Growing Alarm Over Redclaw Crayfish Invasion In Texas Waters

The invasive Australian Redclaw "Crayfish" has been found in Texas waters for more than a decade, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is growing concerned that this species will disrupt the local crawfish ecosystem. According to the Austin American-Stateman, a second reoccurrence found in the Ro Grande Valley in 2013 has sparked concern.

Australian Redclaw Crayfish

The much larger Redclaw crayfish are typically found in South Texas near Brownsville, according to the TPWD. Texas produces 7.2 million pounds of crawfish compared to Louisiana's 120 million pounds per year. The Redclaw Crayfish are identified by their larger size and red patch on their bigger claws and look similar to a lobster. They are not venomous or poisonous but their pincers (claws) could hurt you if they were to snap at you.

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The Redclaw Crayfish can weigh up to two pounds each and can harm other species especially if the invasive species spread to other regions. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department authorities believe that people dumping their aquariums into the wild may have contributed to the rise of the Redclaw crayfish in Texas. The concern is that the female Redclaw can produce up to 5,000 eggs annually because they brood up to five times a year. Aquarium owners need to look to an alternative before dumping them into the wild, while many owners think they are doing the right thing if they survive, this is how an invasive species begins.

Is Australian Redclaw Crayfish Illegal?

Classified as an exotic species it is illegal to own, buy, sell, dump, or keep them in aquariums in Texas.

Good News For Crawfish Lovers

The good news is that the emergence of the invasive species the Australian Redclaw Crayfish is not expected to ruin the regular 2025 crawfish season. By the way, crayfish and crawfish are the same, it just depends on where you are from. Northerners typically call it crayfish while Southerners say crawfish.