So instead of actually hunting for crawdads myself, I went to my LFS this morning and two crawdads had mistakenly come in with the feeder fish. I purchased them thinking that they might be a fun toy for the cichlids, or make a good addition to the tank.

I drop the two crawfish in, and walk out of the room to grab a drink, and low and behold when I come back in the senegal bichir has got this giant crawdad in his mouth shaking him around like a rag doll. :o <-- my face

It was unbelievable! I didn't even know they ate crawfish. He was trying to eat him for quite some time, but from what I can see now, hes abandoned him for the moment. The cichlids are picking at him, but thats about it.

Take that back, he's back attacking him again. He must take periodic breaks. It surprised me that he could kill a crawfish that quickly. One bite and it was over. Fun meal I guess.

:unsure: For as many posts that I have made, you still think crayfish are evil? Me and Mongo's GF ate a $16.00 blue cray. AND YOU are CICHLIDS!?!??! Of course they feed on live prey!!!!!!!!!! I bet they feel like a million bucks. Go catch some more, cause that is in my plans very soon. BTW, if you leave the shell of the cray in the tank, it actually is a very good nutrient for the fish. Full of calcium, and it helps the diet. Make sure that you remove the exoskeleton of the cray after three days though. And make a water change.

I love crayfish, they are so cool, and if you feed them right, YOU can raise guppies with them. That is my test right now. I have a pregnant guppy in with "Rocky" (blue cray), and get this... cray coldwater,,,guppy tropical,,, guppy still has her babies. Just takes a bit longer. In other words, guppy is in the coldwater tank and she is still giving birth. Fry, stay alive and she does too, because my hubby loves to over feed his "Rocky", and I have floating plants in the tank, for the guppies to hide.
!lol

I guess that comes in handy sometimes
:D

Lmao, yeah it's funny to watch my little 5 inch one do a death roll on little crayfish...

I know what you mean about the 'death roll'. It was totally unexpected. I didn't think they liked crayfish. I still have the little 3 legged 1 claw one. He's quite the character. He's living in my 10 gallon with my dojo loach and fantail goldifsh (until the goldfish goes in the pond). The cichlids didn't even bother him. The bichir tracked him down and made short work of him.

I wish I had known that about the exoskeleton. I would have left it in there. I'll eventually have a crayfish tank. After having this one, they are REALLY interesting. I'd like to get a tank big enough to house a couple as well as some other fish.

Hmm... gives me too many ideas. Maybe my wife will let me have a 20 gallon or something for Christmas. :lol: