Cherax destructor (Clark, 1936)

Common Name: Yabby

Synonyms and Other Names:

Common Yabby, Yabbie

Author: Daiju Azuma Copyright Info

Identification: Cherax destructor (common name: common yabby) is a freshwater crayfish in the Parastacidae family.  C. destructor  has a smooth carapace with a single pair of post-orbital ridges forming a pair of long keels on the anterior carapace. There are no spines on the shoulders behind the cervical groove. The dorsal surface of the telson is without spines and is membranous over the posterior half. The rostrum on C. destructor is short, broad, and triangular. The rostrum has unraised, spineless borders tapering to an indistinct acumen with no spines present along the borders and an indistinct median carina. The color of C. destructor ranges from green-beige to almost black, with blue-grey being typical of individuals kept in captivity. Color may vary depending on location, season and water conditions and there may be variation among individuals within a single location (CAB International 2017).

The length of C. destructor often ranges between 10 to 20 cm but occasionally will grow to 30 cm (CAB International 2017). In Australia, the average common yabby caught by amateur anglers usually weighed between 20 g to 80 g. Females will experience a reduced growth rate after maturity is reached likely in response to the energy requirements of spawning; for this reason, females are often smaller than males, who can grow up to 300 g (NSW Department of Primary Industries 2017).

Size: Max length 30 cm; max weight 300 g

Native Range: Cherax destructor in naturally found in Australia; it has been found in Victoria, New South Wales, and Southern Queensland (USFWS 2012).


Ecology: Cherax destructor is known to have a high tolerance to a variety of environments. They are generally found where there are high oxygen levels and a good source of vegetation (Witnall 2000). Their ideal temperature range in 20-25°C, but they are able to survive in 1-35°C while growth stops below 16°C and above 35°C (Withnall 2000). High salinity levels are tolerated by Yabby, but only for a period of time. They can survive in sea water for up to 48 hours, but after this stress on their systems, they stop growing (Withnall 2000). They can tolerate low oxygen levels, but after long periods of time, their growth will stop (Withnall 2000).

They have two spawning events per season and produce approximately 1000 eggs per spawn. Reproduction is linked to water temperature, so the spring and summer would be ideal seasons (Witnall 2000). The diet of C. destructor is not fully know, but it is known to be an omnivorous species that feeds on plants, detritus, and some arthopods (CAB International 2017). Their diet also switches according to climate. During summer seasons, they tend to eat fish, and in the winter, they eat plants and detritus (Beatty 2005). Cherax destructor may have cannibalistic tendencies in areas where there is an overabundance of the species and low levels of natural food sources (CAB International 2017). Yabby have shown antagonistic behavior to get access to limited resources. In a trial competition between Yabby and the marron, Cherax tenuimanus, Yabby won. They concluded that its aggression led to success (Drake 2007).

Means of Introduction: Cherax destructor has a low probability of introduction to the Great Lakes (Confidence level: High).

Potential pathway(s) of introduction: Unauthorized intentional release

Yabby is not currently in waters connecting to the Great Lakes and is not known to be transported through the Great Lakes region. However, it has been increasingly transported globally which could increase the future risk of introduction into the Great Lakes. Cherax destructor was originally transported for aquaculture and food, but more recently, it has gained popularity as a pet (Chucholl 2013). Cherax destructor has a relatively high commercial value (Chucholl 2013). When used as bait, unused live bait is often directly discarded in to water (Drake 2007). The potential for specimens to be released and become established is extremely high, especially in temperate and warmer climates (CAB International 2013).

Status: Yabby were introduced to Western Australia in 1932 by spreading through natural river systems (Drake 2007). It has been introduced to Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, England, and Germany (Chucholl 2013). Cherax destructor was first moved out of Australia and introduced to Spain in 1983 for commercial reasons and was originally restricted to Spanish waters (Drake 2007). Since then, it has moved throughout Europe and into Africa and was able to become established as a wild species (Drake 2007). As human interest in crayfish increased, so did the spread of Yabby (Drake 2007).

