
In the Aquarium Feed them small amounts of vegetable scraps, chicken pellets, and a little lean meatnow and then, removing what is not eaten each day. The yabby can live for months without eating at all, so it is better to feed small quantities at a time rather than risk polluting the water. Yabbies breed readily.
What can I Feed my yabbies?
Your yabbies will appreciate fruits and veggies too. Carrots, peas, potato peels, spinach and most fruits appeal to them. You could even treat them with some chicken pellets or a bit of lean mince every once in a while. Yabbies can live for months without eating, so feed them every one or two days.
How do you take care of a Yabbie fish?
Make sure that the tank has a good filter and clean the tank once a month. It is important for the water to stay clean because yabbies breathe through their gills just like fish. All invertebrates are sensitive to copper so avoid using aquarium medications that contain this in their tank.
What do Yabbie lizards eat?
They will also eat aquatic plants and the carcasses of dead or dying fish. Don’t feed them chunks of meat but the occasional garden worm is a nice treat. Specially formulated yabbie pellets are available which cover everything that they need nutritionally but feed them very small portions making sure that each bit is eaten before giving more food.
What do yabbies need to live in a tank?
You also need a filtration system, unless your tank has that built in already. Keep your yabbies’ lives interesting by including lots of different elements in the tank that they can play with, hide under or dig around. Try putting some plants, logs, pipes, rocks or pots into your tank to create the perfect mini ecosystem for your yabby.

What do yabbies need in a tank?
Feed them small amounts of vegetable scraps, chicken pellets, and a little lean meat now and then, removing what is not eaten each day. The yabby can live for months without eating at all, so it is better to feed small quantities at a time rather than risk polluting the water. Yabbies breed readily.
Can yabbies live without a filter?
Fill the tank completely with water, yabbies breathe oxygen from the water the same as fish. A filter is required and an air pump is a good option to keep the water well oxygenated especially in the warmer months.
Do yabbies need to come out of water?
Complete immersion in water is not essential for life for the yabby. If its gills are kept moist (humid air is sufficient), it can absorb oxygen from the air and survive for many days out of water. To breed, however, it must be in water. The yabby has evolved an ingenious mechanism for surviving drought.
How do you keep a yabby alive?
10:1112:23How to store your yabbies - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhat you can do is put a heap of grass in the water with the yabbies to prevent them from getting toMoreWhat you can do is put a heap of grass in the water with the yabbies to prevent them from getting to each other just give them their own little space. That will help keep them alive.
How many yabbies can I keep in a tank?
two yabbiesA regular size aquarium will house two yabbies of about 10cm each but keep in mind that they can grow up to 20cm long.
Are yabbies easy to care for?
Yabbies are very popular with children, are low maintenance and will grow to significant sizes if maintained properly. Of the three Cherax species, the yabby is the most hardy and easiest to maintain.
How quickly do yabbies grow?
Growth and production Yabbies grow fastest at 22-28° C. At juvenile (1-2g) stocking rates of 5-10/m2 (in a grow-out pond), yabbies show 50-70% survival. Yabbies can average 40-60g in 6 months in summer conditions (above 20° C); growth rates can vary and individuals will range from 5-100g after 1 year.
Do yabbies eat snails?
Yabbies are fast growing and territorial with their own species. They will learn to actively hunt most tankmates including fish, crustacea and snails. Below 10°C yabbies will not feed; and from 10–14°C they feed but without significant growth.
What is the life cycle of a yabby?
Life cycle Yabbies hatch from eggs. The female lays between 100 and 1,000 eggs and keeps them protected with her tail flap. When they hatch after 20-40 days, the young are released into the water. Yabbies are pretty hardy, and can survive in very cold or very hot conditions.
How do you set up a yabby tank?
1:056:12Setting Up A Yabby Tank! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFilter or swap it out for a hang on back or something like that. But we're just going to see how itMoreFilter or swap it out for a hang on back or something like that. But we're just going to see how it goes and hope for the best. So i'm just going to start off with the lava rocky.
