Paddle tail with a craw daddy??

[Derek]

So I have this crayfish and 5 goldfish in my 40 gallons two great hides and plenty of live plants and adding more...I've read about paddle tails being a bit aggressive but I'm more worried about the crayfish attacking the newt as I would be feeding them both night crawlers and red wrigglers.... I want to rescue a newt from the local pet store but don't want there to be territorial issues...

Any advice or .02 will be appreciated.


Derek

 

[Azhael]

Not a good idea, really. A crayfish, depending on size could cause a lot of damage or even kill a newt (we have a problem here with introduced Procambarus and our native caudates). Also, 5 goldfish are a terrible idea to mix with a newt.
As a side commentary i would like to say that rescuing a newt is not such a good idea. By buying a newt that is being kept poorly or neglectfully at a petshop you are only promoting that more animals suffer the same fate. So, yes, you rescue one, but others will be imported to replace it and will receive the exact same bad care.
I suggest instead of promoting the capture of wild newts, you consider acquiring captive bred animals from a breeder. You get healthy, already accostumed to captivity newts, and the wild populations don´t pay the price.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

In addition, it should be noted padddle tails are aggressive and territorial even to their own kind. The best tankmate for this species is none at all.

 

[Derek]

Thanks guys, I was looking through a plant aquarium at the local pet store and there it was, lurking around all the roots...I guess a pair of fire bellies would have the same problem with the crayfish??? The crayfish is very active at night, there will be cut and uprooted plants every other morning....I caught it resting in the top of my large sprite the other night...

 

[Azhael]

Yes, it´s a problem for Cynops orientalis too. In fact it´s worse since these are smaller and much more less agressive.

 

[pete]

Crayfish in general are a pain in the butt in aquariums. I say that and I'm quite a crayfish enthusiast. I'd argue that they are horrible tank mates for any animal (or plant).