What Is the Difference Between Blue Crayfish and Red Crayfish

Crayfish have two body colors: one is blue-brown with a thinner shell, and the other is red-brown with a thicker shell, known respectively as “blue-shell crayfish” and “red-shell crayfish”. So what is the difference between blue crayfish and red crayfish?

A blue or red shell is simply a difference in body color during the growth of the crayfish. But the kind with small claws, a soft shell and a blue color is still in the early stage of growth, or has recently molted; while red-shell crayfish, with very large claws, a hard shell and a vermilion or dark red color, are mature crayfish.

The growth of crayfish is completed through molting. Every time it grows larger, it must molt once. From fry to adult crayfish, under normal conditions it needs to molt about 11 times. After reaching maturity, the frequency of molting drops immediately, and it may well become once every 2 to 3 years. Therefore, from the principle of growing through molting, we can draw the conclusion that for a crayfish to grow larger in size and be of good quality, it must complete multiple molts.