How do you look after freshwater yabbies?
Yabbies love a water temperature between 12 and 20°C but they will tolerate colder or warmer water if they must. Invest in a thermometer to regulate the water temperature. Keep the water level lower as yabbies are mischievous creatures and will crawl up any elements in their tank and possibly escape.
Do yabbies eat each other?
Yabbies feed on decaying material. Although they are omnivorous they prefer a vegetarian diet. Yabbies will eat each other so it is best to provide pieces of pipe or other shelter if yabbies are kept in a tank.
How long will yabbies live in a bucket?
Ideally you'll be able to go fishing on the same day you catch your yabbies. If that's not possible, you can put them in a bucket with some sand and water to keep. They'll only last a day or two in this state so don't forget them!
How do yabbies get into dams?
Catching yabbies, or "yabbying", in rivers and farm dams is a popular summertime activity in Australia, particularly with children. The most popular method involves tying a piece of meat to a few metres of string or fishing line, which in turn is fastened to a stick in the bank, and throwing the meat into the water.
How long can yabbies live underground?
So how long can a yabby live? In a farm dam, with a good source of food and a bit of luck, they could live for ten years, although five years would be more common.
What is the life cycle of a yabby?
Life cycle Yabbies hatch from eggs. The female lays between 100 and 1,000 eggs and keeps them protected with her tail flap. When they hatch after 20-40 days, the young are released into the water. Yabbies are pretty hardy, and can survive in very cold or very hot conditions.
What do yabbies eat?
Yabbies are true scavengers so will eat almost any sinking food that fish eat as well as disks of carrot, peas, potato peels, spinach and most fruit. They will also eat aquatic plants and the carcasses of dead or dying fish. Don’t feed them chunks of meat but the occasional garden worm is a nice treat. Specially formulated yabbie pellets are available which cover everything that they need nutritionally but feed them very small portions making sure that each bit is eaten before giving more food.
What temperature do yabbies like?
Yabbies will do best at a water temperature of between 12°C and 20°C but they will tolerate water that is a little colder or warmer. At the colder temperatures they tend not to feed too much so there is no noticeable growth but when the temperature is over 22°C the growth is quite rapid.
How big can yabbies grow?
A regular size aquarium will house two yabbies of about 10cm each but keep in mind that they can grow up to 20cm long.
Why is it important for yabbies to stay clean?
It is important for the water to stay clean because yabbies breathe through their gills just like fish. All invertebrates are sensitive to copper so avoid using aquarium medications that contain this in their tank. Yabbies will breed in temperatures above 15°C and usually during summer when the day lengths are longest.
How long do yabbies live?
Yabbies that are kept in the same tank should always be about the same size as each other. Yabbies can live for up to seven years and because they grow fast they need to regularly shed their outer skeleton or shell which makes them prone to being attacked by larger fish such as Oscars.
How long does it take for a yabby to hatch?
The hundreds of eggs stay under the mother’s tail until they hatch which could take several months depending on the water temperature. The adults should be removed to another tank as they may eat the babies.
What color are yabbies?
When yabbies are caught in a dam they are a muddy brown colour but in fresh water they can be quite colourful shades such as electric blue, pale blue, almost white and may even have orange highlights. Yabbies can be kept with most active fish but they do need some space since, if kept in too close quarters, they will fight.
What do yabbies eat?
Yabbies are scavengers; they will eat almost anything you feed them, from vegetables to aquatic plants or even dead and dying fish.
What color are yabbies?
Yabbies can be a variety of colors, from black right through to green-brown or even beige; the quality of the water plays a part in their coloration. It is also important to note that yabbies like to have places to hide; you’ll need to provide for this when choosing yabbies for aquaponics. You should also be aware that yabbies are natural climbers;
What is the difference between a yabby and a crayfish?
