The external skeleton of the saddleback crayfish is made of calcium carbonate. In order for the crayfish to grow, it must shed this exoskeleton, which it does by first splitting out of the carapace then pulling its legs and tail through. Crayfish will often ingest the old exoskeleton to help recover some of the important nutrients within it.
The saddleback crayfish population has not been evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As a result, the current status of the population is unknown.