Not furry either, still lovely.
Mexican Dwarf Orange Crayfish
Cambarellus patzcuarensis
Also called CPO, CPO crayfish, Mexican dwarf crayfish, Orange dwarf crayfish, Mini Mexican lobster
From Michoacán, Mexico: Lake Pátzcuaro (about 2,035 m above sea level) and nearby springs. The orange form is an aquarium colour line that is rarely seen in the wild.1
At a glance the quick version
Total length including claws.
Looks how to spot one
Exoskeleton
A pocket-sized crayfish shaped like a tiny lobster, with small claws and a segmented tail. The aquarium form is bright orange with darker orange markings; wild animals are brownish, sometimes with grey or blue hints.12
Personality what they are like
Mostly peaceful and much less destructive than big crayfish. It likes to explore plants and decor, and a group can be a little bolder, showing off with small claw displays.2
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Active forager that wanders the bottom and climbs plants; give it plenty of cover and things to explore.2
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Keep water clean and well filtered, and offer hiding spots for moulting, when it is soft and vulnerable. Leave the shed shell for it to eat, as it recycles minerals that way. Use a secure lid.2
Home where they are happiest
Fishkeeping World suggests at least 19 litres (5 US gallons), better 38 litres (10 US gallons) for more than one. Cooler water around 16-24 °C, pH 6-8 and KH 6-12. Planted tank with caves and hiding places.2
Food basics what goes in the bowl
An omnivorous scavenger. Offer sinking pellets and algae wafers, blanched vegetables such as peas, cucumber or courgette, and occasional frozen foods like bloodworms or brine shrimp.2
Company who they like around
Can be kept in small groups if there are enough hiding spots. Good with small, quick fish that use the upper water, such as tetras, guppies and rasboras. Avoid large or aggressive fish, and be careful with dwarf shrimp and small snails.2
The story where it all began
The species was described in 1943 by Villalobos and takes its name from Lake Pátzcuaro in central Mexico. The bright orange form is a colour mutation that is seldom found in nature but became a favourite in the aquarium trade.1
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It is named after Lake Pátzcuaro, a high-altitude lake more than 2,000 m above sea level.1
- 2
The bright orange colour is a mutation kept going in aquariums; wild ones are mostly brown.1
- 3
Mothers carry their eggs under the tail, and the young hatch as tiny crayfish after about 3-4 weeks.2
- 4
Young ones moult very often while growing, and they eat their old shells to recycle minerals.2
Recognised by the official bits
- Taxonomy (via Wikipedia)
- Cambarellus patzcuarensis Villalobos, 1943, family Cambaridae. The orange aquarium form is known as var. 'Orange'.1
- IUCN Red List (via Wikipedia)
- The wild species is listed as Endangered.1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Mexican Dwarf Orange Crayfish. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amountsevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeSmall, gentle water changesevery week
- Water testevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Cambarellus patzcuarensis - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, taxonomy, size, colour, IUCN status, history
- Mexican Dwarf Crayfish care guide - Fishkeeping World fishkeepingworld.comused for care, water parameters, lifespan, diet, tankmates, breeding
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.