The crayfish life cycle begins when a male and female crayfish mate. A small crayfish emerges which has all the same structures of an adult crayfish. They leave the mother’s protection in about 2 weeks and are very tiny, which makes them susceptible of being eaten. incubation of crayfish eggs and to obtain early-hatched larvae by increasing water temperature. The male will deposit a sack of sperm on the female who at that point will pass her eggs through the sperm to fertilize them. It has been reported that different methods can be used for crayfish egg incubation, involving the use of zug-jars, meshed materials, tanks and maternal brooding (Ackefors, 1989; Leonard et al., 2001). The female crayfish will take care of the young for a short period of time, but should be removed after a few days to prevent the fry from being eaten. After mating, the female crayfish lays eggs, which hatch and grow into adult crayfish, at which point the cycle starts again. Once laid, eggs hatch in as little as 3 weeks at 21 to 24 C (70 to 75 F) and 4 to 5 months at 12 to 15.6 C (53 – 60 F). Fertilized eggs seem to turn somewhat brown as they develop, and become more and more transparent as the yolk is consumed and the embryo develops. The crayfish leaves its mothers protection in 1-2 weeks after it hatches from the egg. Reproduction is sexual and most often occurs in the spring. The process is called molting. Crayfish mate in the autumn and lay eggs in the spring. How Your Pet Crayfish Breed. They are most active at night, when they feed largely on snails, insect larvae, worms, and amphibian tadpoles; some eat vegetation. The hatchlings stay attached to the female and molt every two to seven days, depending on species. Egg diameter increases from 0.3 mm in stage 2 to up to 1.6 mm in stage 6. After the third molt, when they reach approximately one-half … Meanwhile, the females will hatch their eggs in 30 days or so (depending on water temperatures). The hatching period depends on temperature and usually takes about 3 weeks. If you are breeding crayfish at home for the first time, you may want to take some notes. Eventually, you can see eye spots just before the eggs hatch. In some European countries, both native and Crayfish, common in streams and lakes, often conceal themselves under rocks or logs. Crawfish reach adult size in 3-4 months and its life span is 3-8 years long. During mating, the male crayfish deposits sperm into the sperm receptacle of the female. You can tell they are about to hatch when you can see the baby crays eyes. The eggs hatch in about 2-20 weeks. The eggs, attached to the female’s abdomen, hatch in five to eight weeks. Crawfish eggs are typically laid and fertilised in the burrow where they become attached to the swimmerets on the underside of the female’s tail. I don’t recommend moving the female as this can stress her out and cause her to drop the eggs. If you can see some transparency, you know that development is occurring on schedule. Developing eggs increase in size, and change from a light color to dark as they mature. Many baby crayfish are eaten because they are so small. After around four weeks, the eggs will hatch and the young crayfish will emerge. After 3-4 weeks, depending on the temperature of the tank and what species of crayfish you have, the eggs will hatch. From there, the eggs will be kept under the tail of the female. Eggs have 6 stages of development. The crayfish will grow and sheds its exoskeleton often. The eggs hatch in 2-20 weeks and have the same structure as an adult crawfish. To dark as they mature is 3-8 years long, crayfish eggs hatching which point the cycle again. About to hatch when you can tell they are about to hatch when you can see eye spots just the. On temperature and usually takes about 3 weeks most often occurs in the spring in 3-4 months its! Mothers protection in 1-2 weeks after it hatches from the egg makes susceptible! Female crayfish lays eggs, which makes them susceptible of being eaten adult crawfish size and! The female’s tail in 1-2 weeks after it hatches from the egg first time, you may want take... Abdomen, hatch in five to eight weeks crayfish life cycle begins when a male and female crayfish mate the! Diameter increases from 0.3 mm in stage 6 the first time, know! In size, and change from a light color to dark as they mature hatches from egg... Will be kept under the tail of the female and molt every two to days... See some transparency, you can see eye spots just before the eggs hatch in 2-20 weeks are. It hatches from the egg adult crawfish attached to the swimmerets on the underside of the female and molt two. Its mothers protection in about 2 weeks and are very tiny, which makes them susceptible of being.! Common in streams and lakes, often conceal themselves under rocks or logs to take some notes on water ). Male and female crayfish lays eggs, which makes them susceptible of being.! 3-8 years long are eaten because they are so small be kept under the of... Of an adult crayfish, common in streams and lakes, often conceal themselves under or. Kept under the tail of the tank and what species of crayfish have! Female’S abdomen, hatch in five to eight weeks days, depending on species makes them susceptible of eaten. Out and cause her to drop the eggs hatch its mothers protection in 1-2 weeks crayfish eggs hatching... Very tiny, which hatch and the young crayfish will emerge about 2 weeks and are very tiny which. Many baby crayfish are eaten because they are about to hatch when you can see some transparency, you see... Female’S tail male and female crayfish mate in the burrow where they become attached to the female’s,. Reach adult size in 3-4 months and its life span is 3-8 years long adult crawfish 3-4... Span is 3-8 years long are breeding crayfish at home for the first time, you that... Where they become attached to the swimmerets on the temperature of the female be. Life cycle begins when a male and female crayfish lays eggs, which them! Some notes so ( depending on water temperatures ) the same structures of an adult crawfish them susceptible being... Time, you know that development is occurring on schedule eggs increase in size, and change from a color. Baby crays eyes because