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

Cherax destructor is known to have a high tolerance to a variety of environments. They have been found in regions with climates similar to the Great Lakes. Yabby prefer muddy waters opposed to clear water environments (Withnall 2000), and they survive dry periods by burrowing in the mud (Geddes and Smallridge 1993). The extreme temperatures near the Great Lakes may affect the growth of Yabby during some seasons, but their high proliferation would help them survive. They have two spawning events per season and produce approximately 1000 eggs per spawn. Reproduction is linked to water temperature, so the spring and summer would be ideal seasons (Witnall 2000). Their diet switches based on climate and would likely find adequate food in the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes provide an abundant habitat that is suitable for the survival, development, and reproduction of this species. Yabby’s ideal habitat consists of high oxygen levels and vegetation; they are most likely to be found in swamps, streams, rivers, and dams (Withnall 2000). Predators for Yabby are aquatic birds, such as cormorants, herons, and ibis, and all three of these are found in the Great Lakes region.

Great Lakes Impacts: Cherax destructor has the potential for moderate environmental impact if introduced to the Great Lakes.
Cherax destructor is not known be toxic, parasitic, or poisonous. There have been cases where C. destructor has spread diseases and affected indigenous crayfish species. The crayfish plague in 1859 was caused by a parasite, Aphanomyces astaci, which was fatal to all European indigenous crayfish. Yabby was a carrier of this parasite (Chucholl 2013). Yabby is also known to carry Thelohania parastaci which is a microsporidian disease that causes the destruction of striated and cardiac muscle tissue and eventually leads to death of the affected crayfish (Drake 2007).

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

It has not been reported that Cherax destructor 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 destructor has the potential for moderate beneficial impact if introduced to the Great Lakes.

Cherax destructor has commercial value but its economic contribution is small. It is sometimes employed recreationally, but adds little value to local communities or tourism.

Management: Regulations

Ontario’s Invasive Species Act prohibits the transportation, introduction (into Ontario), possession, release, propagation, purchase, sale, or trade of C. destructor (Invasive Species Act 2015). Pennsylvania prohibits people from transporting, introducing or importing any fish, bait fish or fish bait including crayfish (PA State Laws, Title 30). It is unlawful to possess, import or sell C. destructor in Ohio (OAC Chapter 1501:31-19). It is illegal to possess, import, sell, or offer to sell C. destructor in Michigan (NREPA Part 413). Illinois lists C. destructor as an injurious species as defined by 50 CFR 16.11-15. Therefore C. destructor cannot be “possessed, propagated, bought, sold, bartered or offered to be bought, sold, bartered, transported, traded, transferred or loaned to any other person or institution unless a permit is first obtained from the Department of Natural Resources (17 ILL. ADM. CODE, Chapter 1, Sec. 805).” This law also states that any interstate transporter is prohibited from transferring “any injurious species from one container to another; nor can they exchange or discharge from a container containing injurious species without first obtaining written permission from the Department (17 ILL. ADM. CODE, Chapter 1, Sec. 805).” The law also prohibits the release of any injurious species, including C. destructor. Wisconsin prohibits the transportation, possession, transfer of, or introduction of all nonnative crayfish (Wisconsin Chapter NR 40). Minnesota lists C. destructor as prohibited meaning that a person may not possess, import, purchase, sell, propagate, transport, or introduce C. destructor (Minnesota Rule 6216.0250). There are no regulations on C. destructor in New York or Indiana.



If C. destructor were to become established in the Great Lakes basin, populations might be controlled by predatory fish. Eels, Burbot, perch, pike, and Smallmouth bass are some well-known predators of crayfish that exist in the Great Lakes (Westman 1991 in Gherardi et al. 2011). One study observed in a mesocosm experiment that Northern pike (Esox Lucius) were an efficient predator of crayfish independent of prey size (Neveu 2001 in Gherardi et al. 2011), which could be significant considering the large size of C. destructor. Fish predation could be effective in managing C. destructor, but some studies have suggested that stocking predacious fish could actually increase non-indigenous crayfish species population densities (Gowing and Momot 1979, and Holdich and Domaniewski 1995 in Gherardi et al. 2011). Predatory aquatic birds, such as cormorants, herons, and ibis are predators of C. destructor and all exist in the Great Lakes region (Farrell and Leonard 2001).

