Introducing: Cambarellus diminutus

Newjohn · Post by **Newjohn** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:02 pm

I was only getting 1 or 2 , that I could tell.
I was used to feeding Dwarf Shrimp, I must have not been feeding them enough, and the young slowly disappeared.

I have move this trio, into a 40 gal breeder, with alot of hiding places.
and as soon as the leaves start dropping, there will be alot more leaf litter.

John

FISH WORLD ERIE · Post by **FISH WORLD ERIE** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:24 pm

She looks like a lumberjack on a log. Very Cool.

Newjohn · Post by **Newjohn** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 1:40 pm

She is very camera shy.
I have only taken 3 pictures of her.

I am just waiting for YuccaPatrol,
To post a few more pictures of his new Crayfish and updated information.
When He has time.

This is like reading a good novel.
You can not wait, to get to the next page.

John

The Fisherman · Post by **The Fisherman** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 7:55 pm

Nice pic NewJohn, great looking cray as well

I agree, can't wait to see more pics

-John

Newjohn · Post by **Newjohn** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:24 pm

YuccaPatrol
How are your Berried Females doing ?

Please Keep us updated.

John

YuccaPatrol · Post by **YuccaPatrol** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:53 pm

I now have 5 berried females isolated in livebearer breeder units.

One of them appears to have newly hatched eggs, but I have never seen larval development personally.

Here is a photo of the female that appears to be carrying newly hatched larvae.

If someone has photos of developing dwarf cray larvae, I would love to see them.

YuccaPatrol · Post by **YuccaPatrol** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 6:22 pm

I was able to take a better photo that distinctly shows the body shape and eyes of the larvae.

Very neat stuff!

If I can get my current berried females to successfully produce offspring, then we will definitely have a new cray that can proliferate in this hobby.

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 6:24 pm

Great picture

Thanks and Congratulations

YuccaPatrol · Post by **YuccaPatrol** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 7:22 pm

One enlarged photo of the larva

FISH WORLD ERIE · Post by **FISH WORLD ERIE** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:32 pm

Great pics. Lot of red in that last one. Good luck. Let us know when you see the babies walking around.

Post by **Mustafa** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:28 pm

YuccaPatrol wrote:
If I can get my current berried females to successfully produce offspring, then we will definitely have a new cray that can proliferate in this hobby.

They do successfully produce them, it's just that they don't survive for long for one reason or another. Usually it's either water parameters or predation provided they are getting enough food. Are lots of hiding spaces for possible baby crays to get away from the adults?

YuccaPatrol · Post by **YuccaPatrol** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:41 am

The first two berried females that I isolated in a nursery tank dropped their eggs before reaching this stage of development.

These are the first hatched juveniles I have observed making it this far.

I do have one baby cray, but that came from a female which was carrying it when it was collected, so I'm not counting one from a wild mating.

I do have a lot of leaf litter in the tank, so they should have plenty of hiding spaces once they are ready.

I read a chapter in a text book which mentioned that captive bred females often lose their eggs due to male aggression or other disturbance, so I'm keeping all berried females in isolation individually until they are nearly ready to drop the juveniles. Hopefully this will increase the number of surviving offspring.

Cableguy · Post by **Cableguy** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:38 am

so, does the diminutus rank as the smallest US native cray or the cajun?

also, i think you should term the diminutus the bama dwarf cray hehe

YuccaPatrol · Post by **YuccaPatrol** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 9:52 am

C. diminutus is the smallest species in the U.S. Max size is 2.5 cm (1 inch).

Largest ones I have are the same size as my large cherry shrimp.

milalic · Post by **milalic** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 9:55 am

Congrats