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I have a 55 gallon tank well planted and with several large rocks for hiding. I have 15 cichlids (all doing great ) and a plecostamus. With these fish will it be possible to get a blue crayfish? I heard it would be fine since cichlids are fast swimmers, but wasn't sure if it's a good idea considering that the blue crayfish eat other fish. Can someone pls help me with this.

Blue crayfish could be a problem. They have appetising bits on them that many cichlids (who are eminently capable of eating crustaceans) will relish, and then conversely you have the noctornal situation. A lot of cichlids will bed down and become immobile at night,and compared to midwater fish that swim constantly during the night, this makes them uniquely vulnerable.

The crayfish's predatory nature will go up a gear during the night, and moderate sized cichlids may be easily grabbed, and eaten. Once that crayfish has a good grip you will be surprised how they win fights with fish, especially during the darkness hours when their senses are far better than the fish's. Some crayfish will eat fish far greater than their own weight and mass. Sometimes a few night senses and an armoured exoskeleton will beat a fish , which while more intelligent and capable of winning a fight during the day can be taken easily at night, their soft bodies being no defence against powerful claws.There is nothing more pitiful and agonising to watch than a crayfish holding a struggling fish that dies slowly, with the claw pressure cutting off the fluids to its vital organs at the site of the pinch. It is a very nasty, slow death, and then theres the eating it alive bit, yucky!

In the same vein a crayfish with antennae , eyes ,and legs picked off is a pretty pitiful sight too.

They are a beautiful species though, my local petsmart stocks them , but to be honest , as much as I would like one , in the community setting it is extremely difficult to fit them in somewhere without them being eaten or eating other fish. They grow to 6-7 inches and that is quite big enough to kill most fish youd put in a 55 gal tank.The temperament of such crayfish is entirely unknowable, and while some specimens content themselves with foods given to them, its not possible to know if they attempt to help themselves to your fish on any given day. They will certainly eat feeder fish like barbs, small goldfish and guppies etc. Brusque species like sculpins can co-exist with them peacefully as they do in nature.

You wont know till you try, but its a risky scenario. What are the species of cichlids you stock?

I currently have afras, electric blue johannii, bumble bee, and im not sure of the names of these two but one is blue with black stripes and Red fins and the other is purple with blueish fins and kinda are really bright (almost like its glowing).

Yup, I figure most of those would probably be eaten by a crayfish.

I haven't seen them with cichlids but in a community tank I have seen them take no prisoners. I sat and watched my sisters for a while when she had it (which was less than a week before she took it back) and it was sitting on a big rock waiting for fish to swim below it, then ran off the rock to try and dive bomb the fish. It ended up killing a few of her fish, including cory cats and a couple full grown dwarf gourami's. It was always trying to catch any fish that came close and didn't seem to ever give up. Maybe hers was the devil, it's the only one I have seen outside of the store. There are probably others ot there with alot calmer temperment, but that's a risk you would have to commit to.

What does that mean, Bob? "Till the cows come home." Where have the cows been?

I wouldn't recommend putting crayfish in with any other fish unless you don't want the fish anymore.

We had 2 Cherax Quadricarinatus, the Australian Red-Claw Crayfish and ended up keeping them alone with a puffer fish which was the only thing they didn't stalk as it's poisonous.

If you put them in with smaller fish they will stalk and eat the fish. If you put them in with larger cichlids they will try and eat the crayfish.

You aren't sure?

You must be kidding? ...... oh you are a new member. My apologies.

But please keep in mind 'swimming fast' doesn't mean their lives will be pleasant in an environment with a predator.

Save up and set up a specific tank if you want a foray into crustaceans.

Welcome aboard

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