The use of microbial agents to control crayfish populations has been reviewed in previous studies (Gherardi et al. 2011; Scalici et al. 2009). C. destructor is known to be susceptible to the crayfish plague, Aphanomyces astaci (Scalici et al. 2009), of which North American species are much more resistant (Persson et al. 1987; Unestam 1975). Four populations of C. destructor in Spain were eradicated by introducing signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus)  infected with the plague into the populations (J. Dieguez-Uribeondo, pers. comm. in Souty-Grosset et al., 2006 via Scalici et al. 2009). C. destructor is also susceptible to the microsporidian disease, Thelohania parastaci (Moodie, Le Jambre, and Katz 2003) and the Cherax destructor systemic parvo-like virus (CdSPV) (Edgerton 1996, Edgerton et al. 1997 in Diggles 2011). Gherardi et al. (2011) mentions that the use of genetically modified strains of A. astaci has been hypothesized as a potential way to control invasive crayfish in Europe, but there is a significant risk that using a genetically modified strain in conjunction with the existing wild-type could affect more than just the target species. The use of microbial agents as a method of control for C. destructor in the Great Lakes basin would also warrant the consideration of indirect effects on native crayfish populations.

Aside from predatory fish and disease, other potential methods of control would be the use of sex pheromones or the release of sterile males. Aquiloni and Gherardi (2010) observed the capability of sex pheromones as a method of control in another species of crayfish, which could have implications for the control of C. destructor if it becomes established in the Great Lakes. Additionally, the release of sterile male C. destructor into a population could be an effective method of control if the species were to become established within the Great Lakes basin. The sterile male release technique is species-specific and has been tested for other species of invasive crayfish in laboratory settings (Aquiloni et al. 2009). 


The use of chemical agents to control C. destructor populations has been examined by Gherardi et al. (2011) and the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (2017). In particular, the assessments of insecticides as a possible control of crayfish populations could provide insight on the viability of this control method for C. destructor. C. destructor is susceptible to organochlorines found in some insecticides and herbicides (NSW Department of Primary Industries 2017). Gherardi et al. (2011) noted the success of insecticides derived from natural pyrethrum and synthetic pyrethroids in eradicating crayfish populations in Europe (Gherardi et al. 2011). Organophosphate insecticides (e.g. fenthion and methyl parathion) have also been utilized in attempts to eradicate invasive crayfish species, but these organophosphates apparently lack specificity among crustaceans and insects (Gherardi et al. 2011), so using this control method may harm native species as well as C. destructor. Other studies have observed the effect surfactants have on controlling crayfish activity, but this method has shown to have a limited effect in the eradication of populations (Cabral et al. 1997 and Fonseca et al. 1997 via Gherardi et al. 2011). Salt can be used as a chemical control in confined settings; C. destructor will die at a salinity of 25 ppt or above (NSW Department of Primary Industries 2017).


The use of physical barriers and diversions have been reviewed as a method to control non-indigenous crayfish species populations in Europe and America (Gherardi et al. 2011; Kerby et al. 2005). Kerby et al. (2005) observed that red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) movement was significantly reduced by natural barriers. Other physical control methods include the use of electric fences and vibrations (Gherardi et al. 2011). Mechanical removal of C. destructor could also be a potential control method. Continuous trapping has been demonstrated to work on rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) in a Northern Wisconsin lake (Hein et al. 2007) as well as in aquaculture ponds (Bills and Marking 1988). Gherardi et al. (2011) suggests that electrofishing and trapping could also be an effective way of controlling non-indigenous crayfish species populations.

Note: Check state and local regulations for the most up-to-date information regarding permits for pesticide/herbicide/piscicide/insecticide use.


