White-claws can live up to 12 years and they usually have their first young when they are 3 years old. They are very attentive mothers with females carrying their eggs for 9 months until they hatch and even after they have hatched the young hitch-hike on their mothers for a further 2 weeks. See below for a diagram on a year in the life of a White-claw crayfish or crayfish or click here to see a larger version or here to download the poster.
 |
| White-clawed crayfish life cycle © Stephanie Peay |
