Dear Blue Lobster:
Hello, I have just recently bought an Electric Blue Lobster , and I am trying to find out how to care for it better. The pet store in which I bought him at was not very helpful. I have him in a 5 gallon tank filled with water (I got the gallon sized bottled water) with some rocks, and his food, which are some shrimp (go shrinp) and a feeder fish. I got the e-care book, but it only gives refernce to Crabs. What size tank should I get, does he need heated water, a misting bottle, air pump. I don't know much from what they told me at the pet stor. What is molting also. I know this seems like a lot but, I have been everywhere for this kind of information. Please help. Thank you. Happy Holidays!!
Dear Gentle Sir:
Generally, the larger an area you can give your Electric Blue Lobster (probably actually either a procamabrus alleni or an orconectes immunis), the better. That being said, for practical purposes a 10 gallon take will suffice for the single specimen and a 20 gallon tank would be ample.
The water in the tank, which optimally should be seasoned for a few weeks before you introduce the cray, must be free of all sanitary chemicals. Chlorine and chloramine, often found in tap water, are cray-killers. A temperature of 70 degrees with a pH of 7.0, or neutral, will make for a very stable and comfortable environment for your blue lobster. An air pump of some sort should be used in the tank, if not a substratum filter. Oxygen is important to crayfish.
As for molting, good sir, it is the natural process by which crayfish (as well as other crustaceans) shed their hard exoskeleton in order to grow. The process is preceded by strange eating behaviors and activity patterns. The shell will split at the carapace and the cray usually escapes through the top of the tail. During this stage the lobster is vulnerable and will hide for a few days, and is why it is important that there is plenty of space and hiding places in the tank: predacious fish species as well as other crays will consider the molted lobster as prey! After hardening the new, larger exo-skeleton, the crayfish should begin eating normally. You may also notice that any missing or injured limbs have reappeared in some manner after the molt.
49 comments:
i have had one for 5 years and he is now 7 or 8 inches long ! he will not live long in a 5 gallon tank u need at least a 10 and he will eat shrimp pellots adn molting is when he sheds his skin and he will eat it so dont worry about getting it out it gives him protien .
Thank you for your insightful comment, sir.
Hello. We noticed when we brought our lobster home that he is missing his large claw. Will this correct itself through molting?
This is a popular topic! Please check the several posts about molting as well as When Is a Decapod Not a Decapod?
Ok I have a similar question to the guy at the top. I question if it's a blue lobster at all. Some sites called it a crayfish others call it a lobster. However the sales person didn't help me either. It is as big as a silver dollar and it just went through molting today which freaked my kids out...lol We have a 1.7 gallon tank that came with a stone filter that he shares with my 4yr.o's golfish. The golfish dosen't come down and the lobsters too short to get him. Is that tank big enough, when do I buy a bigger 1? What do they eat at that size? How do I continue to maintain his life span? How long do they usually live? How do I handle/transport it when it gets bigger? Jokingly my hubby says are they etible so he won't have to take me to Red Lobster for our anniversary...lol
HI there, i toio have an electric blue lobster that i bought at Petland in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He's been doing really well, he's already moulted twice but i think there is something wrong with him. Lately he's been seen laying on his back. but when i turn the light on he flips over and goes about his marry way. Is this sleeping behavior or is he sick? he's in a 25 gal aquarium with two large columbians, 3 tiger barbs, two dwarf gouramis and 2 cory cat fish. i'm thinking it's time to get him his own place, maybe a second 25 gal with some aquarium sand and cooler temps. Also, he's growing what looks like fur but is obviously scum from the water, what do you suggest?
i have a question, i just inherited a blue lobster, and i don't even know if it is a blue lobster or just an albino lobster that's blue. i was told that it was an Australian electric blue lobster, i looked it up and i think it was one of those fancy schmancy names from one of the other comments above. i know what to feed him, i know about the molting, but what type hard or soft water? what kind of ph?what temp is acceptable for all of them to live cohesively i have a tank of discus fish and corydoras and tetras and gouramis and i have heard different things each time and I'm confused. there's not a lot of info on these critters and i need to get some kind of help. :) i need to know everything! :)
thanks to whoever will reply.
