Missing Electric Blue Crayfish

F

firstdon

AC Members
Apr 13, 2005
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0
6
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Queens, New York
Hi All,

Happy Holidays.....I have a 26 gallon bowtank with a good rock formation with plenty of crevices, holes and hiding spots, along with some fake plants that also provide good cover. I have about a 1.5 inch gravel bed. The occupants are 2 red parrot fish, one pleco, one black ghost knife fish and a electric blue crayfish. The crayfish was the first happy occupant of the tank, but when I added the others he immediately went into hiding. I know they like to burrow and molt. On occassion I would see the crayfish from the underside of the tank burrowed in the gravel. He also loved to hide in the holes of my rock formation but he would always peak his head out now and again. Heres my dilemma...I have not seen the crayfish in about 5 months now!!!! I know they are know to climb out of tanks as well,,,,,but if he did wouldnt I have seen his dead body lying around the house by now? As I mentioned earlier I know they molt too and are very vulnerable when they do so, and if he was eaten when he molted or lets say he just plain died as he was burrowed wouldnt his shell smell up the tank by now? Or could he be still molting and remains in hiding until his whole shell has grown back??? I really dont want to break up the tank looking for him....any suggestions would be greatlly appreciated..thxs
 
They only hide for a few days when they molt. Either he climbed out and hide somewhere and died (they can get into some tight spots), or he was eaten by a tankmate when he molted. The shell was probably eaten as well, it wouldn't make the tank smell at all. Check your parameters to see if there is any ammonia but it's been so long I doubt you will see any.
 
I had a cray go missing like this. Thought it had burrowed or something so I didn't give it much thought. Turns out the poor guy went exploring outside his tank and became a cat toy! Found him in their toy bin a couple weeks later... put him away when they were done playing I guess :(
 
Thanks for the replies guys...yes I checked the paramters yesterday. ammonia was at 0 Nitrite was at 0 and there was maybe a smidge of nitrates...Sounds like I might need to do some digging ugh!
 
When mine went missing it was found 3 months later. It had climbed a heater cord, dropped to the floor, got into an open vent (the house was being a bit renovated), fell to the basement, and walked about 30 feet.
 
You need to make sure the tank is really secure. The first tank mine was in you could hear it trying to escape at night.
 
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