This Creature is Brighter Than a Neon Sign!

Do you know what a crawfish is? How about a crawdad? A mudbug? Surprise! They’re all the same thing! Freshwater crayfish go by many names. They are part of the crustacean family, which makes them cousins to creatures like crabs, shrimp, and lobsters. But unlike many of their relatives, they prefer to live in freshwater habitats like rivers and ponds instead of the ocean.

Crayfish enjoy having their own space and don’t play well with others, so they usually live alone. And because many creatures, including humans, like to eat crayfish, they have several defenses against predators. Most crayfish are good at hiding. Their hard shells provide protection and camouflage so they can blend into their surroundings.

They also have claws they can use to defend themselves. Like some other crustaceans, crayfish have excellent eyesight and can move each eye independently from the other. They can also use a move called a tail-flip where they flip around using their tails to quickly swim away from a predator. If a crayfish does get hurt, it has the amazing ability to regrow limbs! 

Most crayfish are a brown or tan color, but the blue freshwater crayfish is missing a gene, which gives it a beautiful bright blue color. Crayfish can also be red, orange, white, or even pink. Because of their pretty color, many people keep crayfish as pets in aquariums.

But if you ever get a pet crayfish, don’t be surprised if you see some old skin floating around! As they grow bigger, crayfish shed their exoskeleton—the hard outer shell that protects their bodies—in a process called molting. Then they hide for a few days as their new shells grow and harden. 

Christians also go through a shedding of skin. When we trust in Jesus, He gives us a new identity. Ephesians 4:22-23 tells us to take off our old selves and be renewed. Jesus changes our lives! It doesn’t mean life will be easy, but it does mean He’ll be with us as we go through each day. Take off the old and embrace your new identity in Him.