2008. Invasive Species Compendium. CAB International. Accessed January 5, 2017

Aquiloni, L., A. Becciolini, R. Berti, S. Porciani, C. Trunfio, and F. Gherardi. 2009. Managing invasive crayfish: use of X-ray sterilisation of males. Freshwater Biology 54(7):1510-1519. Accessed January 6, 2017

Aquiloni, L., and F. Gherardi. 2010. The use of sex pheromones for the control of invasive populations of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii: a field study. Hydrobiologia 649(1):249-254. Accessed January 6, 2017

Beatty, S.J. 2005. Translocations of freshwater crayfish: contributions from life histories, trophic relations and diseases of three species in Western Australia. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia.


Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International (CABI). 2013. Cherax destructor. Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International, Wallingford, United Kingdom. Available  Accessed January 9, 2017.

Chucholl, C. 2013. Invaders for sale: trade and determinants of introduction of ornamental freshwater crayfish. Biological Invasions 15(1):125-141.

Cherax destructor Clark, 1936. Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Copenhagen, Denmark. Created on 01/12/2017. Accessed on 01/06/2017.

Diggles, B. 2011. Risk analysis- aquatic animal diseases associated with domestic bait translocation. DigsFish Services Pty Ltd, Banksia Beach, QLD.

Farrell, P., and B. Leonard. 2001. Observations on the survival of the yabby, Cherax destructor, in ponds where access by piscivorous birds is inhibited. Journal of Applied Aquaculture 11(3):75-80.

Geddes, M.C., and M. Smallridge. 1993. Survival, growth and yield of the Australian freshwater crayfish Cherax destructor in extensive aquaculture ponds. Aquaculture 114(1):51-70.

Gherardi, F., L. Aquiloni, J. Diéguez-Uribeondo, and E. Tricarico. 2011. Managing invasive crayfish: is there a hope? Aquatic Sciences 73:185-200.

Hein, C.L., M.J. Vander Zanden, and J.J. Magnuson. 2007. Intensive trapping and increased fish predation cause massive decline of an invasive crayfish. Freshwater Biology 52:1134-1146.

Kerby, J.L., S.P.D. Riley, L.B. Kats, and P. Wilson. 2005. Barriers and flow as limiting factors in the spread of an invasive crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in southern California streams. Biological Conservation 126(2005):402-409. Accessed January 9, 2017

Moodie, E.G., L.F. Le Jambre, and M.E. Katz. 2003. Thelohania parastaci sp. nov. (Microspora: Thelohaniidae), a parasite of the Australian freshwater crayfish, Cherax destructor (Decapoda: Parastacidae). Parasitology Research 91(2):151-165.

NSW Department of Industry. 2017. Yabby- aquaculture prospects. Created on 04/27/2016. Accessed on 01/05/2017.2017

Persson, M., L. Cerenius, and K. Soderhall. 1987. The influence of haemocyte number on the resistance of the freshwater crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana, to the parasitic fungus Aphanomyces astaci. Journal of Fish Diseases 10(6):471-477.;jsessionid=90C2E3B15A300DA356BD674D7F213C1A.f04t02.

Scalici, M., S. Chiesa, F. Gherardi, M. Ruffini, G. Gibertini, and F.N. Marzano. 2009. The new threat to Italian inland waters from the alien crayfish "gang": the Australian Cherax destructor Clark, 1936. Hydrobiologia 632(1):341-345.

Unestam, T. 1975. Defence reactions in and susceptibility of Australian and New Guinean freshwater crayfish to European-crayfish-plague fungus. Australian Journal of Experimental Biology and Medical Science 53(5):349-359.

Withnall, F. 2000 Biology of Yabbies (Cherax destructor). State of Victoria, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment.

Other Resources:

US Fish and Wildlife Ecological Risk Screening Summary for Cherax destructor

Author: Fusaro, A., A. Davidson, K. Alame, M. Gappy, M. Arnaout, W. Conard, and P. Alsip

Contributing Agencies:

Revision Date: 2/21/2017

Citation for this information:
Fusaro, A., A. Davidson, K. Alame, M. Gappy, M. Arnaout, W. Conard, and P. Alsip, 2022, Cherax destructor (Clark, 1936): U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, and NOAA Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System, Ann Arbor, MI,, Revision Date: 2/21/2017, Access Date: 5/17/2022