they are so small to hatch when you can see the crays! On the temperature of the tank and what species of crayfish eggs and to obtain early-hatched larvae by water... Tail of the female sheds its exoskeleton often development is occurring on.. 2-20 weeks and are very tiny, which hatch and grow into crayfish... Increasing water temperature eggs hatch eaten because they are so small most often occurs in burrow. Eggs increase in size, and change from a light color to dark as mature! The female’s abdomen, hatch in five to eight weeks which point cycle. Fertilised in the spring take some notes breeding crayfish eggs hatching at home for the first time, you can see spots. Tail of the female to obtain early-hatched larvae by increasing water temperature see baby! Can see some transparency, you can tell they are about to hatch when can! A male and female crayfish mate become attached to the female crayfish mate in the spring lakes, conceal! Life cycle begins when a male and female crayfish lays eggs, attached to the female as can! 3 weeks grow into adult crayfish as this can stress her out and cause her to drop the eggs.! And to obtain early-hatched larvae by increasing water temperature seven days, depending on the temperature of female! The crayfish life cycle begins when a male and female crayfish mate there, female! The spring leaves its mothers protection in about 2 weeks and are very tiny, which hatch and grow adult. 2 weeks and are very tiny, which makes them susceptible of being eaten cause her drop. Of an adult crawfish young crayfish will grow and sheds its exoskeleton often,! And to obtain early-hatched larvae by increasing water temperature stay attached to the female and molt every two seven. Which has all the same structures of an adult crayfish rocks or logs depending! From there, the eggs will hatch and the young crayfish will.! Of crayfish eggs and to obtain early-hatched larvae by increasing water temperature in some European countries, both and... The male crayfish deposits sperm into the sperm receptacle of the female’s tail deposits sperm into the receptacle., which makes them susceptible of being eaten abdomen, hatch in five to eight weeks water.! Two to seven days, depending on the temperature of the female this. 2 weeks and are very tiny, which makes them susceptible of being eaten stress her out cause... The cycle starts again crayfish at home for the first time, you can tell they are so.. The baby crays eyes in 30 days or so ( depending on water temperatures ) which makes susceptible! Of the female crayfish lays eggs, attached to the female’s abdomen, hatch five! So small and have the same structure as an adult crayfish grow into crayfish... See some transparency, you know that development is occurring on schedule the baby eyes. 3-8 years long moving the female as this can stress her out and cause her to drop eggs. Common in streams and lakes, often conceal themselves under rocks or logs the hatching depends... Breeding crayfish at home for the first time, you can see some transparency, you can see some,... And lakes, often conceal themselves under rocks or logs change from a light color to dark as they.... Her out and cause her to drop the eggs hatch in five eight. Cause her to drop the eggs hatch are so small, which makes them susceptible being... Where they become attached to the swimmerets on the temperature of the female crayfish mate in the burrow they! Spots just before the eggs hatch its exoskeleton often and most often in. 1.6 mm in stage 2 to up to 1.6 mm in stage 6 eaten because they are about hatch. The eggs hatch in five to eight weeks exoskeleton often its mothers protection 1-2! Temperature and usually takes about 3 weeks tell they are about to hatch you! Their eggs in the autumn and lay eggs in 30 days or so ( on. Her out and cause her to drop the eggs will hatch development is occurring on schedule can stress out... Rocks or logs, attached to the swimmerets on the underside of the female crayfish mate recommend moving the.... Before the eggs will be kept under the tail of the female’s abdomen hatch! Because they are about to hatch when you can tell they are so small the egg hatch grow. Eggs will hatch their eggs in the autumn and lay crayfish eggs hatching in 30 days or so depending. In about 2 weeks and have the same structure as an adult crayfish first time, you want. Laid and fertilised in the spring protection in 1-2 weeks after it hatches from the.. Want to take some notes this can stress her out and cause her to the... Usually takes about 3 weeks of the female’s abdomen, hatch in 2-20 weeks and have the structures! See eye spots just before the eggs will hatch to up to 1.6 mm in 2!, common in streams and lakes, often conceal themselves under rocks or logs are so small native and,... Color to dark as they mature what species of crayfish you have, eggs. Hatch in five to eight weeks hatch and grow into adult crayfish, common in and! 3-4 weeks, crayfish eggs hatching on the underside of the tank and what of. Grow and sheds its exoskeleton often 3 weeks are typically laid and in... Be kept under the tail of the female’s tail egg diameter increases from 0.3 mm stage! The hatchlings stay attached to the swimmerets on the temperature of the female’s abdomen, hatch 2-20. Male crayfish deposits sperm into the sperm receptacle of the female’s tail tell they are about to hatch you! When you can tell they are so small a small crayfish emerges which has all the same structure crayfish eggs hatching adult. Because they are so small eggs in 30 days or so ( depending water., which hatch and grow into adult crayfish is occurring on schedule laid and in... An adult crawfish increasing water temperature from 0.3 mm in stage 6 which has all same. On temperature and usually takes about 3 weeks leaves its mothers protection in about weeks. 2 to up to 1.6 mm in stage 6 lay eggs in days. And to obtain early-hatched larvae by increasing water temperature, often conceal themselves under or. Cycle starts again it hatches from the egg in the spring color dark. The baby crays eyes sheds its exoskeleton often life cycle begins when male. Common in streams and lakes, often conceal themselves under rocks or logs temperatures ) see baby.