1 kinds · tap one for a closer look
Semi-aggressive; best alone.
271 species in our list are a good match.
Semi-aggressive; best alone.
Check your local laws. EU: not on the Union list of invasive alien species (only Cherax destructor of this genus). US: Washington State prohibits all Parastacidae crayfish except Engaeus, C. quadricarinatus, C. papuanus and C. tenuimanus, which covers C. pulcher. Florida status not confirmed for this species. Never release; keep away from North American crayfish (crayfish plague). Check the rules where you live before you buy one, and never release it into the wild.
Pellets, vegetables and meaty foods.
Tap a food to see what it is.
Adult males have a soft, white or cream patch (decalcified swelling) on the lower edge of each claw; females lack it. Genital openings: males at the base of the 5th walking legs, females at the 3rd.
Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Egg-bearing mating pairs · Moderate
Direct developer: eggs are carried under the female's tail for a long time (Garnelio: 7-9 weeks in text, 4-6 weeks in profile); 40-80 young hatch and grow slowly. Use plenty of oak or beech leaf litter as cover and food.
One male and 2 females in a large tank with hides.
Large tank with caves and sand; separate female when berried.
Seasonal temperature changes and good feeding.
40-80 young hatch after roughly 4-9 weeks.
Juveniles are tiny crayfish; feed meaty foods and keep separate to prevent cannibalism.
A colourful crayfish from Hoa Creek in West Papua, Indonesia, described in 2015 ("pulcher" = beautiful). Pink head, dark blue to black tail and blue claws with white or cream edges. Sold as "Hoa Creek", "Blue Moon" or "Irian Jaya"; also eaten locally.
This striking crayfish was sold in the aquarium trade for some years before Christian Lukhaup described it in 2015. Its blue-and-pink colouring quickly made it one of the most sought-after Cherax species.
First described by Christian Lukhaup in 2015. Named for 'Pulcher' is Latin for beautiful.
16 facts checked with sources
Invertebrate (freshwater crayfish, family Parastacidae, New Guinea). Cherax (Astaconephrops) pulcher Lukhaup, 2015. Trade names "Hoa Creek", "Blue Moon", "Irian Jaya". NAME WARNING: "Blue Moon" is also used for C. boesemani strains and for an undescribed Cherax sp. "Blue Moon" that dealers sell separately, so animals labelled "Blue Moon" may not be C. pulcher.
Lukhaup 2015, ZooKeys 502: 1-10, Cherax (Astaconephrops) pulcher, a new species (peer-reviewed)Legacy has no family; recorded as sourced.
Lukhaup 2015, ZooKeys 502: 1-10, Cherax (Astaconephrops) pulcher, a new species (peer-reviewed)Total length. Described specimens 7.5-9.8 cm; the describer gives a maximum of 12 cm; Garnelio says 12-15 cm. Legacy 12 cm matches the paper maximum.
Lukhaup 2015, ZooKeys 502: 1-10, Cherax (Astaconephrops) pulcher, a new species (peer-reviewed) · Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Blue-pink crayfish - Cherax pulcherLegacy 22-28 °C; Garnelio: do not go below 20 °C; 25 °C is the upper end of its comfort range. Retail source.
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Blue-pink crayfish - Cherax pulcherLegacy 7-8. Garnelio text says pH 6-7.5, profile 6.5-7.5. Hoa Creek is pH 6.6.
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Blue-pink crayfish - Cherax pulcher · Lukhaup 2015, ZooKeys 502: 1-10, Cherax (Astaconephrops) pulcher, a new species (peer-reviewed)Legacy had none. Soft to medium-hard water.
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Blue-pink crayfish - Cherax pulcherFootprint only: 80 x 35 x 35 cm = 98 L for a pair; 100 cm recommended for breeding. Legacy 80 L a little small.
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Blue-pink crayfish - Cherax pulcherLegacy "3-5 years" lies within 2-5 years (retail source).
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Blue-pink crayfish - Cherax pulcherLegacy "semi-aggressive". Do not mix with other crayfish, crabs, fan or long-arm shrimp; eats snails. Retail source.
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Blue-pink crayfish - Cherax pulcherLegacy care 2. Retail source.
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Blue-pink crayfish - Cherax pulcherLegacy has no range; recorded as sourced. Garnelio lists "Papua New Guinea, Papua/Indonesia", but the paper only knows it from West Papua (Indonesia).
Lukhaup 2015, ZooKeys 502: 1-10, Cherax (Astaconephrops) pulcher, a new species (peer-reviewed)Young males look like females until the patch develops (seen developing at 7.4 cm TL). Legacy claw-size cue replaced with this clearer sign.
Lukhaup 2015, ZooKeys 502: 1-10, Cherax (Astaconephrops) pulcher, a new species (peer-reviewed) · Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Blue-pink crayfish - Cherax pulcherLegacy "Females carry 30-100 eggs": no egg-count source; 40-80 hatchlings (retail).
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Blue-pink crayfish - Cherax pulcherSingle retail source, internally inconsistent on incubation time.
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Blue-pink crayfish - Cherax pulcherLegacy "deep-blue crayfish" oversimplifies: pink, violet and blue. See scientificName note on the ambiguous "Blue Moon" trade name.
Wikipedia: Cherax pulcher (cites Lukhaup 2015, ZooKeys) · Lukhaup 2015, ZooKeys 502: 1-10, Cherax (Astaconephrops) pulcher, a new species (peer-reviewed)Washington rule as quoted by USFWS (2017). Florida prohibits several named Cherax species (USFWS ERSS), but no source checked lists C. pulcher (described 2015). German national rules not checked.
Wikipedia: List of invasive alien species of Union concern (summarises EU Reg. 1143/2014 implementing lists 2016/1141 to 2025/1422) · USFWS Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Cherax boesemani (2017), quoting Washington WAC 220-12-090 and Florida FWC prohibited list · Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Blue-pink crayfish - Cherax pulcher