Cherax snowden
Scientific name | Cherax snowden |
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Descriptor | Christian Lukhaup, Jörn Panteleit, Anne Schrimpf |
Year of description | 2015 |
IUCN category (World) | NE |
Family | Parastacidae |
Genus | Cherax |
Introduction
Cherax snowden is a fresh water crustacea from the Oceania.
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Who is it?
Morphology
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Type
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Average size12 cm
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Maximum size15 cm
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Type
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Average size12 cm
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Maximum size15 cm
How to recognize Cherax snowden ?
Cherax snowden measures between 12 and 15 cm. this crustacea is bicolore with a predominantly vert and orange body.
The crayfish has claws on the first three pairs of legs. The first pair always has the largest claws, with the second and third pairs usually consisting of simpler claws. The other pairs of legs end in a spine.
Behaviour & Life cycle
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Sociabilityliving in a group or alone
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territorialYes
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VenomousNo
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Way of livingnocturnal
Like all crustaceans, Cherax snowden molts whenever it becomes cramped in its shell. Before the hardening of its new body, it is more vulnerable and spends a good part of its time hidden. This mechanism, very complex, allows the periodic renewal of the exoskeleton and part of the internal skeleton. It is also during the moult that the females become fertile.
Cherax snowden is a crustacea living in a group or alone naturally found on the bottom. This species is omnivorous with herbivorous tendency . this crustacea lives mainly at night. Usually, it leaves its hiding place and starts to be active once it gets dark.
Cherax snowden is a territorial animal that does not tolerate any incursions into its living area. It is particularly virulent against other territorial species and it can provoke heated fights.
Cherax snowden has a tendency to dig the ground and bury itself in caves to take refuge.
Reproduction
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Reproductionovipare
Cherax snowden is a crustacea ovipare. Like crabs, females incubate numerous eggs under their abdomen. It is an exclusively freshwater species, the whole reproduction process takes place in fresh water. This species follows a mode of reproduction called "direct development". After several weeks of incubation, the female gives birth to fully formed juveniles ready to fend for themselves.
Harmless species
This species does not represent any particular threats to humans when encountered in its natural environment.
Where to find it?
What is its habitat?
Natural environment characteristics
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Temperature22 - 28 °C
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pH (acidity)7 - 7.5
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FlowStrong, Medium and Slow
Biotope presentation
Cherax snowden is most often found at a depth between 0m and 1m. However, it is not impossible to find this species at other depths.
Cherax snowden prefers well oxygenated waters in current areas and rapids. It frequents fast flowing waters where the bottom is strewn with pebbles, wood or leaves carried by the current. It can be found not far from waterfalls .
Species of the same biotope
Main recommendations for fishkeeping
Deontology
In order to preserve wildlife, if you acquire this animal, it must not be released into the wild. See also, the Fishipedia charter.
Fishipedia supports the practice of responsible and environmentally friendly aquarium keeping. We encourage maintenance if it is motivated by a desire to understand the biological functioning of living things and if it is done with respect for animal life.
We believe that aquaristics is an opening to the discovery of aquatic environments, especially freshwater, and that this knowledge is necessary to better protect and respect these environments. Logically, we refute the compulsive purchase of animals that would not find a sufficient and / or adapted place in the host aquarium.
Our recommendations
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Min volume200 liters
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Population min1
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Temperature22 - 28 °C
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pH (acidity)7 - 7.5
Characteristics
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Type of maintenanceAquarium
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Maintenance difficultyunknown
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Availabilityrare
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Behaviourmoderately aggressive
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Robustnessrobust
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Environmentfresh water
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Breedingfresh water
General reminders
It is strongly advised to read the complete dedicated file and to get information on the feedbacks of maintenance of the envisaged animal, this to avoid any potential conflict whose end result is generally the death of the individual (or the other inhabitants). It is important not to overload your aquarium to limit pollution. This will make maintenance easier.
In nature, animals are subject to weather conditions and live in waters with variable characteristics. The recommendations offered by our team for aquarium maintenance are a guidance and cannot be assimilated to scientific datas.
General reminder on maintenance datas
Le démarrage d'un aquarium est une partie primordiale pour l'équilibre et le bien-être des poissons. Lorsque l'on met en eau un aquarium, l'eau passe naturellement par un cycle biologique : le cycle de l'azote. Celui-ci dure environ trois semaines. Tous les 2 jours, nous vous conseillons de tester votre eau jusqu'à ce que le taux de nitrite soit à zéro pendant plusieurs jours d'affilée.
Pour accélérer ce cycle, vous pouvez utiliser un activateur de bactéries comme JBL Denitrol. Cette solution riche en bactéries vivantes et enzymes permet une mise en place rapide du cycle de l'azote. Les poissons peuvent alors être introduits plus rapidement.
