It was first discovered in the 1990's in a German aquarium shop, and has no known natural origin. It has a striking brown-on-tan pattern, plus blue legs which become very bright after a molt. Changing its' water conditions can temporarily alter the color of this animal.

  Marbled crayfish's gender is always female, and she does not need a partner at all to reproduce (they reproduce parthogenically). They grow very quickly to reach the adult stage (usually is around 8 to 12 cm when fully developed inside the aquarium) in which they can start to reproduce. Each of these "female" crayfish is capable of holding 400-1000 eggs each time she "breeds" in brooding (gestation) periods between 22 and 42 days (of pregnancy). The younger adults have smaller numbers of babies, the brood sizes increase as they age. Unlike other crayfish, the mothers do not eat their young. Also unlike other crayfish species, they can co-inhabit in the same aquarium together with very little cannibalism, although the young ones sometimes overtake a sibling in a power play. Since they do grow quickly and multiply, larger aquariums are better than smaller aquariums. They are good in a community tank situation with smaller fishes, if given hiding places for cray babies.

   Marbled Crayfish are easy to care for as aquarium pets, and are easy to raise in colonies to use as "feeders" for aggressive aquarium fishes, as well as for use as bait in sports fishing. Since one individual can create a colony, it is very easy to establish a limitless supply of feeders and bait animals in a few months time.