Why is my Blue Yabby turning brown?

Colour in yabbies is influenced by genetics, diet, and water conditions. Hard water, dark substrates, or a lack of specific pigments in their diet can cause a blue yabby to revert to a more natural olive or brown hue.

Can I keep a yabby with fish?

It is highly risky. Yabbies will hunt and eat any fish they can catch, particularly bottom-dwellers or fish sleeping near the substrate at night. Only fast, top-dwelling fish might survive, but a species-only tank is strongly recommended.

Why is my yabby lying on its side and not moving?

It is almost certainly moulting. During a moult, they shed their old exoskeleton and are highly vulnerable. Do not poke, move, or disturb them during this process, as it can cause fatal stress or deformity.

Will my yabby eat my aquarium plants?

Yes, absolutely. Yabbies are omnivorous and view live plants as a salad bar. They will eagerly consume, uproot, or shred almost any vegetation in the tank.

How do I stop my yabby from escaping?

You must use a heavy, tight-fitting aquarium lid. Ensure there are no gaps around filter pipes, heater cables, or airline tubing, as yabbies will climb these to push their way out of the tank.

FreshwaterTropicalIntermediate

Blue Yabby

Cherax destructor

The Blue Yabby is a robust and intelligent Australian crayfish renowned for its brilliant colouration and engaging, earth-moving behaviours.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 15 – 25 °C
pH range: 7 – 8
Hardness: 8 – 20 dGH
Adult size: 12 – 20 cm
for a single adult: 100 litres+
Lifespan: 3 – 5 years
Diet: Omnivore
Water flow: low to moderate
Preferred setup: Sandy or fine gravel substrate, heavy hardscape with secure terracotta pots, PVC pipes or rock caves. A tight-fitting lid is absolutely essential. Avoid live plants.

About the Blue Yabby

Native to the sprawling waterways and farm dams of eastern and central Australia, the Yabby (*Cherax destructor*) is one of the most famous freshwater invertebrates in the hobby. The 'Blue Yabby' is a striking colour morph of the ordinarily brown or olive-green wild type, highly sought after for its intense cobalt hue. They are endlessly entertaining to watch as they bulldoze substrate, rearrange decor, and construct elaborate burrows. However, their specific name 'destructor' is well-earned, as they are notorious escape artists and completely incompatible with planted aquaria.

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Is it right for your tank?

Check Blue Yabby against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Blue Yabby comes from

Native range

Murray-Darling Basin, Eastern Australia, Central Australia

Countries / regions

Australia

Habitat

Swamps, streams, rivers, billabongs, and farm dams, often in muddy or turbid waters.

Highly adaptable and widespread across south-eastern Australia, frequently establishing populations in artificial farm dams.

Similar species

Redclaw Crayfish
Cherax quadricarinatus
Electric Blue Crayfish
Procambarus alleni
Marbled Crayfish
Procambarus virginalis

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

View all compatibility

Giant Danio
Devario aequipinnatus
Fast, top-dwelling fish that usually stay out of the yabby's reach, though opportunistic predation remains a slight risk.
Compatible with caution
Other Blue Yabbies
Cherax destructor
Highly territorial and cannibalistic; keeping multiple requires a very large footprint with numerous hiding spots to protect freshly moulted individuals.
Compatible with caution
Corydoras Catfish
Corydoras spp.
Bottom-dwelling fish are easy prey for yabbies and will be caught and eaten.
Not recommended
Mystery Snails
Pomacea bridgesii
Yabbies possess powerful claws capable of crushing and extracting snails from their shells.
Not recommended
Fancy Guppies
Poecilia reticulata
Slow-moving with long fins, making them an easy target for a hunting yabby.
Not recommended

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