well, I bought one (for REALLY cheap ) from her and have her set up in a ten all to herself (well, and some snails and live plants). This one is from the fourth batch of the original mom and is all blue. Just got her home today and she's in her tank (pictures soon...she's really small and doesn't want to come out of hiding right now). I'll let everyone know when she's big enough to berry up and hopefully this blue thing will prove true.
Ok, this is what she told me. She says that the marble cray can breed with males in the same genus (or species?). The female she originally had was housed with a blue 'lobster' at the pet store, so she thinks that his genes are just now showing up.
Is this possible? If so, that's pretty darn interesting. Can you imagine all the different colored cloning cray?!?!
She says that the marble cray can breed with males in the same genus (or species?).
The female she originally had was housed with a blue 'lobster' at the pet store, so she thinks that his genes are just now showing up.
That's pretty darn interesting. Can you imagine all the different colored cloning cray?!?!
- There are NO male cloning crayfish, they don't mate, with anything.
- Crayfish don't mate with lobsters.
- Cloning crayfish change color depending on their diet.
And her tank...removing at least the moss and sword plant in the morning, probably leaving the floating plants since I doubt she'll get to those. Also may remove the snails. Don't want them to be eaten by her...
The second most likely cause is some minor environmental difference that isn't noticeable. Just because animals are in the same tank doesn't mean that they're necessarily picking up the same food. Crayfish tend to set up dominance hierarchies, and the dominant individual may be getting more and better food.
Interesting crayfish. You should check out http://www.planetinverts.com/ All about dwarf shrimps, crayfish, snails. I hope those crayfish you got does not destroy all your live aquarium plants.[
Well, it must have been the food/water, she's turning back brown which I don't mind. Thanks for the interesting read on that!
eileen, I've removed the plants except for some floating ones she can't get to.
lol k, and just remember, she's no longer blue! She is now brown again. And when you get one (I'd suggest just one...seriously) they can have anywhere between 100 to 400 babies every 3 months...that's a LOT of crays!!!
that would be fine as i have ways of curbing the population so to speak...i find the crustaceans in particular interesting..i have a number but none of the ones you have obtained..if things work out for you let me know.
Yeah, I may end up with three adults here soon. The woman I got them from is getting rid of them and she said I could just take them. The babies that are born will mainly be used as feeders for my shiners and other crays, and some day soon they will be fed to a tegu
I love love love these crays though. I got two at the store near me that were feeder crays. Still trying to ID them, but I know for sure that one is male and the other female. Watched the female dig herself a nice little 'den' under a rock. Was really neat. I believe she's about to shed too.
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