Marbled Crayfish
Procambarus virginalis
Also sold as Marmorkrebs · Self-cloning crayfish
Marbled Crayfish (Procambarus virginalis) is an aggressive freshwater invertebrate that reaches about 10 cm (3.9 in) and swims along the bottom. It wants 64–77°F (18–25°C) and pH 7–8, can be kept singly, and needs a tank of at least 76 L (20 gal).
Check a freshwater stocking selection with your tank size and animal counts.
Try it in a tank
Put Marbled Crayfish in a 3D tank at your size and see how it sits with everything else. Free with an account.
At a glance
| Type | Invertebrate |
|---|---|
| Adult size | 10 cm (3.9 in) |
| Minimum tank | 76 L (20 gal) |
| Group size | Can be kept singly |
| Temperature | 64–77°F (18–25°C) |
| pH | 7–8 |
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Lifespan | 2–3 years |
| Eats shrimp | Yes |
Before it goes in
- Marbled Crayfish needs at least 76 L (20 gal). The smallest size in this library that clears that is the 20 Gallon High.
- It eats small fish and shrimp — anything under about 3.5 cm (1.4 in). In this library that means Cherry Shrimp, Crystal Red Shrimp and Bamboo Shrimp.
- It holds at 64–77°F (18–25°C). That shares a window with Betta and Cherry Shrimp, but not with German Blue Ram and Discus.
- It is aggressive — plan the tank around it rather than adding it to a finished community.
- It jumps. An open-top tank needs a lid or a low water line.
- It digs in the substrate. A freshly planted carpet — Dwarf Hairgrass Mini and Downoi — gets lifted before it roots.
- It eats most plants. Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis' and Bacopa caroliniana will not last with it; tough-leaved Anubias nana 'Petite' and Marimo Moss Ball will.
- Before you buy: it is banned or licence-only in some places, so check your local rules first.
- One of them takes up roughly 24% of what a 20 Gallon High will comfortably hold, so plan the rest of the stock around it.
Marbled Crayfish: care and setup
What tank size does it need?
At least 76 L (20 gal). The smallest size here that clears it is the 20 Gallon High.
Will it eat shrimp?
Yes. Shrimp are food to it, so pick one or the other.
What water does it want?
64–77°F (18–25°C), pH 7–8.
How long does it live?
2–3 years in a tank that suits it. That is how long you are signing up for.
Good tank mates
- Tank mates from this library that share its temperature window, are peaceful and eat neither it nor its young: Goldfish, Bristlenose Pleco, Celestial Pearl Danio, Molly and Otocinclus.
- Plants that hold up with it: Anubias nana 'Petite', Marimo Moss Ball, Subwassertang and Anubias barteri.
Often compared with
| Marbled Crayfish | Electric Blue Crayfish | Dwarf Mexican Crayfish | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult size | 10 cm | 10 cm | 4 cm |
| Min tank | 76 L | 90 L | 50 L |
| Group | 1+ | 1+ | 1+ |
| Temperature | 64–77°F (18–25°C) | 72–81°F (22–27°C) | 64–75°F (18–24°C) |
| Eats shrimp | Yes | Yes | Shrimplets only |