• Name:

    Sunburst Fire Lobster

  • Family: Parastacidae
  • Species: Lobster
  • Scientific Name: Cherax holthuisi
More Details

General info about Sunburst Fire Lobster

Hailing from Australia, the Sunburst Fire Lobster is a larger species that has the tan to green in color with bright, fiery orange forearms and relatively small claws for their size which can be up to 7 inches.

It is important to provide a freshwater aquarium of at least 50 gallons with plenty of rocks, and a substrate with a moderate grain size or finer for the Lobster to burrow in. They can be aggressive towards their own kind, and require plenty of room for territories, and a larger aquarium will be needed if housing more than one. When housing more than one, provide at least 40 gallons per Lobster and include plenty of cover including both rocks and plants. While they do not normally bother aquarium fish, they will eat any fish that are small enough and slow enough to be caught. They do tend to be aggressive and territorial with others of their species.

All lobster prefer water with a neutral pH (around 7.0). Ideally, the temperature of the water should remain somewhere between 70–75 °F. A pH testing kit can come in handy for determining how acidic or basic the water in your tank is. Avoid adding objects like seashells to your tank, as foreign minerals can throw off the pH of the water.

Crayfish generate large amounts of waste products that can be taxing on standard aquarium filtration systems. This means you’ll need to stay on top of your water changes in order to ensure that crayfish enjoys a clean living environment. To change the water in your tank, first drain ¼-½ of its total volume, then slowly top it off with fresh, clean water. It is better to use a tube or sponge filters only. Crayfish like to dig, which can end up jamming under gravel filters.

All lobsters require a sandy substrate of medium to fine grain because they like to burrow beneath it. They also do best when provided lots of rocks and plants to hide in. Large structures like hollow rocks, gerbil tubes, or enclosed containers are particularly good for making crayfish feel safe, especially during their vulnerable shedding period.

Sunburst Fire Lobster Diet & Nutrition

These Lobsters are omnivorous and will act as a scavenger in the aquarium, eating any food that comes to rest on the bottom. However, they have a hefty appetite and must have their diet supplemented with a high-quality pellet, dried algae or flake food.

Pellet-type foods are high in protein and contain all the nutrients crayfish need to grow and develop healthy shells. Sprinkle the pellets around all of your pet’s favorite hiding spots to make it easy for it to get to them. Crayfish can also have frozen aquarium foods occasionally, such as daphnia, bloodworms, and brine shrimp. 

Also, they like vegetables; leaf lettuce, cabbage, zucchini, or cucumber. Better put vegetables into small strips and drop them to the bottom of the tank. Offerings like peas, carrots, and sweet potatoes are also okay. Crayfish love munching on plant matter, so don’t be surprised if they disappear in a hurry! It’s perfectly fine for crayfish to eat spoiled or decaying organic matter. In fact, treating your crayfish to veggies that are going bad is a great way to kill two birds with one stone.

Determining Sex of Sunburst Fire Lobster

It is very difficult to differentiate between the sexes of these crayfish, and we will not be able to pair them for sale. 

 

Breeding & Spawning Sunburst Fire Lobster

They are relatively easy to breed in captivity, and the eggs hatch in about 21 days. After hatching, the fry can be fed flake or pellet foods and should be separated in order to keep them from eating each other.

Sunburst Fire Lobster Origin

The Sunburst Fire Lobster is from the rivers and streams of North East Australia.

Caution with Sunburst Fire Lobster

It's not recommended that keeping more than one crayfish in a tank. If you do, it will be important to make sure they have plenty of space to themselves, and that they’re the same species. Crayfish of different species are more likely to try to kill each other.

Crayfish are natural explorers, which means they can turn into little escape artists when no one is looking. Ideally, using a removable lid to guarantee that your cray stays confined. If that’s not an option, use small pieces of plastic or aluminum foil to seal off any openings near the top of the tank, especially around the filter. If your crayfish manages to find a way out of its tank, it can dehydrate and die in just a few hours. Never put a runaway crayfish back in its tank immediately. Instead, place it in a shallow container with just enough water to cover it. Its gills will need time to get acclimated to the water again—otherwise, it can actually drown when fully submerged.

Original Detail

Name Species Family Scientific Name More Detail Added by
Sunburst Fire Lobster Lobster Parastacidae Cherax holthuisi

Hailing from Australia, the Sunburst Fire Lobster is a larger species that has the tan to green in color with bright, fiery orange forearms and relatively small claws for their size which can be up to 7 inches.

It is important to provide a freshwater aquarium of at least 50 gallons with plenty of rocks, and a substrate with a moderate grain size or finer for the Lobster to burrow in. They can be aggressive towards their own kind, and require plenty of room for territories, and a larger aquarium will be needed if housing more than one. When housing more than one, provide at least 40 gallons per Lobster and include plenty of cover including both rocks and plants. While they do not normally bother aquarium fish, they will eat any fish that are small enough and slow enough to be caught. They do tend to be aggressive and territorial with others of their species.

All lobster prefer water with a neutral pH (around 7.0). Ideally, the temperature of the water should remain somewhere between 70–75 °F. A pH testing kit can come in handy for determining how acidic or basic the water in your tank is. Avoid adding objects like seashells to your tank, as foreign minerals can throw off the pH of the water.

Crayfish generate large amounts of waste products that can be taxing on standard aquarium filtration systems. This means you’ll need to stay on top of your water changes in order to ensure that crayfish enjoys a clean living environment. To change the water in your tank, first drain ¼-½ of its total volume, then slowly top it off with fresh, clean water. It is better to use a tube or sponge filters only. Crayfish like to dig, which can end up jamming under gravel filters.

All lobsters require a sandy substrate of medium to fine grain because they like to burrow beneath it. They also do best when provided lots of rocks and plants to hide in. Large structures like hollow rocks, gerbil tubes, or enclosed containers are particularly good for making crayfish feel safe, especially during their vulnerable shedding period.

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