Crawdads - Crayfish - Mudbug
... all names for a freshwater crustacean that many are familiar with. As ponders learn more about the ecosystems they create with their ponds, adding in new and different water creatures eventually peaks interest among many. Will they live? What will the fish do to THEM? What will THEY do to the fish?
Many who introduce Crawdads to their pond have mixed reviews. For some, they seem to tear up the lilies, nip the smaller fishes fins and eventually wander out on land or disappear never to be seen again. For others, these shy and primarily nocturnal creatures offer no nuisance to their plants or fish and can be seen on rare occasions.
It seems the folks with the bigger ponds and large fish experience fewer problems with them. One thing for sure is they are a wonderful underwater clean up crew made to rid the environment of decaying matter whether it be fish or plant material.