1 kinds · tap one for a closer look
Semi-aggressive but less than large crays; best alone or in a species tank.
242 species in our list are a good match.
Semi-aggressive but less than large crays; best alone or in a species tank.
Check your local laws. EU: not on the Union list of invasive alien species (only Cherax destructor of this genus is, since 2025). US: Florida lists Cherax peknyi as a prohibited species (no personal possession or commercial use); Washington State prohibits all Parastacidae crayfish except Engaeus, C. quadricarinatus, C. papuanus and C. tenuimanus. 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.
Males have bulkier claws. Reliable check: genital openings at the base of the walking legs - in males at the 5th (last) pair, in females at the 3rd pair.
Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Egg-bearing mating pairs · Moderate
Direct developer: the female carries the eggs under her tail for about 4-6 weeks; 40-80 fully formed young hatch and stay with her a few days. Young grow slowly and can be cannibalistic, so give many hides and leaf litter. In the wild, breeding seems to happen in the wet season.
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.
Eggs carried under the female's tail for about 4-6 weeks; 40-80 young hatch.
Juveniles are tiny crayfish; feed meaty foods and keep separate to prevent cannibalism.
A striped crayfish from the Fly River drainage of Papua New Guinea, described in 2008 and named after crayfish researcher Reinhard Pekny. "Zebra" and "tiger" are location forms of the same species; wild-caught animals are among the most common Cherax in the European trade.
This striped crayfish was described in 2008 by Christian Lukhaup and Ben Herbert. Its bold zebra pattern has made it one of the most eye-catching New Guinea crayfish in the hobby.
First described by Christian Lukhaup & Ben Herbert in 2008. Named for Named after crayfish enthusiast Reinhard Pekny.
16 facts checked with sources
Invertebrate (freshwater crayfish, family Parastacidae, New Guinea). Cherax (Cherax) peknyi Lukhaup & Herbert, 2008 (Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 52: 213-219); status accepted. Earlier traded as Cherax misolicus and C. papuanus (Glaser). The similar Cherax alyciae ("Blue Kong", described 2018) was long sold as a colour form of C. peknyi; adult male C. alyciae have a soft bulge on the outer claw finger, C. peknyi males do not (Glaser). "Zebra" and "tiger" crayfish are location forms of C. peknyi (Garnelio).
USFWS Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Zebra crayfish (Cherax peknyi), citing Lukhaup & Herbert 2008 (Mem. Qld Mus. 52: 213-219) · Aquarium Glaser (German wholesale importer), F. Schaefer 2022: Cherax peknyiLegacy has no family; recorded as sourced.
USFWS Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Zebra crayfish (Cherax peknyi), citing Lukhaup & Herbert 2008 (Mem. Qld Mus. 52: 213-219)Total length (rostrum to tail, without claws). Type series (Lukhaup & Herbert 2008, via USFWS): males to 9.2 cm, females to 7.9 cm. Trade sources: 10-12 cm. Legacy 10 cm fits.
USFWS Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Zebra crayfish (Cherax peknyi), citing Lukhaup & Herbert 2008 (Mem. Qld Mus. 52: 213-219) · Aquarium Glaser (German wholesale importer), F. Schaefer 2022: Cherax peknyi · Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Zebra crayfish - Cherax peknyiHusbandry range from Garnelio (never below 20 °C, not above 25 °C permanently). Wild streams near Kiunga range 18-29 °C. Legacy 24-30 °C is too warm at the top.
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Zebra crayfish - Cherax peknyi · USFWS Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Zebra crayfish (Cherax peknyi), citing Lukhaup & Herbert 2008 (Mem. Qld Mus. 52: 213-219)Legacy 7-8 lies within 6.5-8 (single hobby/retail source).
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Zebra crayfish - Cherax peknyiLegacy had none; new value (retail source). Copes with soft to hard water.
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Zebra crayfish - Cherax peknyiFootprint only: 80 cm long x 35 cm deep x 35 cm water height = 98 L for a pair (about 100 L). Legacy 80 L is a little small. Tank must be fully covered (escape artists).
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Zebra crayfish - Cherax peknyiLegacy "3-5 years"; retail source gives 2-5 years. No scientific lifespan data found.
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Zebra crayfish - Cherax peknyiLegacy "semi-aggressive". Garnelio: fine with peaceful fish and dwarf shrimp; eats snails; deadly fights with crabs and large-armed shrimps. Single retail source.
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Zebra crayfish - Cherax peknyiLegacy care 2 (medium). Retail source only.
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Zebra crayfish - Cherax peknyiLegacy has no range field; its story says "Papua, Indonesia". USFWS notes the distribution is not well described. Garnelio lists "Papua (Indonesia), Papua New Guinea".
USFWS Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Zebra crayfish (Cherax peknyi), citing Lukhaup & Herbert 2008 (Mem. Qld Mus. 52: 213-219) · Aquarium Glaser (German wholesale importer), F. Schaefer 2022: Cherax peknyi · Lukhaup 2015, ZooKeys 502: 1-10, Cherax (Astaconephrops) pulcher, a new species (peer-reviewed)Claw-size claim supported. Note: the Garnelio peknyi page swaps the gonopore positions (says male 3rd, female 5th); the correct decapod pattern (Garnelio holthuisi and pulcher pages) is male 5th, female 3rd. Legacy "wider tail" in females not sourced.
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Zebra crayfish - Cherax peknyi · Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Apricot crayfish - Cherax holthuisiLegacy "Females carry 20-100 eggs": no egg-count source found; Garnelio gives 40-80 hatchlings.
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Zebra crayfish - Cherax peknyi · USFWS Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Zebra crayfish (Cherax peknyi), citing Lukhaup & Herbert 2008 (Mem. Qld Mus. 52: 213-219)Retail source only; Garnelio text says about 6 weeks, profile says 4-6 weeks.
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Zebra crayfish - Cherax peknyiCorrection: from Papua New Guinea, not "Papua, Indonesia". Price claim not checked. Very shy: usually out only at night and for feeding (Glaser).
Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Zebra crayfish - Cherax peknyi · USFWS Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Zebra crayfish (Cherax peknyi), citing Lukhaup & Herbert 2008 (Mem. Qld Mus. 52: 213-219) · Aquarium Glaser (German wholesale importer), F. Schaefer 2022: Cherax peknyiUS state rules as quoted in USFWS screening summaries (2017-2018 versions); not re-checked against current FWC/WDFW pages (FWC page blocked). No US federal (Lacey Act) listing found. UK: animals have been seized at a Border Inspection Post (USFWS), law not checked. 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: Zebra crayfish (Cherax peknyi), citing Lukhaup & Herbert 2008 (Mem. Qld Mus. 52: 213-219) · USFWS Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Cherax boesemani (2017), quoting Florida FWC prohibited species list · Garnelio (German invertebrate breeder/retailer): Zebra crayfish - Cherax peknyi