Orange Crayfish

The Orange Crayfish is a captive-bred colour morph of Procambarus clarkii in which selective breeding has enriched the natural orange-red pigmentation of the wild species into a uniform, vivid tangerine-orange covering the entire carapace and appendages. It retains the robust constitution and adaptability of the wild form.

Procambarus clarkii morphs are among the most beginner-friendly crayfish available, tolerating a wide range of water conditions and thriving on varied diets. The Orange morph is particularly popular due to the warmth of its coloration against aquarium substrates and hardscaping.

As with all P. clarkii morphs, keepers should provide adequate shelter for molting, keep the tank covered to prevent escape, and avoid housing with shrimp or delicate plants. Individual tanks or very large setups with broken line-of-sight are needed to prevent aggression between specimens.

Water: 15–28°C, pH 6.5–8.0, GH 5–20, KH 2–15; robust — tolerates hard or soft water well. Tank: minimum 80 L, caves or pipes for shelter, tight-fitting lid to prevent escape. Feeding: omnivore — pellets, blanched vegetables, frozen bloodworm, shrimp pellets; daily or every 2 days. Breeding: female broods clutch under tail; separate male post-mating; juveniles are independent quickly. Compatibility: aggressive — keep singly or with robust fast fish; not safe with shrimp or slow fish.