So she built what she called a “crawdad cafeteria.”
Pinchy was the class pet, but he wasn’t in great shape. One of his claws—a smaller pincer, not the large dominant one—had been missing since a molting accident the previous spring. For a crawdad, a missing claw is not usually life-threatening. They can regrow limbs over several molts. But in a small tank with faster fish, Pinchy struggled to eat. The other minnows would dart in and steal his food pellets before his remaining claw could grasp them.
And that, somehow, fixed more than just a crawdad. Have you or your child ever “fixed” an animal in an unexpected way? Share your story in the comments. And if you want to learn more about crayfish care and limb regeneration, check out our guide to classroom aquariums. girl crush crawdad fixed
By the end of the school year, Pinchy had regrown a small but fully functional replacement claw. He no longer needed the bottle-cap cafeteria. He could defend his food against the minnows.
She approached the aquarium. Leo looked up. “What are you doing?” So she built what she called a “crawdad cafeteria
She didn’t know anything about crustacean biology. She didn’t know that crawdads can regrow claws. What she knew was that when she felt broken—when her bike chain came off, or her doll’s arm popped out—her dad fixed it with tools.
So, Ellie decided to fix the crawdad. For Leo. Here’s where the story gets its viral charm. During a 15-minute “choice time” free period, while Mrs. Hendricks was helping another student with a math worksheet, Ellie executed her plan. They can regrow limbs over several molts
Sometimes, it’s just a twist-tie, a Lego tire, and a seven-year-old who wanted to make a boy feel better.