Brazos Crayfish – The Lone Star Crustacean with Big Personality 🤠🦞

Scientific Name: Cambarellus texanus
Category: Freshwater Crayfish

🌵 Texas-Sized Charm in a Tiny Package

Meet the Brazos Crayfish (Cambarellus texanus), a true Texan native from the Brazos River basin. Unlike its larger, tank-busting cousins, this dwarf crayfish species stays a petite 1.5–2 inches—making it a perfect fit for nano tanks and community setups. It’s feisty, curious, and endlessly entertaining, often seen strutting across the substrate like it owns the place (because it probably thinks it does).

The Brazos Crayfish is known for its rusty orange-to-tan coloration with subtle mottling, giving it a natural, camouflaged look that blends beautifully into planted or leaf-littered aquascapes. They’re generally peaceful but will defend their territory—making plenty of bold displays with their tiny pincers.

🔍 What to Expect:

• Size: 1.5–2 inches fully grown

• Color: Tan to reddish-brown with speckling

• Lifespan: 1.5–2 years with good care

• Behavior: Curious, slightly territorial, highly interactive

• Reproduction: Breeds readily in freshwater; eggs carried under female’s tail

💧 Care & Conditions:

• Temp: 68–78°F (20–25.5°C)

• pH: 6.8–8.0

• Hardness: Moderate hardness preferred for healthy shell growth

• Tank Size: 5+ gallons per crayfish

• Diet: Sinking pellets, blanched vegetables, protein treats, occasional algae wafers

✅ Why You’ll Love It:

• Perfect nano-friendly crayfish species

• Hardy and easy to care for

• Adds personality and movement to your tank

• Safe with plants and small, fast fish (but may grab very slow tankmates)

• Breeds in freshwater, so you can grow a tiny crayfish colony

🎁 Bonus Tip:

Provide lots of hiding spots—cholla wood, shrimp caves, or leaf litter—to reduce stress and aggression, especially if keeping more than one in the same tank. 🏜️🦞

 patzcuarensis (originally native to Lake Pátzcuaro, Mexico) sports electric blue armor, tiny pincers, and an inquisitive nature that makes it the life of the substrate.

Unlike their larger and more destructive crayfish cousins, these guys stay petite—rarely exceeding 1.5 inches—and are less aggressive, especially when kept solo or with fast-swimming, non-bottom-dwelling tankmates. But don’t let their size fool you—they’re full of character, always exploring, rearranging decor, and showing off their sapphire suits.

🔍 What to Expect:

• Color: Vibrant cobalt to electric blue

• Size: 1.25–1.6 inches as adults

• Behavior: Territorial but manageable; great solo pets

• Lifespan: 1.5–2 years

• Breeding: Will breed in freshwater (beware—babies are tiny and fast!)

💧 Care & Conditions:

• Temp: 70–78°F (21–25.5°C)

• pH: 6.5–8.0

• GH/KH: Moderate hardness for shell health

• Substrate: Sand or gravel, with hides and plants

• Diet: Sinking pellets, blanched veggies, protein-rich treats

• Tank Size: 5+ gallons per crayfish

✅ Why You’ll Love It:

• Stunning blue coloration that pops in any aquascape

• Small size makes it nano-tank compatible

• Active and bold personality—fun to watch

• Less destructive to plants than large crayfish species

• Can be housed solo or as a unique crusty companion in peaceful setups

🎁 Bonus Tip:

Provide plenty of hiding spots (like cholla wood, caves, or leaf litter) to help them feel secure during molts—because no one likes being caught without their armor. 🦞🛡️

Complete your shrimp order with some vibrant plants! They provide essential hiding spots and enhance the natural look of your tank, creating a healthier, more enriching environment for your shrimp. Add plants to your order for a thriving, beautiful setup!

Check out the DOA POLICY and SHIPPING INFORMATION before placing an order!

Size: Juvenile/Adult

Random Scoops