Zebra Cherax Pair

This listing offers a proven, colour-selected male-female pair of Cherax peknyi Zebra Crayfish showing full-expression black-and-white striping and vivid electric blue highlights on the chelae and walking legs. Both individuals have been kept together and are compatible — an important consideration given the male's occasional aggression toward females outside of breeding periods.

Breeding C. peknyi in captivity requires a large tank with multiple visual barriers and separate cave territories for male and female, allowing the female to retreat after mating. The female broods a small clutch of 30–80 large eggs, and the resulting juveniles display the characteristic striping from the moment they hatch — extraordinary to observe.

Successful breeders of this species contribute meaningfully to the captive gene pool as wild populations are becoming increasingly difficult to collect legally, and the commercial price of captive-bred specimens reflects the difficulty and investment required to produce them. This pair represents a serious investment in one of the hobby's most spectacular freshwater invertebrates.

Water: 20–27°C, pH 7.0–8.0, GH 6–15, KH 3–10; stable high-quality water for breeding condition. Tank: minimum 150 L, rocky caves for both sexes, visual barriers; remove male post-mating if female stressed. Feeding: high-quality sinking pellets, blanched greens, frozen foods; extra calcium for egg production. Breeding: 30–80 large eggs; juveniles striped from hatching; separate from parents for grow-out. Compatibility: keep as pair only; M/F pair with dividers available in case of aggression.