The History, Popularity and Habitat

History The Blue Moon Crayfish, also known as Cherax boesemani, was named after Dr. Marinus Boeseman. Dr. Boeseman was honored for his contributions to the scientific knowledge of freshwater crayfish of the genus Cherax in Irian Jaya (West New Guinea), Indonesia, and as the first collector of this species. The Blue Moon Crayfish started showing up in the aquarium trade around the early 2000s.

Popularity The Blue Moon Crayfish is popular as a freshwater aquarium pet across Asia, Europe, and North America. It’s not very common in the aquarium trade, but these crayfish can be easily recommended even for beginners. They are hardy, easy to care for, and can breed in captivity. Their variable blues, reds, and oranges are the predominant carapace colors, which has led to extensive selective breeding to create new commercial strains, with names such as Blue Moon, Supernova, Papuan red, tricolor, and Red Brick.

Habitat Cherax boesemani is a crayfish endemic to West Papua, Indonesia. This species can be found only in the Ajamaru Lakes and the Ajamaru River, which belong to the Kais River drainage. These crayfish live in shallow areas (rarely more than 10 feet or 3 meters) of the lakes with a lot of plants, wetlands, and tributaries of the lakes. These lakes have hard, mineral-rich water with neutral pH.

1. Blue Moon: This variation is named for its striking blue coloration.
2. Supernova: This variation is known for its vibrant and varied coloration.
3. Papuan Red: This variation has a dominant red coloration.
4. Tricolor: As the name suggests, this variation exhibits three distinct colors.
5. Red Brick: This variation has a deep, brick-red coloration.

Common Tank mates

Fast-Moving Fish: Species such as Celestial Pearl Danios, Rasboras, and Guppies are recommended as they are quick and can easily avoid the crayfish.

1. Tetras: Tetras are active, energetic schooling fish that populate the tank’s middle area. They thrive in larger groups and are hard to catch, especially if they have a lush ecosystem with plenty of hiding areas.
2. Rasboras: Rasboras follow the same recipe that tetras use. They rely on group strength, speed, and hiding to avoid any predators that may target them.
3. Hatchet Fish, Danios, Neon Tetras, Rosy Red Minnows: These species are also suitable tank mates for blue crayfish.

Male gender vs Female gender (Sexual Dimorphism)

Sexual dimorphism, the physical difference between males and females of the same species, is present in the Blue Moon Crayfish (Cherax boesemani). However, it’s not as pronounced as in some other species.

In general, both sexes of Cherax, the genus to which the Blue Moon Crayfish belongs, are selective with their copulation partners. Females tend to choose males with a larger central mass (abdomen and tail) and cheliped. Males tend to select copulation partners who have larger body sizes and are virgins, as opposed to females who were more dominant or had symmetrical chelipeds.

For the Blue Moon Crayfish specifically, the claws do not exhibit sexual dimorphism and are equal in form and size. This means that both male and female crayfish have similar claw structures, making it difficult to distinguish between the sexes based on this characteristic alone.

Breeding

The Blue Moon Crayfish, scientifically known as Cherax boesemani, is a species that can breed in captivity. The breeding process is relatively straightforward, but it’s important to note that the offspring, often referred to as ‘fry’, grow at a very slow pace.

The breeding process begins when a male and female crayfish mate. The male deposits sperm into the female, who then carries the fertilized eggs in her swimmerets, located on the underside of her tail. During this period, the female is said to be “in berry” because the eggs resemble small berries.

After a gestation period, the eggs hatch and the tiny crayfish emerge. At this stage, they are extremely small and vulnerable, so providing them with plenty of hiding places in the tank is crucial. It’s also important to feed the fry a diet rich in nutrients to support their growth. This can include small pieces of fish, shrimp, vegetables, and commercial crayfish food.

As the fry grow, they go through a series of molts, shedding their exoskeleton to allow for further growth. It’s important not to remove these shed exoskeletons from the tank, as the crayfish will often consume them to regain valuable nutrients.

The slow growth rate of the Blue Moon Crayfish fry means that it can take quite some time for them to reach adulthood. However, with proper care and attention, they can grow into beautiful, healthy adults, making the breeding process a rewarding experience for any aquarium enthusiast.