Montezuma dwarf crayfish - Cambarellus montezumae

The Montezuma Dwarf Crayfish Cambarellus montezumae is a small, very robust dwarf crayfish from Mexico. It inhabits waters that flow into the Pacific Ocean, but can also be found in the marshes of the Valley of Mexico. Temperatures in the waters inhabited by the Montezuma Dwarf Crayfish vary between 10 - 30 degrees. The small crayfish is a solid yellowish brown, with some individuals having a darker marble pattern on the back. Females grow slightly larger at up to 3.7 cm than males at 3.1 cm. Males and females can be easily distinguished by their sexual appendages. In males, the mating styli point forward in a V-shape between the last pair of walking legs under the abdomen.

Due to its small size Cambarellus montezumae can be kept in pairs in well structured nano aquariums from 20 liters capacity. Like its comrades in the genus Cambarellus, this little fellow does not make any great demands on the water values. The aquarium should be furnished with many hiding places. These hiding places can consist of small stones, clay tubes or dense roots . What is also well accepted by the small pinchers are perforated bricks. As substrate we recommend sand or fine gravel to create a natural looking substrate. It sounds strange, but it is true: The more hiding places are available, the more often you will see the Montezuma Dwarf Crayfish. Also after a stressful moult the animals should have enough hiding places available, since cannibalism is nothing unusual with crayfish. Temperatures of 18-28 °C are well tolerated, the pH should be slightly alkaline.

The act of reproduction is wild, as with all crayfish. The male turns the female on her back. With his mating styli the male Montezuma Dwarf Crayfish deposits the sperm package near the female's sexual orifice, after a few days - depending on the temperature - the female carries the black fertilized eggs under her skirt. After three to five weeks, the female will release between 30 and 40 small fully developed crabs. During the gestation period the female will not show herself often in the aquarium and will stay hidden. This is another reason why many hiding places are important. For breeding we recommend to separate the adult Cambarellus montezumae from the young crayfish and to provide many hiding places and a bottom cover of foliage in the breeding tank, otherwise they would eat each other quite fast. But also in the parent tank at least a few young crayfish should get through.

The Montezumae Dwarf Crayfish is satisfied with all common food types for dwarf crayfish, furthermore the small scissor knights love brown autumn leaves, green food, vegetables like dried pumpkin or peas. Protein foods (frozen foods, Natureholic protein foods and other protein foods) should also find their way to the Cambarellus montezumae two or three times a week.

Due to its size, socialization of the Montezuma Dwarf Crayfish is not recommended with all aquarium inhabitants. However, since like all Cambarellus species it does not grow too large, it can be placed in a community tank with fish that are not too large, such as guppies, platies and smaller salmons . Crabs, large-armed shrimp and larger predatory fish, however, could be dangerous to the crayfish. The Montezuma Dwarf Crayfish can be well socialized with well-reproducing, robust dwarf shrimp such as Red Fire Shrimp. However, it is possible that one or the other will be preyed upon and eaten. Like all crayfish from America, Cambarellus montezumae is a potential carrier of crayfish plague. The crayfish themselves, as well as the water in which they live, should not come into contact with crayfish originating from other continents. The causative agent of crayfish plague is generally not dangerous to the Montezuma Dwarf River Crayfish, but the disease is fatal to crayfish that are not native to the Americas.

Our food recommendation: Freshwater crayfish have a very varied diet in the wild. The Natureholic Crayfish Feed Sticks contain in a biologically balanced form only those ingredients that these crayfish in this or similar form to their natural food spectrum. This naturally supports and promotes moulting, growth and reproduction. Due to their protein content they are ideally suited for omnivorous crayfish of the genera Procambarus, Cambarus, Cambarellus, Astacus and the Cherax crayfish from Australia, which are basically omnivores that like to eat animal as well as vegetable food. The crayfish of the genus Cherax from Papua also like to eat a portion of animal food when they are young, but later they switch mainly to plant food.

Our plant recommendation: Use the following for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.