_natalie_ Oak Park, California
Here in Indiana, is Illegal to sell Cray Fish so they call it a Lobster. Its still a Crayfish though.
its a lobster and it eats shrimp im 13 and i know more than you
Electric Blue Lobster
Scientific Name: Procambarus paeninsulanis
Recommended Aquarium: 20+ Gallons
Approx. Adult Size: 8 inches
Temperament: Semi Aggressive
Ease of Care: Easy
Diet: Omnivore
Native Waters: Florida
The Electric Blue Lobster is, in fact, a crayfish; much like the Bala Shark is actually a minnow.
The recommended PH is neutral or slightly acidic to bring out the blue coloration.
It is an omnivore which means it will eat both plant material and meat. It's recomended to vary the diet feeding it live or frozen food, flakes, and/or sinking pellets.
Temperature-wise, I would keep it at 76 F for all of your fish to feel at ease unless you are attempting breeding.
i have a electric blue lobster having trouble finding information. Hes seemed very inactive im wondering if he needs his own tank. we have a 33 gallon which houses dwarf gouarmi, tetras a eal plco and cory cat. we have had a ick outbreak and we are treating it with both salt and noxich. ive followed all dosing instruction and done regualr changes of the tank. im wondering if the salt is good or bad for him. im using the ich dosage for inveretabes or scales fish. which is one drop per 2 gallons of water. and regular salt which is 1 tbs per 5 gallons. water temp is constant ant 75 but the ph is a lil high. 7.6 does anyone know why my lobster is inactive?
help i have a lobster i think ist going to die theres bug thing al over him
if those are small worms youll be fine they dont seem to effect the lobsta in ne way
My electric blue lobsters just had a big clutch of eggs. i was going to seperate the female prior to hatching but missed it. To collect the babies i used a regular siphon vaccumm and strained through a breeder net. took some time to seperate the fry from the debris but in the end ended up with about 150 tiny babies. The temperature that worked best for me was around 25 C with a decent current. ammonia levels are critical during hatch so a good biological is advised too.test your water regularly if you have goldfish as they are the largest polluters.remember to treat your tank when adding new fish or changing things around. stress kills
I just bought an Electric Blue Lobster and they could tell me nothing when i bough it i need some info on what to do what to feed it and what to put in hitank and how cool it can be in its tank...
Thanks Adam
I believe that these crayfish, er, lobsters, are magnificent creatures. My two crayfish died just a few days ago, and I do not know the cause. I am allowed to get electric blue crayfish as my next ones, and I found this website looking for info on how to care for them. I have a ten gallon tank with an aerator, which is strictly required for healthy crayfish.See www.bluecrayfish.com and go to faqs and click on how do I cycle an aquarium and read the whole way through. If you don't read this, your crays will die of Ammonia and Nitrite overflow. Keep your pets healthy and alive, OK?
The guy that said he was thirteen and the crayfish are lobsters is completely wrong. Don't believe him! they ARE crayfish! Please post this so that I can prove him wrong!
I got a electric blue lobster with 2 pletcos,6 tigerbarbs,1 angel fish, a catfish, a couple snails and the catfish and lobster chill together inside a castle all the time i think their grown on to each other and are friends its pretty sweet aa long as u keep hhiim well fed they told me he wouldnt eat them its worked out great.
My Crayfish just shed his...ugh...skin.
I was totally freaked out as the pet store did not tell me ANYTHING when I bought him.
(They did tell me he was a "him" though.)
