Hello!

OH and I went to buy our first fish yesterday. We took with us a sample of water from our tank and the guys at the fish shop tested it and said it was fine so we had a look at the fish...... and ended up buying a mini lobster!

He seems to be settling in fine although Im a bit worried cos i thought mini lobsters (or crayfish i think they are called) were meant to be kept in saltwater. The person in the shop said that freshwater was fine though but having looked online, some websites say that he wont live very long if he is kept in saltwater. Another website said if he is in freshwater and we add salt that will kill him also

Im really not sure what to do and would like some sound advice from one of you guys on here as everything seems to contradict itself online!!!

Please help!!

There are fresh water crayfish, and they are the ones most likely to be sold in your pet shop. Don't be adding fish with the lobster as they don't mix well in an aquarium. Also I would get my own water testing kit if I were you. I would never rely on results from a pet shop, they usually just want you to spend money on fish.

yes, it is freshwater. you can get freshwater crayfish, even wild in the UK.

care is pretty basic. low light levels, lots of places to hide, and keep very good water quality. even the slightest blip of ammonia will be tragic to the crayfish. they feed on meaty foods. and make sure you never use copper based medication, as this will kill it outright.... oh, and dont add any fish, because it will eat them!

you dont happen to know what species it is do you? or can describe it? as there is only one species that is actully legal to keep in the UK. this is Cherax quadricarinatus (blue lobster). all other species are banned from sale due to escaping into the wild and killing off our native crayfish.

Thanks for the advice, I did test the water myself before I left the house but the fish shop also requested a sample.

Eric the lobster is about 3 inches long and a reddy brown colour. I have put a pic on but its not very clear as he was hiding under his little rock.

Am feeding him on crab pellets at the mo as thats what the shop told us to give him but going to get him some prawns when i go shopping this evening.
What else can i give him? According to the packet on crab pellets im meant to give him 4 twice a day but he always seems to be looking for food!

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