Does anyone keep crayfish in their koi or goldfish pond?

[poconojoe]

I noticed someone selling crayfish along with trapdoor snails.
I've never thought about crayfish.
Would they be beneficial for a pond with koi, goldfish and shubunkin?
Would they multiply?
Would the fish eat them?
I like the pond to be as natural as possible.
I think crayfish would be cool.
I'm in zone 6b, if that matters.

 

[Jhn]

I used to keep them in my first pond years ago, I rarely saw them as they spent most the time hiding under and in things. Never had any issues with them and the fish, if the fish find them after they molt/slough their shell they may get eaten. Put most of them in as little guys and saw a few years later and they where probably about 5” , so they
Would definitely winter over on your pond. They are scavengers as well, so could be of benefit I suppose.

Then stopped keeping them once I started keeping turtles in my ponds as there was some health issues with terrapins eating cray fish.

 

[Lisak1]

We added some crayfish a few years ago. We would see them from time to time and then they just disappeared.

 

[MaryP]

Yes. Got some my first year. 1 lived about a year. May get them again.