Red Cheek Crayfish (Cherax boesemani)

Description

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): Florida
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.
* For the safety of our animals, we now ship this crayfish exclusively via UPS Next Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS Next Day Air as a shipping option during checkout *
We are pleased to offer this newly-discovered, incredibly colorful Blue Moon morph!
The Red Cheek Crayfish (
Cherax boesemani
) is an extremely rare color variant of the Supernova AKA Papua Blue Marble/Blue Moon Crayfish. It is an exceptionally colorful variation of its species and is native to West Papua New Guinea. Various shades of pink, burgundy, and deep blue are distinctly shown on this crayfish. The Red Cheek 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 Red Cheek 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 Red Cheek Crayfish will become relatively territorial,
so it may behave aggressively towards 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 Red Cheek Crayfish, but crayfish are opportunistic feeders and will generally eat whatever they can catch.
As with all of our crayfish, the coloration of the Red Cheek 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:
1 Red Cheek Crayfish - 2+ inch Young Adult
(No sex specified.  Most popular option).
1 Female Red Cheek Crayfish - 2+ inch Young Adult
1 Male/Female Red Cheek Crayfish Pair - 2+ inch Young Adults.
1 B-Grade Red Cheek 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).
1 Juvenile Red Cheek
Crayfish, USA Bred
- .5+ inch
(A younger and smaller variant of Red Cheek Crayfish. This is a somewhat slow-growing, hardy species and will usually grow well into adult size and coloration within 6-9 months.  In the meantime, any customers who choose to go with a juvenile specimen can save some money and experience the excitement of watching their little crayfish grow!)
What We Like About This Crayfish:
Consistently excellent bright pink and burgundy coloration
Less aggressive than many other crayfish
Easy to feed
Excellent scavenger
Can be bred in the aquarium
RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:
Temperature
: 68° - 85° F (20° - 29° C)
pH
: 6.5 - 7.5
KH
: 6 - 15 dKH
Minimum tank size
: 30 gallons
CARE GUIDELINES:
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.
Social behavior
: Can be aggressive/territorial with other crayfish, but is much less so than
Procambarus
species (such as the Electric Blue Crayfish).
Origin
: West Papua New Guinea
Average adult size
: 5 - 6 inches (12.7 - 15.2 cm)
Average purchase size
: Adults: 3 - 4 inches (7.6 - 10 cm) or larger, Juveniles: .5+ inch (1.25+ cm)
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.
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