Il est important de tester l'eau de son aquarium régulièrement pour maintenir un environnement sain pour les poissons et les autres habitants. Les tests d'eau permettent de mesurer les niveaux de différents paramètres tels que le pH, la dureté totale, ainsi que les taux de nitrates, de nitrites et d'ammoniaque.
Pour réaliser ces tests, vous pouvez utiliser des produits d'analyse spécialisés tels que JBL ProScan qui permet de réaliser un diagnostic de l'eau directement via un smartphone. Il existe également des coffrets de tests plus classiques de bandelettes, comme JBL PROAQUATEST.
En cas d’usage de l’eau du robinet, vous pouvez utiliser un conditionneur d’eau de type Biotopol de JBL pour éliminer les substances nocives comme le chlore, le cuivre, le plomb et le zinc. Les conditionneurs d'eau garantissent une meilleure santé aux poissons et une meilleure croissance des plantes.
Chlorine and chloramine are dangerous for the health of animals. Used to disinfect water, these agents are present in significant quantities in tap water. We recommend using an anti-chlorine agent every time you change the water. In addition to chlorine, treatments and medicines sold for aquarium use sometimes contain dangerous heavy metals in high doses.
Specific needs for Cherax snowden
Cherax snowden is a species which lives naturally at a temperature between 22 °C and 28 °C. For proper maintenance, the temperature should never exceed the 31°C for long periods. Nitrate levels should remain below 50mg/L. To keep the water clean and unpolluted, plan on changing 20% to 30% of the water volume each month.
This species is very rare in the aquarium trade. Instead, it is maintained by knowledgeable aquarists who own and breed individuals from wild origin strains. If you want to get this species, we advise you to contact specialized clubs. }Specimens from long time breeding are a bit easier to breed but you have to respect the particular water parameters.
Copper is toxic to many invertebrates. Some fertilizers and aquarium foods contain copper sulfate and should be used with caution. Since Cherax snowden are sensitive to copper, we do not recommend using these products in any form.
Precautions to take with crayfish
By nature, the crayfish has the ability to adapt its gills to breathe in the water, but also outside. This allows it to get out of the water when it lacks food or to escape from predators.
It is also an outstanding climber, it uses this skill to take refuge under woods, rocks or in crevices in its environment. In aquarium, by instinct, it will seek by all the means to leave the tank. Every pipe or hole will be a potential means of escape. To avoid an exit that could be fatal to it, it is necessary to plug all holes in the aquarium.
If by accident it manages to get out of the aquarium, it will be able to survive for a while and adapt its breathing. If you capture it, it is crucial to let it get reaccustomed to the water gradually, for example by putting it on a surface with two land/water areas. Putting it back in the water immediately will result in an irreversible drowning.
Cohabitation & Environment
In a community aquarium context, this species should be kept in a minimum volume of 200 liters.
Cherax snowden has a strong character. Its maintenance with territorial neighbors in an inadequate volume will generate stress. ndeed, it will not hesitate to fight to protect its territory and to dominate its neighbors. It is important to think carefully about the constitution of the future population to avoid this kind of inconvenience. The aquarium should be arranged so that each species can comfortably define its own territory.
Being opportunistic, this species should not cohabit with crustaceans or fish of similar or smaller size because they would in fact become potential prey. Sick species, territorial or sharing the same life zone as this crustacean are the subjects most at risk.
Due to their fragile state during moulting, all crustaceans need an environment provided with hiding places (roots, pebbles, leaves, plants, etc.) to shelter in case of danger. It spends part of its time in burrows. It is important to provide a substantial thickness of substrate so that it can build his refuge.
As previously said, Cherax snowden is a species that lives naturally in the current. Thus, we advise the installation of an oversized filtration system (10 to 20 times the volume of the tank) in order to guarantee a strong current and especially a strong oxygenation. A venturi system will improve the dissolved oxygen rate during summer.
To best reproduce the biotope of this species, you can cover the bottom of the tank with sand and put a pile of stones to form caves.
Tips for feeding
Cherax snowden is omnivorous with herbivorous tendency.
Reproduction protocol
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Maintenance difficultymoderate
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egg-laying protectionNo
Reproduction of this species in an aquarium is considered moderate.
Reproduction of this species is feasible in captivity, with the entire process taking place in fresh water. If the water conditions are met, the females will give birth to fully formed larvae that are ready to fend for themselves at birth.
Hybridization risks
In general, it is advised not to mix several species of the same genus or different varieties of the same species, to avoid the risks of hybridization.
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Sources & Contributions
Participation & Validation
The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.
Benoit Chartrer
Translation
Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.