Re: Can Crayfish eggs that are seperated from their mother still hatch?

Hi Daniel,

Whether or not your crayfish eggs can survive without their mother's care depends on how far they had developed when you removed them from her. As for most large crustaceans, female crayfish hold on to their developing eggs on the underside of the abdomen. Using the legs on her abdomen, the female ventilates the eggs and keeps them clean. She usually doesn't drop the eggs until they are ready to hatch.

If the eggs had developed to the point that they could survive without their mother's care, they might hatch successfully. The eggs should be large enough that if you look at them with a magnifying glass you can see the growing baby crayfish inside. Changing the water often and gentle aerating may help you incubate the eggs.

Here at MadSci we have answered several questions about crayfish biology. A search of our archives will bring up these answers. There are also several websites on crayfish breeding, which may be helpful.

Good luck with your crayfish eggs!

Allison J. Gong
MAD Scientist