Thanks to all you for the info!
we just bought an australian blue lobster yesterday, the pet store told us that he likes fish matter, like dead fish or something. we put in a small live goldfish but it did not interest him, we put in some krill as well at first he put his antenna's over it so we thought he was going to claim it but he hid in his tunnel that we made him. he is in a 125 gallon tank with a red oscar, a grey oscar a female jack dempsey, 3 kissing grammies and 1 placo. ist his to much? he lays on his back to is this bad? what do we feed him? someone please help we dont want our new friend to die. thank u, keithntigrey
I seem to be having the same issue as many of you. I bought my blue lobster a couple months ago, Mr. Snappy. At first he was very active and loooved getting his shimp. He has moulted once and ever since he just lays around hiding in his rock house and barely eats. His antennae look like they have been cut off and he has a little white fuzz on his nose area, claws and claws beside his mouth area.
please help did anyones lobster get better after?
they are indeed cray fish. I am a marine biology major and that what the text books classify them as. I have a young blue lobster but i am confused as to how often they should molt. i want to know to make sure he is healthy. ive only had him for three weeks and he has molted once. is that normal?
any info is much appreciated :)
how often is the molting
its a lobster a crayfish woulndent need a place to hide
My blue crayfish is dying or he is molting. The thing is he came out of his cave to lay on the opposite side and has not moved for at least 24 hrs. Some tiny snails are starting to crawl on him bc of the inactivity. He has never molted the year and a half I've had him. My brother gave it to me so I'm not sure how old he is. I say he bc of the narrow pinchers but stretched out he is almost 5". My tank qualities are good and he was moving about like normal a week ago. Help or insight? Amber
Lobsters are in the crayfish family,I've had mine for 2 years now in a 10 Gal.tank with an airstone and filter.I use city water and it does fine,it eates raisins,carrots,shrimp,feeder fish.I even gave it a piece of hot dog and it ate that too,I try different thinks to find what it likes.It was a baby when I got it,and now it is 6 inches long. :)
How often do they molt just got one.Have him in a tank of Cichlids higher PH an Temps 78 to 80 . so far he is doing good.
Everyone here should be ashamed of themselves for not researching their chosen pet first. A lot of these are basic questions. Why would you make a concious decision on buying a commitment when you knew nothing of it?
i was just wondering how big my blue lobster will get. He was in a 5 gallon tank until i switched him to a 10 gal today. he looks like he is trying to get out is this normal?
my blue lobster looks like he is trying to get out of the aquarium. i just switched him from a 5 gal to a 10 gal tank. when will he start molting?
The electric blue lobster is a neat little creature but they need places to hide and room to grow. Best recommendation is a 20 gallon tank. The lobster generally will not eat live food unless the fish is slow enough for him to catch it. Sinking pellets and dried algea tabs are best. Use can even use cichlids pellets. When they need to grow they will shed or molt their skin. When this happens you might be under the impression that you lobster is dead as the molted skin is identical to the lobster with antenna eyes and all. I have never had one eat his own shell so best to get it out of the tank to prevent the decay from harming your other fish. Any claws, antennas or legs that have been damaged with reappear after the molt. They are extremely vulnerable until their new shell hardens so make sure they have a hiding place no other fish can get to. I have a aquarium bell with holes in it for mine. The sunken pirate ship or a cichlid rock would work also, just so long as there are only a few entrances that he can easily protect and that it is big enough that if he grows he will not be trapped inside. Once they have claimed a home they will protect it fiercly. They prefer clean water so a small filtration system would be beneficial along with your regular water changes. They also like at least 70 degrees so a small heater would do nicely. If you are housing goldfish with it or any other fish you need to do frequent water changes as the goldfish will poison themselves and any other fish in the tank if not keep clean. Goldfish have naturally occuring poisonous nitrates that are emitted from their feces and gills. There are chemical treatments you can put in the water to help neutralize the nitrates or you can buy a snail or two. I have a male and female Japanese trap door snail, one rams horn and one nirite snail. The snails have a natural ability to absorb the nitrates in the water plus they are good tank cleaners. Just be careful which ones you get and how many. Some breeds can multiply at an alarming rate and you will be quickly overrun if you don't know what you are looking for. I have a full aquarium, a breeding tank and a quarantee tank, I've been raising and breeding fish for 30 years and can answer a lot of your questions. Feel free to contact me at pegasus4407@yahoo.com & type "fish question" in the subject line.
our electric blue passed this evening. We notice that over the last couple of days he has been slow and his tail was curled under. Any ideas why?
