How long does crayfish eggs take to hatch?

It takes about two to three weeks for marbled crayfish, and most other crayfish, eggs to hatch. The eggs are carried by the female until they hatch, however, the mother does not need to stay near the eggs once the baby shellfish have been released.

Can crayfish lay eggs without mating?

To answer your question, yes they can and often do lay eggs without a male. For example if it is a north american species the female stores sperm for months for use when she is ready to lay eggs and they will be fertilized.

How long do baby crayfish stay with their mother?

The eggs hatch in 2-20 weeks and have the same structure as an adult crawfish. They leave the mother’s protection in about 2 weeks and are very tiny, which makes them susceptible of being eaten.

How many eggs do crayfish lay at a time?

The females burrow into soft sediment and lay eggs. The number of eggs varies with the size of the female, with large crayfish laying as many as 650 eggs at a time.

Do crayfish eat their babies?

Apparently the mothers do not eat their young as most crayfish do, and they can occupy the same aquarium together with very little cannibalism. Still, the young ones sometimes overtake a sibling in a power play. Like other crayfish species, they grow by molting, or literally crawling out of their shell.

How fast do crawfish multiply?

Juvenile crawfish grow rapidly and can reach harvestable size (20-25 per pound) in three to four months if growing conditions are favorable. Growth rate is influenced by water temperature, so crawfish hatched in late fall or mid-winter require four to five months to reach harvestable size.

What color should crayfish eggs be?

Eggs start out blue/black and lighten in color over time. The ones that turn orange are definitely not fertile and are discarded or eaten, so I believe you are right on that.