The crayfish occurs in small to medium flowing streams with intact native vegetation on the stream banks, with boulder and cobble substrates. In addition, the species needs abundant space within each habitat type for sheltering and adequate seasonal water flows to maintain connectivity of streams.   

Adult slenderclaw crayfish have two forms:

• Form I: Reproductively active or breeding
• Form II: Reproductively inactive, or non-breeding.

Sexual maturity is believed to be reached by year one.

Very little is known of the biology and life history of the slenderclaw crayfish. Based on information we know of other crayfish species, the life span is likely to be 2 to 3 years.

Very little is known of the biology and life history of the slenderclaw crayfish. Based on information slenderclaw crayfish collections and what we know of other crayfish species, the species has four identified life stages: fertilized eggs, juveniles, nonbreeding adults and breeding adults.

This species is a cryptic, stream-dwelling crayfish. It lives in the open stream and takes shelter by crawling and burrowing under rocks and logs.

The slenderclaw crayfish is a relatively small, freshwater crustacean with a comparatively elongate, slender front claw. The largest individual documented was 1.56 inches (carapace length).

Two color variations have been documented. The first being mostly uniform olive green to rusty brown and the second being a distinct mottled pattern with light gray to straw coloring with speckling of rusty red to dark brown.

This species is a cryptic, stream-dwelling crayfish and is lives in the open stream and takes shelter by burrowing under rocks