[WoundedSpirit]

My husband brought in a bunch of tiny crawdads from the ditch next to our house, and we keep them in a 10 gallon tank. They are quite entertaining, and seem to be thriving. Some of them have gotten fairly large already.

The other day I found one on the kitchen floor. We were not able to save it because the cats had played with it and it was too far gone. My husband covered all the open areas on top of the tank to prevent any more escapees, but another one got out last night.

How the heck are they getting out? Do they jump or something because the water level is about two inches below the top of the tank? Any ideas would be appreciated.

[hiero2]

The only pertinent thing I know about crawdads is that they are accustomed to squeezing into very tight nooks and crannies in the wild. Maybe they are squeezing into the corner of the tank cover, and actually lifting it enough to squeeze through? This might be harder - but would it be possible to surround the tank with an air moat? I was thinking like putting the whole tank in a big tub with vertical walls - even short walls should be enough to keep them in - but obviously more than a couple of inches. But a tank full of water is heavy, and you wouldn't want to try and pick it up to put it inside something like a plastic bus tub - which is the right shape.

You could lower the water level to increase the gap to the top - but then I'm not sure about the oxygen levels - there might not be enough oxygen.

Just some thoughts.

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by WoundedSpirit

My husband brought in a bunch of tiny crawdads from the ditch next to our house, and we keep them in a 10 gallon tank. They are quite entertaining, and seem to be thriving. Some of them have gotten fairly large already.

The other day I found one on the kitchen floor. We were not able to save it because the cats had played with it and it was too far gone. My husband covered all the open areas on top of the tank to prevent any more escapees, but another one got out last night.

How the heck are they getting out? Do they jump or something because the water level is about two inches below the top of the tank? Any ideas would be appreciated.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...uXb56BJo7szbig

A friend of mine kept crawfish and said they can and do escape the tank sometimes. Do you have a proper aquarium hood or a screen lid on the tank? If you intend to keep them find out how to keep them healthy long term. If the tank conditions aren't right they will keep trying to get out.

[hiero2]

Originally Posted by AllisonHB

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...uXb56BJo7szbig

A friend of mine kept crawfish and said they can and do escape the tank sometimes. Do you have a proper aquarium hood or a screen lid on the tank? If you intend to keep them find out how to keep them healthy long term. If the tank conditions aren't right they will keep trying to get out.

I haven't kept aquariums in years now - but used to for many years. AllisonHB found you a very good page - lots of good points there.

If you ONLY have crawdads in the tank - the water level can be very low - even just enough to cover them. You probably need oxygenation - a bubbler or something. But tubing into the tank - or a water heater cord - can apparently provide an escape route for them. They can lift some things with their claws. And they probably won't try to escape unless the water conditions are not good. Except you might also have an overcrowding situation - I don't think crawfish like crowds for the most part.