Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Good crayfish, or not so good

I found 26 of these at a local pond supply shop. You can't purchase crawdads any longer at Missouri bait shops. The Mo Dept of Conservation has put fines in place that have forced bait shops out of the crawdad business (In efforts to stop invasion of invasive species.)
So these are "approved" in Missouri. However, I have no idea if they burrow or not.
Any identification help will be appreciated. 26 in a 1 acre pond, is probably not enough, but it's all they had, and the little pond shop was very proud of them, based on their pricing. Poor little guys seem pretty beat up..

Look up the characteristics of the paper she'll craw fish. I see some signs but not too familiar with what other species might be in Missouri.

Ok, I'll check. These guys may be too beat up to identify. Lots of arms, legs, antennae, etc. all broken off. Life must be rough in crawfish tank.

I'm surprised the pond supply shop doesn't know what they are but yet they know they are approved.

Good Point!

The one in the 2nd photo is not a papershell; rostrum is wrong shape and too narrow-pointed. Also the claw is not right for a papershell.

My WAG is Oronectes Virilis.

You are right. He had a sign up above them, I believe it said..
As Bocomo has guessed, Oronectes Virilis, but I am not sure. It was a Latin pronunciation, I should have snapped a picture of the sign...
I thought you guys would recognize them right away.
If they are Oronectes Virilis, is that good or bad?

SetterGuy,
I think that's what they refer to as a northern crawfish...Good or not so good, can't really say. They may be hardier in cooler temperatures. They look like they've been through some trauma. Let us know if they make it.

Northern crayfish should be primarily a pond dwelling species, rarely digging outside the pond.

Consider checking into your Asian markets - often you will find live crawfish for sale there. It is where I buy mine to use as bait for fishing.

Here is a link with some info on northern.

types of crayfish

I'm hoping 26 crayfish can't mess up the pond too bad. I will find out what that sign above the tank said. Thanks for all the info on northern crayfish. I'm hoping thats what they are, but the shop owner didn't inspire a lot of confidence in these crayfish even being what the sign said they were. He said the crayfish were somewhat of a sideline for the fish supplier he gets his fish from. They happen to come up in the nets etc..
He's the only "licensed" seller I could find though. (In state..)
Thanks again for all the info. I can't imagine these guys harming the pond with tunnels. Too much rock and packed clay, and the dam is pretty wide. (Old pic, from winter)

It is not the 29 that will make much difference. It will be the 29,000 offspring.

Keep us informed. I also am interested in crayfish, as you can probably tell from the link posted above. I got a lot of FA they would be welcome to.

I'll keep a eye out for them. The water is reasonably clear. So far I haven't seen a single one of them since I put them in. There isn't a fish in there over a few inches long, so they are safe from the fish for the time being. I don't know if the coons have got them or not. Seems like the coons have quit working the banks like they were, and now just hang out at the feeder. Hopefully I'll be able to spot the little ones if they or "when" they reproduce.

IMO you are more likely to see them out at night with a flashlight.

I'll give it a try. I like being down there in the evenings. The whip-o-wills are usually going to town. Reminds me of my nights at scout camp. Ha

The bats show up yet?

Haha! They are still there, but not nearly as many. Last year 12 to 15 every night. This year 5 or 6.. Not sure where they've moved to. We have lots of bugs! Ha