Due to state restrictions on invasive species, we are not able to ship or sell any color morph of the Cherax sp. crayfish to the following state(s): California, Florida, Texas, and Wisconsin.
This species is prohibited to own in the above state(s), meaning it is illegal to possess them live in these state(s). This includes possession for consumption, education, aquarium trade, or any other live trade.
The Tricolor Blue Moon Crayfish has incredible color potential and is a beautiful variant!
The Tricolor Blue Moon Crayfish (Cherax boesemani) is a rare color variant of the Supernova AKA Papua Blue Marble Crayfish. It is an exceptional colorful variation of its species and is native to West Papua New Guinea. This crayfish is also commonly known as the Tricolor Blue Moon Lobster, though true lobsters do not exist in freshwater. The Tricolor Blue Moon Crayfish breeds easily in the aquarium, although the fry are extremely slow-growing. In fact, many of our specimens have bred in our tanks at our facility!
This particular crayfish is relatively active and spends plenty of time exploring the floor of the aquarium in search of food. The Tricolor Blue Moon Crayfish is an omnivorous scavenger and will eat most any meaty or plant-based foods, and it should be fed a diet high in plant matter as an adult. This crayfish should not be kept with ornamental live plants as it will eat them at a surprising rate. It is a skilled climber, so extra care must be taken to ensure that it does not escape its enclosure.
As it reaches adulthood, the Tricolor Blue Moon Crayfish will become relatively territorial, so it may behave aggressively toward other animals in the tank. It is important that ample hiding places such as rockwork, driftwood, or PVC pipes be provided. This is even more crucial when housing multiple crayfish in the same tank. Due to the size and waste production of this crayfish, a minimum 30-gallon, well-filtered aquarium is necessary for one adult. A larger aquarium of 55 gallon or larger aquarium can house multiple adults of similar size. This is a reasonably hardy animal, but regular water changes are vital to its optimal health. Other bottom-dwelling invertebrates and fish should not be kept with large crayfish. It is possible to keep mid- and upper-level, fast-swimming fish with the Tricolor Blue Moon Crayfish, but crayfish are opportunistic feeders and will generally eat whatever they can catch.
As with all of our crayfish, the coloration of the Tricolor Blue Moon Crayfish is EXTREMELY high quality - much higher quality than others on the market! This crayfish may TEMPORARILY change color and hide more than usual after molting, which may occur during shipping. If your crayfish has faded color and you find a molt in the bag or in your aquarium, do not worry; this is normal and the bright color will return in 2 weeks or less.
*IMPORTANT* Please "Choose a Variant" above before adding this crayfish to your cart. The variants we're currently offering are:
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1 Male Tricolor Blue Moon Crayfish - 2+ inch Young Adult
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1 Female Tricolor Blue Moon Crayfish - 2+ inch Young Adult
- 1 Male/Female Tricolor Blue Moon Crayfish Pair - 2+ inch Young Adults.
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1 B-Grade Tricolor Blue Moon Crayfish - 2+ inch Young Adult (All of our “B-Grade” crayfish are simply specimens that are missing legs or claws. 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).
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1 USA-Bred Juvenile - 1+ inch. We are very pleased to offer extremely rare USA-bred juveniles of this variety. All of our juveniles are bred from superb stock by an expert breeder.
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1 B-Grade USA-Bred Juvenile - 1 + inch. We are very pleased to offer extremely rare USA-bred juveniles of this variety. All of our juveniles are bred from superb stock by an expert breeder. (All of our “B-Grade” crayfish are simply specimens that are missing legs or claws. 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).
What We Like About This Crayfish:
- Consistently excellent coloration
- Less aggressive than many other crayfish
- Easy to feed
- Excellent scavenger
- Generally much less aggressive than Procambaus species
RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:
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Temperature: 68° - 85° F (20° - 29° C)
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pH: 6.5 - 7.5
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KH: 6 - 15 dKH
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Minimum tank size: 30 gallons
CARE GUIDELINES:
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Diet: Crayfish are typically very easy to feed since they are mostly omnivorous scavengers. However, Cherax species can sometimes be a bit finicky. In addition to various plant matter, we have been feeding all of our Cherax crayfish frozen peas and carrots as well as frozen shrimp that is chopped into manageable pieces after thawing. We highly recommend that our customers at least initially offer this diet to their Cherax crayfish. In time, it is very likely that the crayfish will also accept high-quality dry foods, though a varied diet is required for optimal health, coloration, and activity.
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Social behavior: Can be aggressive/territorial with other crayfish, but is much less so than Procambarus species (such as the Electric Blue Crayfish).
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Origin: West Papua New Guinea
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Average adult size: 5 - 6 inches (12.7 - 15.2 cm)
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Average purchase size: Adults: 2+ inches (5+ cm) or larger, Juveniles: .5+ inch (1.25+ cm)
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Recommended Aquatic Arts tank mates: Fast-moving fish (such as Celestial Pearl Danios, Rasboras, Guppies, etc.). While dwarf shrimp can be kept succesfully with these crayfish, caution should be exercised, as the crayfish have been known to catch and eat slow, sick, or particularly small shrimp. Cichlids can be aggressive toward crayfish and should not be kept in the same tank. Bottom-dwelling tankmates should definitely be avoided.
All Aquatic Arts brand plants and animals come with a 100% live arrival guarantee, plus free email support!
