Crayfish query

[Kevin]

Im interested in keeping crayfish, but all species in the families Astacidae, Cambaridae and Parastacidae, except Cherax quadricarinatus are banned in the UK. Does anyone know if theres any other freshwater crayfish, or very similar crustaceans not in any of those families?

[Püffi]

Hmmm, thats nearly every crayfish thats banned, except the european ones, right?

What about Astacus leptodactylus ? Its a european crayfish which is also threatened by the crayfish plague (Krebspest).

You can usually get it easily, if you go into shops who sell Lobsters etc. They are often used for food (at least in Germany),

[Kevin]

I think they are also banned unfortunatly, Pacifastacus leniusculus are actually allowed to be kept in many parts of the UK, but not where I live unfortunatly, even though they are established not far from where I live.

Is there any different forms/varieties of quadricarinatus? I do like that species, but was looking to keep something different.

[Palinurus]

@ Hans Jürgen: all autochthonal crays of Europe belong to the family: Astacidae, also A. leptodactylus and Potamobius torrentium
@ Kevin: Is there any reason for restriction of the families: Astacidae and Parastacidae? As for my knowledge they don´t carry the spores of Aphanomyces astaci and infected ones die within a few days. What´s about the other members of the genus Cherax? Are they banned, too?

[Kevin]

@ Hans Jürgen: all autochthonal crays of Europe belong to the family: Astacidae, also A. leptodactylus and Potamobius torrentium
@ Kevin: Is there any reason for restriction of the families: Astacidae and Parastacidae? As for my knowledge they don´t carry the spores of Aphanomyces astaci and infected ones die within a few days. What´s about the other members of the genus Cherax? Are they banned, too?

Yeah, unfortunatly they are all banned, one of the reasoning is that they may survive here, but they would have as much chance as Cherax quadricarinatus wouldnt they? some species may even only tolerate tropical temperatures? do you know of any that has the same temperature requirements as C. quadricarinatus, or ones that need a higher minimum temperature?

I wondered if any were maybe subspecies or different forms/localities of Cherax quadricarinatus.

So would Astacidae and Parastacidae species not infect native crayfish with the "crayfish plague" then? since thats another reason why they are banned here.

[Püffi]

@palinurus: You are right, astacidae are banned, as Kevin already wrote, so of course the leptodactylus ist banned too.

@Kevin: No, they (astacidae) will not infect the native crayfish in GB with the crayfish plague

[Palinurus]

Hi

Have found a summary of australian crays: perhaps there is one species admitted and available:

http://iz.carnegiemnh.org/crayfish/NewAs...rastacidae

Cheers
Wolfgang