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Catches sleeping fish and cuts plants.
128 species in our list are a good match.
Catches sleeping fish and cuts plants.
Good to know: Not on the EU invasive species list (only the red swamp and marbled crayfish are), but rules differ by country. Never release it into the wild.
Pellets, vegetables.
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Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Direct developer · Moderate
Direct developer: the female carries eggs on her swimmerets; they hatch after 20-30 days and the young stay under her tail for a few days before going their own way. Raise young separately, as adults eat them.
Buy a group of 1 male and 2-3 females, or a pair, in a large tank. They can be aggressive.
A 100-200 L tank with plenty of caves and plants; separate if needed. Hard, clean water.
Warm water, plenty of food and a seasonal change of temperature.
Eggs hatch after 20-30 days.
Young eat fine foods and are cannibalistic. Separate them early.
A crayfish from Florida whose wild colour ranges from brown-tan to blue; the brilliant blue aquarium strain is selectively bred. It is NOT on the EU list of invasive species of Union concern (only P. clarkii and P. virginalis of its genus are), though local rules may still apply.
American zoologist Walter Faxon described this crayfish in 1884. Wild animals are usually brownish or reddish, with blue individuals occurring only occasionally. Aquarists selectively bred the vivid electric blue form now common in shops.
First described by Walter Faxon in 1884.
14 facts checked with sources
Invertebrate (freshwater crayfish). Procambarus (Leconticambarus) alleni (Faxon, 1884); still valid. The 'electric blue' is a selectively bred aquarium strain; wild animals are brown-tan to bluish.
Wikipedia: Procambarus alleni (cites IUCN Red List: Crandall 2010; NatureServe; ITIS)Legacy has no family; recorded as sourced.
Wikipedia: Procambarus alleni (cites IUCN Red List: Crandall 2010; NatureServe; ITIS)5 in = 12.7 cm maximum total length; legacy 12 cm matches.
The Shrimp Farm: Florida crayfish (Procambarus alleni) care (established invertebrate breeder/retailer)65-85 °F = 18.3-29.4 °C; legacy 18-26 lies within it.
The Shrimp Farm: Florida crayfish (Procambarus alleni) care (established invertebrate breeder/retailer)Legacy 7-8 lies within 7-9.
The Shrimp Farm: Florida crayfish (Procambarus alleni) care (established invertebrate breeder/retailer)Source gives 'Hardness: 3-10' without saying GH or KH, so not recorded. Legacy breeding text says 'hard, clean water'.
The Shrimp Farm: Florida crayfish (Procambarus alleni) care (established invertebrate breeder/retailer)20 US gal x 3.785 = 75.7 L, about 76 L for one adult; add about 38 L (10 gal) per extra crayfish. Legacy 100 L is more generous and fine as a recommendation.
The Shrimp Farm: Florida crayfish (Procambarus alleni) care (established invertebrate breeder/retailer)Source says best kept alone (one per tank); some keepers house several in a large tank with many hides. Legacy max1 flag also fits.
The Shrimp Farm: Florida crayfish (Procambarus alleni) care (established invertebrate breeder/retailer)Source says about five years, longer with good care. Legacy 2-3 years is too short. Hobby source only.
The Shrimp Farm: Florida crayfish (Procambarus alleni) care (established invertebrate breeder/retailer)Aggressive opportunistic omnivore that may catch and eat tankmates and its own kind; only fast fish such as zebra danios might coexist (The Shrimp Farm).
The Shrimp Farm: Florida crayfish (Procambarus alleni) care (established invertebrate breeder/retailer)Legacy has no range; recorded as sourced. Lives in marl prairie wetlands of the Everglades (NPS project titles).
Wikipedia: Procambarus alleni (cites IUCN Red List: Crandall 2010; NatureServe; ITIS)No source found for egg count, so legacy 100-300 is unconfirmed. Incubation is 20-30 days (about 3-4 weeks), shorter than the legacy 4-6 weeks.
The Shrimp Farm: Florida crayfish (Procambarus alleni) care (established invertebrate breeder/retailer)IMPORTANT CORRECTION: the legacy 'Banned in the EU' claim and the legacy warn/legal text are wrong at EU level. The Union list (as of 2025) includes the crayfish Procambarus clarkii, P. virginalis, Pacifastacus leniusculus, Faxonius (Orconectes) limosus, virilis, rusticus, immunis and Cherax destructor, but not P. alleni. Individual countries or regions may have their own rules, and release is never allowed; the warn text should say 'check local rules' instead.
Wikipedia: Procambarus alleni (cites IUCN Red List: Crandall 2010; NatureServe; ITIS) · Wikipedia: List of invasive alien species of Union concern (summarises EU Regulation 1143/2014 implementing lists, e.g. EUR-Lex 2016/1141 and updates to 2025)