Redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) care guide

Group

Other invertebrates

Other names

Australian red claw crayfish, Queensland red claw, Red claw yabby, Redclaw, Tropical blue crayfish, Freshwater blueclaw crayfish, Blue crayfish

Family

Parastacidae

Origin

Northern Australia (Northern Territory, north-eastern Queensland) and Papua New Guinea; permanent streams, billabongs and lakes

Water

freshwater

Maximum size

30 cm

Temperature

22–28°C

pH

7–8.5

Hardness

8–20 dGH, 4–12 dKH

Care level

beginner

Temperament

semi_aggressive

Care

The redclaw is a large tropical crayfish from northern Australia and New Guinea, dark brown to blue-green, with adult males carrying a bright red patch on the outer edge of each claw. It can reach 30 cm and 600 g, though aquarium animals are usually much smaller. It is farmed for food in many countries and is widely kept in aquariums. Legal note: the redclaw (Cherax quadricarinatus) is the only crayfish that may be sold in England and Wales, and only for indoor aquariums. No live crayfish may be sold in Scotland. Keep it indoors only, never in a pond, and check the current rules before buying or selling. Invasive risk: escaped redclaw have established wild populations in South Africa, Mexico, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Indonesia, Zambia, Malaysia and Singapore. Never release this animal or empty its tank water into drains or waterways. Set-up: one adult per large tank (about 200 litres or more for a full-grown animal), with caves or pipes to hide and moult in, a sand or gravel base and a tightly fitting, weighted lid, because crayfish climb out through gaps and up airline. The water figures are general guidance rather than from a source: it is a tropical crayfish that copes with a wide range of conditions. Good filtration is needed because it is a messy feeder. Behaviour: often described as non-aggressive for a crayfish, but it is large, strong and will catch and eat slow fish, shrimp and snails, and uproot or eat plants. It is most vulnerable just after moulting, when it hides for a few days; leave the old shell in the tank, as it eats it for the calcium. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most other invertebrates. Never dose them in a tank holding this animal, and read the label of any treatment, fertiliser or algae remover before use. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheraxquadricarinatus). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Mainly a detritivore and omnivore. Feed sinking crayfish or shrimp pellets as a staple, plus blanched vegetables (peas, courgette, spinach), leaf litter, and occasional meaty foods such as prawn, mussel or bloodworm. Calcium-rich food helps clean moults. Remove uneaten food.

Breeding

Sexing: males are larger and have the red claw patch; females are smaller and carry their eggs under the tail. The male places a spermatophore at the base of the female's walking legs. She carries 300–800 olive-green eggs on her swimmerets for about six weeks. There is no larval stage: the young hatch as miniature crayfish and soon become independent. Move them to their own tank, as adults may eat them. They mature in six to twelve months under farm conditions.

Compatibility and tank mates

Indoor aquariums only; never in ponds. Best kept alone or as a pair in a species tank. Fast mid-water and surface fish too big to catch can sometimes share a large tank, but bottom fish, slow fish, shrimp, snails and soft plants are at risk. Do not keep with other crayfish species. Males fight each other.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.