Yabbies

for anything else that doesn't fit.
Post Reply
User avatar
remlap12
Posts: 340
Joined: 26 Jun 2014, 12:23
State/Location: NSW

Yabbies

Post by remlap12 »

Hi all,

We have 4 yabbies, 2 male and 2 female, new to us last term.
It would seem we have had success in one tank, it looks like one is pregnant.
Has anyone had yabbies? The teacher who brought them in hasn't had yabbies and neither have I!
Now that she is pregnant do the male and female need to be separated?
Any ideas on care would be appreciated :clap3: :whistling2:
Regards
remlap12
science support and problem solver :mail:
User avatar
macca
Posts: 992
Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 08:38
Job Title: Mind Reader
State/Location: NSW

Re: Yabbies

Post by macca »

My husband kept them for fishing, he'd clip one side of each claw and put a small container in with them for the little ones that the adults couldn't get to. Frozen peas we feed them and dry dog food if I remember right.
User avatar
remlap12
Posts: 340
Joined: 26 Jun 2014, 12:23
State/Location: NSW

Re: Yabbies

Post by remlap12 »

Thanks macca ;-)
Regards
remlap12
science support and problem solver :mail:
User avatar
J
Posts: 714
Joined: 13 Jun 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Lab Assistant
School: DHS
State/Location: NSW

Re: Yabbies

Post by J »

We used to feed them dog pellets when we had them years ago. They will eat their babies (and each other) if you don't keep them separated. They are also great escape artists. A few times the cleaner found dead ones that had escaped overnight and died on the floor. #-o :yuck:
User avatar
remlap12
Posts: 340
Joined: 26 Jun 2014, 12:23
State/Location: NSW

Re: Yabbies

Post by remlap12 »

OK thanks for that info J :-)
Regards
remlap12
science support and problem solver :mail:
User avatar
J
Posts: 714
Joined: 13 Jun 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Lab Assistant
School: DHS
State/Location: NSW

Re: Yabbies

Post by J »

And they smell!!! :yuck: :yuck: :yuck:
The worst job of all was cleaning out their tanks :cry2: :redcard:
I suggest keeping them in small tanks that will fit into the dishwasher. I had one large one that I had to wash out myself and a couple of smaller ones that fit into the dishwasher. So much easier!!
User avatar
sunray18
Posts: 1488
Joined: 14 Feb 2008, 12:30
State/Location: NSW

Re: Yabbies

Post by sunray18 »

We had a successful breeding system for many years.. we fed them worms from the pet shop as well as dog pellets - make sure that any uneaten food is removed. A friend used to feed them minced meat - but I don't think that is a good idea. They do eat their young.. in the wild the young would be swept away by the currents and so not kept in close proximity to parents. The female holds them up in her abdomen and curls her 'tail' up under them to keep the eggs safe until they are old enough to swim for them selves.. They LOVE smelly dirty water - think of dams and muddy rivers where they flourish, unfortunately that means you can't see them. We lost them all a few years ago when bushfires threatened the school and I came in afterwards and they had all cooked in their tanks.. sad... I never started that again
User avatar
AnnNos
Posts: 190
Joined: 17 Nov 2011, 07:32
Job Title: Science Assistant
State/Location: NSW

Re: Yabbies

Post by AnnNos »

Yabbies are mostly vegetarian. I feed mine yabbie food, cooked beans, cooked peas, and other cooked vegetables - pumpkin, carrot, broccoli - but remove anything not eaten after 5 minutes. I also give a worm or piece of fine chicken slice once a week. They love to hide so have something they can shelter under. My female had about 700 babies in one go so most went back to the dam. I kept 12 but the adults killed 10. Unfortunately I didn't remove the male and he killed the female. I raised the remaining 2 (both males).
User avatar
remlap12
Posts: 340
Joined: 26 Jun 2014, 12:23
State/Location: NSW

Re: Yabbies

Post by remlap12 »

Wow thanks all, interesting reading!
Regards
remlap12
science support and problem solver :mail:
Post Reply