Queensland Redclaw Crayfish, Tropical Blue Crayfish, Freshwater Blueclaw Crayfish, North Queensland Yabby, Blue Lobster, Redclaw Crayfish

    C. quadricarinatus is not currently established in any waters that are connected to the Great Lakes Basin. Within the United States, it is only established in Puerto Rico. They are not known to hitchhike or foul boats. While they are a commonly cultured species in Puerto Rico and Australia, they are not commercially cultured anywhere in the continental United States.  However, C. quadricarinatus is a popular aquarium species that is readily available through online retailers.

Cherax quadricarinatus has a Low probability of establishment if introduced to the Great Lakes (Confidence level: High).

Redclaw are a highly fecund species of crayfish. Females typically reach sexual maturity within one year, they produce up to 1000 eggs per brood and are able to produce 3-5 broods during a breeding season (Masser and Rouse, 1997).  They are tolerant of high temperatures and low dissolved oxygen (Masser and Rouse, 1997).
    However, C. quadricarinatus prefers warmer temperatures. They have not become established in any biomes outside of the tropics or subtropics (USFWS, 2012). One study on improving aquaculture practices of Redclaw Crayfish found that juveniles were completely immobilized at 14 degrees Celsius, and adults kept outdoors reached 100% mortality in December when average daily temperatures were still above 14 degrees Celsius (Patillo, 2010). This preference for high water temperature makes it unlikely that C. quadricarinatus would be able to find suitable habitat in the Great Lakes.

Summary of species impacts derived from literature review. Click on an icon to find out more...

Environmental	Socioeconomic

Cherax quadricarinatus is a known carrier of viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites (Austin et al., 2009), as well as crayfish plague (Australian Blue Yabby Aquaculture, 2010). They were shown to significantly decrease the size, but not survival, of a native crayfish species in a mesocosm experiment at Auburn University (Patillo, 2010). Ahyong and Yeo (2007) note that they have the potential to negatively affect native species through predation, direct competition, or habitat modification.

There is little or no evidence to support that Cherax quadricarinatus has the potential for significant socio-economic impacts if introduced to the Great Lakes.

It has not been reported that Cherax quadricarinatus poses a threat to human health or water quality. There is no evidence that this species negatively impacts infrastructure, economic sectors, recreational activities and associated tourism, or the aesthetic appeal of the areas it inhabits.

Cherax quadricarinatus has the potential for moderate beneficial impacts if introduced to the Great Lakes.

Cherax quadricarinatus has commercial value as an aquaculture species in Australia, Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and  Uruguay; however they are less popular than other freshwater invertebrate aquaculture species, so the overall economic contribution of this activity is small  (FAO, 2011). It is not used as a biological control agent of other nuisance species, and they are not known to improve water quality. They are not commonly employed as a recreational fishery.

   
    Physical
    Intensive trapping is a common method used to control crayfish (Moorhouse et al., 2013; Peay, 2001) . However, trapping has not been found to completely eradicate established crayfish populations.
   
    Chemical
    Cypermethrin is a commonly used piscicide for crayfish control (Hyatt, 2004).
   
    Other
    There are no known other control methods for this species