Neon Red Lobster

Neon Red Lobsters live in a suit of armor. Their color is so bright that they can look like a neon light. As they grow, they shed their shells. Soft-shelled (naked) crayfish are totally vulnerable until their shells re-harden and need a place to hide. Neon red lobsters, like all decapods, grow by eating lots of food and sucking in lots of water. This action eventually cracks their shells open, then they wriggle out of their former armor and hide while their new larger exoskeleton hardens. Neon red lobsters cannot be kept with small shrimp or small schooling fish and will act like bullies to defend their home.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Crayfish need plenty of hiding places like caves or pipes and a tight-fitting lid, since they climb out. Avoid copper-based medications.

Feeding: Feed sinking pellets once a day. They also eat vegetables and leftover food.

Tankmates: Crayfish will catch and eat slow fish, shrimp and snails. They are best kept alone.

Molting: Crayfish shed their shell to grow. Leave the old shell in the tank; they eat it to regain calcium.

Good to know: These "lobsters" are actually a color form of the red swamp crayfish.