Orange CPO Dwarf Mexican Crayfish/Mini Lobster (Cambarellus patzcuarensis)- Tank Bred!
- Low stock - 1 item left
- Backordered, shipping soon
⚠️ Important Legal Note: Cambarellus species of crayfish are considered an invasive species in several U.S. states and is illegal to possess in any form or sell in: California, Maine, and Wisconsin. Please check your local regulations before purchasing. We are unable to ship this species to these states. If you reside in one of the above states and try to checkout with this crayfish in your cart you will be unable to checkout and receive an error message until the crayfish is removed from the cart.
CPO Crayfish feature a beautiful and eye-catching fiery orange coloration that will add a burst of color to your tank! Dwarf crayfish like these are one of our favorite invertebrates here at Aquatic Arts. They are much larger in size than dwarf shrimp when fully grown (they can grow up to 1.6 inches long) and tend to live much longer, but are still small enough to comfortably live in a tank as small as 5 gallons. They are one of the most brightly colored varieties of invertebrates we offer, and their large size draws the eye right to them. Additionally, they are easy to care for, and their feeding requirements are simple - they feed on leftover food or almost any kind of fish food.
These are quite active and do not hide during the day like most crayfish. They make an exciting addition to any aquarium, and they're a great way to get into invertebrates if you haven't joined the craze already!
Though the CPO Crayfish is small enough not to be a threat to most other tank inhabitants, they have on occasion gone after dwarf shrimp, so we don't recommend keeping them in the same tank. As with any crayfish, the golden rule is that if they can catch it they may try to eat it. These are normally peaceful, but all crayfish are opportunistic omnivore hunters/scavengers so there is always a small chance they could try to fin clip slow moving fish or ones with long flowing fins. We have kept them with schools of fast moving small fish like rasboras, rainbowfish, and danios with very little to no issues. Caution just needs to be advised whenever housing a crayfish with other tank mates. It is a skilled climber, so extra care must be taken to ensure that it does not escape its enclosure.
- 1 Orange CPO Crayfish - 1/2 to 1.0 inches (No sex specified. Most popular option)
- 3 Orange CPO Crayfish - 1/2 to 1.0 inches (No sex specified)
- 1 Female Orange CPO Crayfish - 1/4 to 1.0 inches (We guarantee a female crayfish for this listing).
- 1 Male/Female Pair of Orange CPO Crayfish - 1/2 to 1.0 inches (We guarantee a male/female crayfish pair for this listing).
- 1 B-Grade Orange CPO Crayfish - 1/2 to 1.0 inches (All of our “B-Grade” crayfish are simply specimens that are missing 2 or more legs and or 1 claw. Loss of appendages is not permanent and happens commonly with crustaceans. They are completely healthy with excellent coloration and will completely regenerate lost appendages within 1 to 2 molts (about 2 to 3 months).
- Attractive marbled pattern
- Very active personality
- Too small to be a threat to most other tank inhabitants
- Easy to care for
- Temperature: 60° - 75° F (16° - 24° C)
- pH: 6.0 - 8.0
- KH: 6 - 12 dKH
- Minimum tank size: 5 gallons
- Diet: Omnivorous. High-quality sinking pellets, plants, and freeze-dried or frozen meaty foods will be readily accepted. Cuttlebone can be added to the aquarium to supplement calcium, which will aid in exoskeleton production
- Social behavior: Can be aggressive/territorial with other crayfish, but is much less so than Procambarus species such as the Electric Blue Crayfish
- Origin: Tank Bred, but indigenous to North America
- Average adult size: 1.2 - 1.6 inches (3 - 4.1 cm)
- Average purchase size: 1/2 - 1.0 inches (0.6 - 2.5 cm)
What makes Orange CPO Dwarf Crayfish so popular?
They pack a lot of personality into a small size. Bright orange color, bold behavior, and constant activity make them feel like a “mini lobster” without needing a massive tank.
How big do Orange CPO Crayfish get?
They stay small—usually around 1.5 to 2 inches as adults. That compact size is what makes them one of the most aquarium-friendly crayfish species.
Are Orange CPO Crayfish aggressive?
They’re assertive, not aggressive. They’ll defend their personal space and may grab at slow-moving tank mates, but they’re far less destructive than larger crayfish species.
Can Orange CPO Crayfish live in community tanks?
Yes, with the right setup. They do best with fast, mid- to upper-level fish that won’t sit on the bottom or harass them. Bottom-dwellers with long fins are not ideal.
Are Orange CPO Crayfish shrimp safe?
Not reliably. While they don’t actively hunt, they will opportunistically catch shrimp—especially slow or resting ones. They’re best kept without shrimp if losses would be a concern.
What kind of tank setup do Orange CPO Crayfish prefer?
They need structure. Caves, rocks, driftwood, and hiding spots are essential. The more cover provided, the less territorial behavior you’ll see.
Do Orange CPO Crayfish dig or rearrange the tank?
Yes, a little. They may move small bits of substrate or redecorate around their chosen hideout, but they’re not major excavators like larger crayfish.
What do Orange CPO Crayfish eat?
They’re omnivores. Sinking pellets, algae wafers, frozen foods, and blanched vegetables all work well. Variety keeps them healthy and active.
Are Orange CPO Crayfish easy to breed?
Yes. In stable conditions, they breed readily. Females carry eggs under their tail, and the babies are fully aquatic from birth.
Who are Orange CPO Crayfish best suited for?
They’re perfect for aquarists who want an invertebrate with personality. If you like interactive animals and don’t mind a little attitude, Orange CPOs are incredibly fun to keep.
For the safety of our animals, we only ship live fish, crabs, and select other inverts exclusively via UPS 1 Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS 1 Day Air as a shipping option during checkout. If other items are in your cart that can ship with 2 day or standard shipping options the only shipping method you can still select is UPS 1 Day Air.
UPS 1 Day is a description of the duration of time a shipment will spend in transit once it has been shipped. This does not guarantee the package will be shipped the same or next day from which the order was placed.
Shipping Schedule for this service
Current Handling Time:
1-9 business days
Here at Aquatic Arts, we consider the welfare of the live animals we are shipping to be of the foremost importance. This process is much more involved than simply creating a shipping label and affixing it to a box. Depending on the order, it takes from 4 to 7 people to complete this process properly. We check the weather conditions here where they fly out of the Indianapolis UPS facility and the destination for each shipment. We start early each morning and go through a multi-step process to have the day's shipments prepared in time for the UPS pickup. The volume of orders in our system also affects the processing time. Therefore our stated handling time is 1-9 business days.
Shipping Rate
Pricing is by size of package needed to fill entire order and distance it must travel. It will be calculated at checkout.
