8 Great Tank Mates for Crayfish (Compatibility Guide 2023)

Nobody likes a boring and empty tank. If you have a Crayfish, you need to find the right Crayfish tank mates, though. Unfortunately, your options are a bit limited for Crayfish mates since Crayfish will likely eat other fish in the aquarium.

Whenever picking out tank mates for your Crayfish, you always want to select fish that are peaceful, small or large enough that they won’t be eaten by the Crayfish, and can stand up for themselves when needed.

In this article, we are going to look at the 8 best tank mates for Crayfish. At the end, we also talk about what makes a good tank mate for Crayfish, water parameters, and more.

The 8 Great Tank Mates for Crayfish

1. White Cloud Minnow

The White Cloud Minnow is a perfect tank made for Crayfish because they are small, gentle, and survive well in the same water parameters.

White Cloud Minnows tend to stay towards the middle or top of the tank, which keeps them out of reach of the Crayfish. Plus, White Cloud Minnows eat the same type of food as Crayfish, making feeding very easy.

2. Hatchetfish

Hatchetfish make ideal Blue Crayfish tank mates because they are practically exclusive top dwellers. These fish have specifically evolved so that they can pluck insects that are floating on the water surface.

Even though other types of fish, such as Guppies and Killifish have similar characteristics as Hatchetfish, Hatchetfish are still the best option because they never go to the bottom of the tank. Hatchetfish also can survive in many water types, including the waters of the Crayfish.

3. Golden Wonder Killifish

Pretty much the only Killifish you should pair with a Crayfish is the Golden Wonder Killifish. Golden Wonder Killifish are decently sized and stick to the surface. These fish are often too fast and remain towards the surface to avoid becoming Crayfish food.

If you want a Golden Wonder Killifish, you need to be careful about any other fish you add to the tank. Golden Wonder Killis will snack on smaller fish that hang out at the top of the surface.

4. Danio

For people who want a Crayfish tank mate that is also very colorful, the Danio may be the best option. The best Danio to select as a tank mate is the Giant Danio because of its large size.

In many ways, Danios are comparable to Tetras, but they spend more of their time at the top of the aquarium, meaning they are beyond the reach of the Crayfish. They also can withstand cool water parameters very easily.

5. African Butterfly Fish

One of the more unique tank mates to pair with your Crayfish is the African Butterfly Fish. These fish are predators, yet they are shy and lurk at the surface. Since African Butterfly Fish sit at the surface, it is very unlikely that it will ever interact with the Crayfish. Not to mention, this fish is too large to easily be eaten.

If you select the African Butterfly Fish, you will need to add dried leaves and plants towards the aquarium surface. This replicates the African Butterfly Fish’s natural environment.

6. Red Tail Shark

If you want another bottom dweller with your Crayfish, the Red Tail Shark is one of your only options. The Red Tail Shark can grow to be larger than Crayfish. It’s important to note that you should only pair these sharks with Crayfish if the shark is bigger.

As you probably would suspect, Red Tail Sharks can be a bit territorial, but they will get along fine with Crayfish if given a cave to call home. At the same time, they stand up to bullying pretty well.

7. Bala Shark

Another shark to consider is the Bala Shark. This fish gets pretty large and is actually very skittish. They rarely swim towards the bottom of the tank, which means they will be protected against the Crayfish.

If you are choosing between the Red Tail Shark and the Bala Shark as a tank mate, we would generally recommend the Red Tail Shark. Bala Sharks get really big, which can be difficult to sustain ethically within a home aquarium.

8. Tinfoil Barb

Most Barbs make very poor Blue Crayfish tank mates, but the Tinfoil Barb is a good choice. These fish are large and active, which means they won’t make easy food for your Crayfish.

In comparison to the other fish we have listed as tank mates, the Tinfoil Barb is lower on our list for a reason. These fish are more difficult to find at pet stores, and they are not as easy to feed and care for within the same waters as the Crayfish. Plus, they need a lot of water.

What Makes a Good Tank Mate for Crayfish?

