Vallisneria Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 I went to feed my crayfish(Dr. Pinchy) today and noticed he had molted. I also noticed that now, instead of his normal neon blue color and pink claws, he is now a browny/blue with red on his claws. It kind of looks as if he is covered in brown algae(but its not algae), sort of a dirty brownish. He has never changed color after a molt before. He has always been a bright neon blue. Does this mean something? Is he sick? Getting old? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatpuffer Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 My crays changed colours every couple molts or so. Not a problem. Js Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishBrain Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Hey Val, Mine changed colour all the time, dont worry about it. Next time it might be super bright, or super dark! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted May 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 ok, I was just concerned as I've had him for a year or 2 and he has never changed color before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadiancray Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 ok, I was just concerned as I've had him for a year or 2 and he has never changed color before. Sounds like you have a Cherax Quad "Australian Red Claw" crayfish. It has just turned back to its natural color. They are not normally bright blue unless they are the genetic blue strain whcih is rare in North America at the moment. Most are forced to change bright blue by keeping them in a low ph water by the breeders. Once they are sold & get into normal water they will go back to their normal color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted June 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 BUt why the change now after so many years? If ph was the issue wouldnt' it have changed color right away? Not after a year or 2 in 7.8-8.0ph water? Here is a few pics of what he used to look like With flash without flash And here is what he looks like today. You can see his bright blue molted shell in the left corner and how now his color has a darker brownish tinge to it. How long to crays live? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadiancray Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 BUt why the change now after so many years? If ph was the issue wouldnt' it have changed color right away? Not after a year or 2 in 7.8-8.0ph water?Here is a few pics of what he used to look like And here is what he looks like today. You can see his bright blue molted shell in the left corner and how now his color has a darker brownish tinge to it. How long to crays live? How many times has it molted since you have had it??? It can't change color unless it moults. Also the first couple pictures are of a Juvenile & the last is sexually mature male. Some do change color a little when they become sexually mature but not that drastic. if it was a genetic blue morph it would never change color. Cherax quads can live a long time & get VERY large 10"+. I know some people that have had them for more than 5 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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