I have had one about 6 months. I bought him as a wee little baby. Now he is 7 1/2 inches! He just shed recently also... It seems his legs are not fully functional immediately after shedding. I feed him sinking pellets because he eats fish when he can, esp guppies and mixed fruit tetras! I have a 32 gallon with a double filter penguin system and LED lighting. I have 2 heaters on one independent thermostat, and I've kept him between 78-80 degrees, because my Tetras and glass cats and my other tropical fish require a warmer water, and he does amazingly fine,... If not too fine. He's getting awfully big. My local aquarium where I got him offered to take him and put him in his BIG fish fish tank, so he doesnt eat any of his fish. I have a brown and black spotted dinosaur looking sucker fish, and it's about 8" long. My fish are huge, and Im looking forward to my new 70 gallon I bought myself for Christmas, and converting this one to salt, (changing out lights, etc.). Feel free to contact me as well - Jon.effect@gmail.com
Yes it will. If not the first time it molts but the second time.
I got an electric blue lobster, and a normal red one. I had them for a few months and i noticed that yesterday morning there was hundreds of baby lobsters. They are really tiny and look like little spots, but you can just make out the claws and tail. They are all swimming around the top of my 10 gallon tank, and i dont now how to take care of them. I feed my lobsters fish flakes... So will the babies eat that too? And some one told me that about 90% of them will die, is that true? Also will the other lobster eat his babies? I really need the help because i dont want them to die. Thanks!
How big are the newborn blue lobster?
Blue lobsters need warm 72-76 consistant temps, feed him dried shrimp and pellets, make sure he has "his own special" home (hiding area) especially when he molts amd important, make sure there is no place in your aquarioun where he can get stuck as they do need to go up to the surface and get oxygen or will drown! We had one for 9 years until i foolishly rearranged the tank and he got caught between some stone structures one evening and died. When molting, add a few crushed egg shells to the tank as they need the calcium for their new shell. Some say they will eat their old shell....ours never did. I would also add a few gruppies, male and female to the tank as they will breed easily and provide some live food for your lobster. He should not be laying on his back so possibly the oscars are attacking him at night. I would never put the lobster in a tank with oscars as both are aggressive and the Oscars may be winning the attacks on your lobster. Good Luck!
Yes that is normal, depending on his current size. If healthy, he will molt often as he grows out of his shell. Once he has reached 5-6 inches, he will molt less often. See above posting for more information. Good Luck!
Get the snails OUT of the tank...if he has molted, he is very vulnerable to damage by anything crawling or biting at him until his new shell is established, which could take 24-48 hours after the molting.
Mine also loved chopped up white potatos!
The cichlids will kill him when he molts! Move him or he will be a goner first molt!
He is trying to get air! The blue lobsters periodically need oxygen and will shoot to the top...if they do not get it, they will drown!
Bravo poster! I too have been raising fish for 20+ years and your information was right on and correct!
I bought my blu lobster here in ca. hes molting 5 times already an I came home from work to find him in my kitchen why do they like escaping the 47 gallon tank i have ...
Though comenly refered to as a lobster the electric blue lobster is freshwater and thare for classified as a crayfish... lobster is the crayfish's close saltwater cousin.
Just bought a beautiful bleu lobster, no one had much info on these little guys. i bought a small tank. one gallon not big enough. Going to get a bigger one tomarrow. Thanks for the helpfull info. Hoping my little guys fine till tomarrow.
I want a blue lobster not a crayfish! Does blue lobster actually exsist ? If so how do you tell what is what when looking in an aquatic shop ? Thanks
i have a electric blue crayfish,my question is will she eat my baby guppies,and ghost shrimp?
Sincerly,
Finnhammer Fish Co.
How long starting from unusual behaviour to completely mooted
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