The yabbie crayfish is omnivorous, feeding primarily on rotting vegetation, but is somewhat opportunistic, eating anything it comes across, including, on occasions, other yabbie crayfish. Cannibalism is not a normal state, however, occurring usually when there is insufficient natural food or when there are overcrowded conditions. They are nocturnal, being most active just after dusk and just before dawn. Predators include cormorants, herons, ibises, Murray cod, and Callop. Small, larval crayfish are also vulnerable to attack from other invertebrates