Making a crawfish pond in your backyard is a fun opportunity to raise these delicious crustaceans yourself.

Crayfish are very hardy and will survive a wide range of weather conditions and temperatures. Still, you need to create the right living conditions for your lobster.

Making a homemade lobster pond can be an easy task, depending on the size you choose. Here are some possibilities you can try.

Start with a smaller pond and move to something larger, if you find the possibility exciting and easy to execute.

use an aquarium

For starters, you can place crayfish in an aquarium to observe their behavior and better understand their needs. This solution is only suitable for the short term and if you plan to keep a limited number of crayfish.

Crayfish are inactive during the day, so the aquarium must have hiding places. Pebbles and rocks are excellent for this purpose. Hollow rock decorations for your aquarium will also be a good idea.

Use a plastic pool

If you want to try something a little bigger, you can use a plastic pool. The variety that your children enjoy will be perfect for an experiment with lobsters. Choose the right place for the pool – it should be warm enough, but shaded.

Add some gravel and sand to the bottom of the pool.

It will provide the crabs with hiding places that they can use during the day.

Choose the correct container size

All other types of containers that can hold water will be suitable for raising crayfish in your backyard. The possibility will be exceptionally suitable for people reluctant to dig a hole in the garden.

Choose the size of the container carefully. River crayfish are a territorial species. They will vigorously protect your space. The more crabs you plan to breed, the larger the space should be. A small aquarium will not be suitable for raising large numbers of crayfish.

Use your artificial pond in the backyard

Already have a backyard pond that was created for decorative purposes? This can become a great habitat for crayfish. You just have to provide the right kind of living conditions.

Sand and gravel will be needed once again. There should be a shallow end and a deeper end to the pond. Adding some aquatic plants to your backyard pond will also be essential to creating the right kind of ambience.

Make Sure Crayfish Don’t Overheat

If you place the container, aquarium, or pond directly under the sun, the crabs will overheat during the day. That’s why you need to choose the right spot, whether you plan to dig in the backyard or are interested in using a container.

choose the right place

  1. You will need a flat area in your backyard, especially if you plan to dig a pond.

  2. Choose a location that is free of nearby overhanging branches or shrubs.

  3. Believe it or not, crayfish can escape from a container and from a pond on the ground. That is why you need to make sure that the area does not offer such opportunities.

use groundwater

  1. You may discover shallow groundwater while creating the crab pond.

  2. You can use this water to create the right habitat for your crabs.

  3. To use the groundwater, you will need a filter and an oxygen pump.

  4. Still, you’ll save a lot of money on water, which makes for a great deal.

Cover the pond with synthetic materials

  • Dig a hole in the ground and fill it with water.

Is the water absorbed too quickly?

  • If so, you will have to line the pond with synthetic or other materials that prevent rapid loss of water.

Gravel and bentonite are often used to line the bottom of the pond to prevent water from soaking up too quickly.

testing the water

You should consider testing the water before putting the crabs in the pond. Warmer water cannot hold as much oxygen as cold water, which is one factor to understand. The pH of the water should be seven or higher. An acidic medium can interfere with the growth of the crab.

Add aquatic plants to the pond

Whether you choose an aquarium or an actual pond, you should have some aquatic plants available. These create a better habitat and give the crabs opportunities to hide.

Look for a possible “escape route” for the crayfish

After placing the crayfish in the pond, you will need to observe their behavior. As already mentioned, crayfish can easily get out of the pond. River crayfish are mainly active at night. Observe his behavior and pay attention to the design of the pond; some shortcomings could simplify the task of escaping from crabs.

Add other aquatic species to the pond

Crayfish and other aquatic species can coexist in your pond. When choosing the species, avoid bottom dwellers. Lobsters are the ones that filter the dirt and clean the bottom of the container, so the delicate balance of the habitat will be upset.

Be aware that crayfish can become aggressive towards other species. They are known to attack small, diseased fish that tend to sink to the bottom of the pond. Alternatively, you should avoid adding large fish to the pond because they could start feeding on your crustaceans.