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If you want a pet, crayfish make great ones, and they are easy to take care of.

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Steps

  1. Catch a Crayfish Step 1.jpg
    1
    Go to a pond, lake or creek that has slow moving water to find the crayfish.
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  2. Catch a Crayfish Step 2.jpg
    2
    Place a container or large net submerged in water gently and about 6 inches (15.2 cm) behind the crayfish, use a stick and gently move towards the head of the crayfish and the crayfish will swim into the submerged container. Note you do not have to touch the crayfish with the stick to make it swim into the container.
  3. Catch a Crayfish Step 3.jpg
    3
    Entice with bait. You can use bait to try to lure it out, but do not yank at it, you can either hurt or kill the crayfish. If you search under any rocks move a rock gently with a stick, do not do it rough because you can kill a crayfish like this. But, because it has a hard exoskeleton, it isn't too easy to kill, so you CAN pick it up, just be careful, like you would be with any animal.
  4. Catch a Crayfish Step 4.jpg
    4
    Try a lantern method. Most crayfish and lobsters mostly feed at night, however, I do not recommend running around in wet creeks at night as you may slip and fall.
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Tips

  • Crayfish like to hide in the shade and under rocks. But they blend into the rocks really easily.
  • If the crayfish is very soft, like rubber, it has just shed (molted) it's shell. Be very careful not to crush any internal organs as the crayfish is very fragile at this point.
  • Turn the crayfish around to see if it has eggs under the tail; that means it is a girl (If it has eggs leave it alone, it most states it's illegal to catch and keep animals who have eggs.
  • If you get pinched by one, put your hand back in the water and relax your muscles. It should let go (As I said, don't put your fingers near them to start)
  • Check under rocks.
  • Try and catch the bigger/fatter ones, they are slower and easier to catch.
  • Conversely, if there's a crayfish in shallow waters or hanging onto a nearby reed, you can easily catch it with a nearby stick or reed. Poke it in the face to annoy it, and it will grasp the stick with its claws so hard that you can easily pick it up without it letting go.
  • Get the net right next to the crayfish and push it with your finger. You may prefer to use your hands
  • If there are weeds growing in the water, chances are there is crayfish in them. Take your net and put it where the seaweed ends, then take your foot put it on the seaweed and stomp (not hard) down while moving forward
  • Throw fish guts in the water before dark in shallow areas to attract them. (Liver that you get at the supermarket works too)
  • You might want to bring hermit crab food to feed it after you have caught it.
  • NOTE: If you are not experienced at catching crayfish, only attempt this with small crayfish, about 3 inches (7.6 cm) or less. These cannot pinch at all.

Warnings

  • If checking under rocks, be careful not to slip or fall as you may land on the rocks.
  • Only pick the crayfish up by their mid section
  • Rocks submerged underwater can be very slippery!
  • Beware the pinchers. Really beware! It hurts!

Things You'll Need

  • Net
  • Bucket
  • Crab food (optional)
  • A stream, pond, or lake
  • A tank ready for it to live in

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Article Info

Categories: Crustaceans

In other languages:

Español: Cómo atrapar un cangrejo de río, Русский: поймать рака, Português: Como Pegar um Lagostim Vermelho, Italiano: Come Catturare un Gambero di Fiume

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