1. What are those little white worms I see on my pet crayfish, and are they harming it?
   
   The "worms" you see are likely members of the Branchiobdellida (which are in the leach group).  They are a common occurrence on wild crayfishes in the Northern Hemisphere, and are thought to be commensal organisms (i.e., they do not harm the crayfish).  There are currently 140+ species of Brabchiobdellids worldwide, many of them here in the United States.  
   
   For more information on these organisms click here.
   

2. How can I get rid of these "worms", or should I even try?
   
   In general, while these "worms" do not necessarily look great, they do not seem to adversely affect crayfish.  You can just leave them on the crayfish, or if you prefer, you can try to remove them with a pair of forceps or by wiping them off with a paper towel.  Generally, however, there are many of these organisms which you can't see, and they will return over time.
   
   
3. What is the best way to set up an aquarium for my pet crayfish?
   
   In general, aquaria with crayfishes should contain adequate cover for your crayfish(es).  You can use rocks, PVC pipes, or some folks even use 1/2 of a small flower pot.  These structures are used for cover by the crayfish (and help reduce their stress level).  Nicer aquaria can also contain aquatic plants and/or fish.  You should note, however, that your crayfish WILL eat the plants and the fish (if they can get a hold of them).  Therefore, we would suggest not spending a lot of money on exotic fish or plants, as you are likely to loose them.  In general, you will want to give your crayfish(es) plenty of room to move about.  We would suggest 1 crayfish per 10 gallon tank, especially if they are large.  You may be able to keep more if they are smaller (say less that 2 inches).  Your crayfish will eat just about anything.  We typically feed ours large flake fish food and occasionally a small cut up potato or carrot.  We have also heard of people feeding them Purina cat chow and occasionally egg shells (egg shells may help the crayfish out after the molting process by supplying needed calcium to help harden their exoskeleton).  You should not overfeed, as this can lead to cloudy water and an increase in the likelihood of a bacterial or fungal outbreak.
   
   Also check out this pet forum for additional information.
    
4. Where can I find suppliers of the Australian Redclaw Crayfish (Cherax quinquecarinatus)?
   
   There used to be several suppliers in the US, however, these companies apparently are no longer operating (i.e., their web sites are no longer operational) or at least they are not supplying redclaws.  We do not know of any companies currently supplying redclaws in the US.  If anyone does, please lets us know so that we can update this site.
   
   
5. I want to release my pet crayfish, where and how should I go about doing this.
   
   You should NOT release your crayfish if you got it from a pet store or some other similar source (i.e., Biological Supply Company).  Releasing these crayfish into a local lake or creek can cause serious problems for the local flora and fauna (and even other native crayfishes).  We would suggest that you give your crayfish to someone else (and educate them on NOT releasing it) or if this is not an option we suggest sacrificing your crayfish over releasing them into the environment.  If you obtained your crayfish from a local stream, it is probably ok to return it to the same spot where you got it.
   
   For more information on problems caused by exotic crayfishes click here.
   
   
6. We have a bunch of crayfish that are digging up our lawn, what can we do to get rid of them.
   
   We would suggest that you contact your local Natural Resources or Fish & Wildlife Agency and ask them about the appropriate measures to take in your area.  Laws differ by state, so they should be able to give you the best advice.
   
   For more information on crayfish control click here.
   For a list of Agency websites click here.
   
7. Do you have any information on blue crayfishes?
   
   This is a question that we receive a lot.  Hopefully we will be able to answer all of your question on blue crayfishes below.
    
8. After my crayfish molts (sheds its outer "skin") should I remove the old exoskeleton, or leave it in the tank.
   
   We would suggest leaving the molt in the tank, as the crayfish will usually eat it within a couple of days of molting.  It likely does this because the shed molt is a source of calcium, something it needs to help harden its "shell" and prepare for the next molt.
    
9. I'm just curious, is there anything besides size that differentiates shrimp, crayfish, and lobsters from each other?

    

Other Answers will be added as we get them....