What are the key points of freshwater crayfish farming? Explained clearly in one article

The crayfish we eat generally belong to freshwater crayfish, and they are especially popular with consumers in summer, so in recent years more and more people have been farming freshwater crayfish. So what are the key points of freshwater crayfish farming? Is there a future in it?

1. What are the key points of freshwater crayfish farming?

1. Choosing the pond site

The pond for farming crayfish should be of moderate size, generally 20 mu to 50 mu. The slope ratio of the pond embankment should be large, at 1:2.5 to 1:3, which makes it easier for crayfish to burrow and breed, and at the same time can reduce crayfish escapes. The pond should be rich in natural food organisms and aquatic plants.

2. Water quality must meet the requirements

Freshwater crayfish are highly adaptable; they can survive in water with a pH value in the range of 6.10 to 9.33, but 6.5 to 9.0 is suitable, and neutral to slightly alkaline is best, as this favors rapid growth of the crayfish. Although freshwater crayfish tolerate low oxygen, long-term exposure to a low dissolved oxygen state will affect their growth rate and survival rate. Water quality should also be protected from contamination by heavy metals, insecticides, herbicides, oil, methane and the like. In farming, micro-flow water or regular addition of fresh water should be adopted, which can promote growth.

3. Pay attention to stocking density

In a pond where crayfish are the main species, stock 30 kg to 40 kg of breeder crayfish per mu, with a size of more than 30 g each. After the parent crayfish are stocked, feed artificial feed promptly. From April of the following year, harvest with ground cages and shrimp cages, taking the large and leaving the small, for an annual yield of 200 kg to 300 kg per mu. After that, only harvesting is needed each year, with no need to stock seed. Note that harvesting must not be excessive; if harvesting is excessive, the yield in the following year will certainly drop greatly, and at that point seed must be restocked. In a polyculture pond, stock 10 kg to 20 kg of breeder crayfish per mu, with a size of about 25 g each, without feeding feed, relying mainly on the pond's natural food and leftover feed in the fishery pond; from April of the following year, harvest with ground cages, taking the large and leaving the small, for a yield generally of 50 kg to 100 kg per mu.

4. Key points of daily management

Because freshwater crayfish grow fast, have a vigorous metabolism and consume a lot of oxygen, the water quality of the crayfish pond must be kept fresh at all times, generally adding 15 to 20 cm of water each week, so that the water is lively and fresh and has enough dissolved oxygen. Feed should be placed at fixed points, at fixed times and in fixed amounts, with as much variety as possible. Feed once each morning and evening, and the feed should be placed at the shallow water edge of the pond.

5. Disease control

Compared with other types of crayfish, freshwater crayfish rarely develop diseases. However, if the water quality of the paddy field is poor or the rearing and management measures are unreasonable, the possibility of pests and diseases will greatly increase. To minimize the incidence of crayfish diseases, on the one hand, daily management should be strengthened; on the other hand, we should keep up with the trends of the times, prevent crayfish disease problems, and during fertilization use the method of small amounts applied many times as much as possible, to improve the crayfish's resistance and ensure the crayfish's health.

2. Prospects for freshwater crayfish farming

Crayfish are a nutritious food that is low in fat, low in cholesterol and high in protein. As seawater lobster resources dwindle day by day, freshwater crayfish are increasingly favored by consumers in various countries, and demand is growing. Developing freshwater crayfish farming according to local conditions has very broad prospects. At present, the international market needs large quantities of freshwater crayfish.