knfanning
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Crayfish Question
Okay so here's my question. I'm going fishing next friday at a local lake. I'm going to catch my own crayfish on Wednesday evening. What do I need to do to keep them alive and well? Should I get a bait bucket or maybe one of those styrofoam cooler things. Should I pull the claws off to keep them from cannibalizing? How much water? Do I need to aerate it? Water changes? Food? Rocks/Plants? Anything else I need to know?
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bigbear2010
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RE: Crayfish Question
2010/06/09 15:02:16
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aerate them, i just keep mine in a 5 gallon plastic bucket, if it gets warm you will need to change the water...don't use city water the chlorine will kill them
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knfanning
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RE: Crayfish Question
2010/06/09 15:05:15
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I have a 55 gallon aquarium so I have chemicals to dechlorinate the water and I have a spare air pump. Do I need to worry about them killing each other?
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rollcaster
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RE: Crayfish Question
2010/06/09 15:26:56
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Dont really think they will kill each other but not sure. As far as keeping them cool styrofoam will work better than plastic.
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mr.crappie
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RE: Crayfish Question
2010/06/09 17:33:36
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The only time that I broke off the pinchers, almost the whole doz. died, I am thinking because of trauma.They will stay alive if you break them off right before using them,but that may be because something usualy grabs them pretty quick. If you use a styrofoam cooler so that they have enough room I don't think that they will fight each other. sam
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crappiefisher
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RE: Crayfish Question
2010/06/09 18:16:41
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If u want them to become soft shells, put them in a galv. wash tub or siml. cont. add wet wood bark, old decaying leaves & maybe some moss. Put down a dark cool cellar & within a few days they should be ready.
Crappy
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mr.crappie
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RE: Crayfish Question
2010/06/09 20:44:21
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BTW,Leaving the pinchers on makes it more intresting when you reach in the container to grab one, especialy in the dark. lol sam
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jon_e_si
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RE: Crayfish Question
2010/06/09 23:14:07
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woodnickle
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RE: Crayfish Question
2010/06/10 11:20:19
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I wet news papers then roll the cra. up inside. Stick them in the frig and the,ll last a week that way. Plenty lively.
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fishinsgreat1
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RE: Crayfish Question
2010/06/10 14:26:36
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i use a minnow bucket and recently bought that hush bubbles at walmart. it works great. havent lost a minnow or a crab yet. leave the claws on.
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knfanning
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RE: Crayfish Question
2010/06/10 15:41:08
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Thanks for all the great advice. I think I'm going to go with the air pump approach since I have an extra one sitting around anyways.
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tim mitchell
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RE: Crayfish Question
2010/06/10 22:39:19
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Remove pinchers for easier retrieval from the bucket.An ariator will help a lot to prevent mortality.Foam cooler will slow water temp. changes. Add as much water as possible for transporting.No ariator=more water changes to provide disolved oxygen.
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pheasant tail 2
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RE: Crayfish Question
2010/06/10 23:08:46
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I can't speak for keeping hard shelled crayfish, but Mika has it right if you want to keep softshells. Wrap them individually in paper towels or newspaper, lightly dampen the paper by sprinkling water with your fingers, place them in the frig. Wrapped crayfish can be stored in shoeboxes or cigar boxes.
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REEL FORCE
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RE: Crayfish Question
2010/06/10 23:47:24
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Keep the pinches on ... IMO it adds to the view the fish is seeing and may help trigger a bite better then with them off. Besides there not lobsters ...lol ... and won't take your finger off. After a while ya will get used to it, and ya will find yourself just sticking your hand in the bucket without looking and grabbing them any ole way...
Now for my secret :
I keep mine in a large 20 plus gallon fish tank with a filter and bubbler, feed them 1-3 times a week (tropical fish food)gives them some energy...
no chlorinated water ( empty milk jugs rinsed and fill, and left with cap off for at least 24 hours before a water replacement ) ...
I have kept them alive over the winter and into the next summer... know it's a lot to go through but I like to keep my bait healthy...
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