Difference Between Crayfish And Yabbies. Yabbies are more aggressive than crayfish, although there are many similarities in the way they look. In fact, a yabby is a type of crayfish but not all crayfish are yabbies. There are actually 140 species of crayfish in Australia and it is easy to confuse one for the other.
Why are yabbies better than marron crayfish?
One reason why yabbies are a better choice than marron crayfish, despite their similarities, is that yabbies can tolerate a wider temperature range. This makes it easier for you to keep them. They are happy if the temperature is between 60°F and 85°F. Anything lower than this and your yabbies will become lethargic.
How many eggs can a yabbie have?
A female yabbie can have between 30 and 500 eggs in one go. The eggs will be attached under the female’s tail and should hatch within 40 days. The tiny baby yabbies will stay attached to the mother who looks after them for approximately 3 weeks.
How to tell if a yabbie is a crayfish?
Unfortunately the same is true for the crayfish. In fact, the only real way to tell these creatures apart is to pick them up and look at them. Crayfish will generally have spiny backs while the yabbie will be smooth.
Can you keep yabbies in a tank?
For this reason, you shouldn’t keep the water level too high in your tank, or your backyard aquaponics yabbie setup may be missing some yabbies!
How to care for a yabby aquarium?
Aquarium yabbies make excellent pets, basically treat them the same as a gold fish. Fill the tank completely with water, yabbies breathe oxygen from the water the same as fish. A filter is required and an air pump is a good option to keep the water well oxygenated especially in the warmer months. Water changes should be done at least every 2 weeks, changing 25% of the water at a time. Make sure you use a dechlorinator like Aqua Plus or Prime to condition your water. Water quality is directly related to the amount of food placed into the water. Don't feed yabbies chunks of meat, feed your yabbies algae wafers or vegetables and the occasional garden worm. Shelter is important, each yabby requires a home of its own, rocks or logs in the tank are essential. Yabbies are very good at escaping from your tank so make sure you have the top of your tank covered properly.
Can you feed a vegetable scrap?
Feed vegetable scraps reqularly, not meat as they don't eat meat!
What are the Yabbies called?
In New South Wales and Victoria they are called Yabbies (Cherax destructor); in Western Australia, the Marron (Cherax teniumanus) ; and in Queensland, the Redclaw (Cherax quadricarinatus).
How big do yabbies get?
Yabbies vary widely in colour from dark greens, brilliant blues and near- white. Adults can grow to be over 25 cm (9.8 inches) and 300g but most commonly are 13cm (5 inches). Red Claw varies in body colour from bluish-green to brown whilst the claws have obvious red patches. Adults are the same size as the yabby.
Where was the Yabbies segment filmed?
We filmed this segment at Kellyville Pets, Kellyville NSW. Phone (02) 9629 3282. Yabbies and other crayfish are available from many pet stores. For the nearest pet store near you, look under ‘Pet Shops’ in the Yellow Pages®.
What happens to crayfish as it grows?
As the animal grows, it sheds its hard exoskeleton and produces a larger one. At each moult, the colour of the new exoskeleton will be influenced by the water colour. Muddied waters can produce darker crayfish, whilst blue and clear water can help produce the popular brilliant and iridescent blues and whites.
Why is a yabby called a destructor?
In its native habitat, it can tolerate poor water conditions and long periods of drought by burrowing deep into river beds or dam walls to stay moist. This is how it actually earned the name ‘destructor’ – because of the damage it can cause dam walls and levee banks after burrowing.
How long can a crayfish live without eating?
Crayfish can live for months without eating (though growth and overall health will be diminished) and it is better to feed small quantities at a time. One-to-two small pieces of feed every two to three days is sufficient, removing left-over food after two hours to avoid polluting the water.
What do crayfish eat?
It is best to feed them water weed and thinly cut vegetable such as celery, potato, pumpkin, apples and other fruits. Your pet will also appreciate a regular supplementation of chicken pellets or a little lean meat.