When selecting tank mates for your Crayfish, you first and foremost want to select a fish that is unlikely to go towards the bottom of the tank. Top dwellers are the best choice because they will likely never come in contact with the Crayfish. If you select another bottom dweller, make sure it is one that can hold its own against the Crayfish.

Another factor to consider is the personality type. It is unwise to pair a super aggressive fish with the Crayfish. Instead, opt for peaceful schooling fish that won’t bother the Crayfish.

Lastly, consider the size of the tank mates. You either want the tank mates to be so small that it is difficult for the Crayfish to get its claws around the fish, or you want the fish to be so large that it is unlikely to become prey. Avoid fish that are somewhere in the middle, such as goldfish.

Where Do Crayfish Prefer to Live in the Aquarium?

Crayfish are classic bottom dwellers. These fish never leave the ground and instead lurk around the gravel and sand below. It is because of this fact that the best Crayfish tank mates are middle to top dwellers. If the tank mates stay at the top, they will never even interact with the Crayfish.

Water Parameters

Most Crayfish are found around southeastern North America. The Blue Crayfish is especially found around Florida, such as around the Florida Keys. Their water parameters are pretty exact and are considered cooler than other freshwater varieties.

The ideal water parameters for a Crayfish is between 20 and 30 gallons. You want the pH level to be somewhere between 6.5 and 8, whereas the temperature should be between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Size

Crayfish size will largely depend on the type of Crayfish you are talking about. The most popular pet Crayfish is the Electric Blue Crayfish. Fully grown Blue Crayfish will grow to be between four and six inches long. In contrast, freshwater Crayfish or Crawfish only grow to be about three inches long.

Aggressive Behaviors

As you would expect from their little pinchers, Crayfish are considered aggressive fish. If territory is slim, Crayfish will fight with each other. Additionally, their pinchers mean that they will easily turn unsuspecting fish into a snack.

Even if the Crayfish does not try to turn its tank mates into a snack, it can and will often bully other fish. As a whole, Crayfish are pretty aggressive to their tank mates.

3 Benefits of Having Tank Mates for Crayfish in Your Aquarium

If you aren’t quite sold on having tank mates for your Crayfish, here are three benefits of adding other fish variety to your aquarium:

1. Makes for a Prettier Tank

The biggest benefit of adding Blue Crayfish tank mates to your aquarium is that it makes the tank much prettier and more lively. Because Crayfish exclusively stay at the bottom, an aquarium with a sole Crayfish can be a bit boring to look at.

By adding tank mates that occupy the middle and top of the waters, your tank becomes much livelier and more beautiful to look at.

2. Creates a Healthier Ecosystem

Something else you might want to consider is that having multiple fish creates a healthier ecosystem. After all, the oceans, rivers, and lakes are naturally full of life. The more fish that are located within the aquarium, the healthier the ecosystem will be.

That being said, packing too many fish in one aquarium is the opposite of healthy. Instead, you want to select the right amount of fish based on the size of your aquarium for the best results.

3. Replicates the Crayfish’s Natural Habitat

Finally, the last major benefit of adding tank mates to your Crayfish tank is that it creates a more natural ecosystem. As we mentioned above, all natural waters are packed with different lifeforms. By adding more tank mates, you create a much more realistic environment, which creates a more ethical tank.

Can Crayfish be Tank Mates with Other Crayfish?

Technically yes, you can add more than one Crayfish inside a tank. However, the Crayfish need to be of the same species. For example, only pair Blue Crayfish with other Blue Crayfish.

Something else you have to remember is that Crayfish can grow really big. If you have more than one Crayfish per tank, your aquarium will need to be large enough to handle however many adult Crayfish you have.

Conclusion

If you are not careful, adding the wrong tank mates to your Crayfish tank is a disaster waiting to happen. Because Crayfish are aggressive bottom dwellers, you have to select fish that can either hold their own or stay at the top of the tank.

The best way to select tank mates for your Crayfish is to select unaggressive fish that are middle or top dwellers. If you pair these sort of tank mates with your Crayfish, you will likely have next to no issues with the Crayfish turning its mates into a snack.

Featured Image Credit: SritanaN, Shutterstock