What conditions and precautions are needed for crayfish farming?

Crayfish are a delicious dish in our daily lives and are deeply loved by everyone. Today, the market demand for crayfish is large and the profits are high, attracting more and more people to invest in this farming industry. Under such market conditions, we cannot help but ask: what conditions are needed for crayfish farming, and what should we pay attention to?

Conditions needed for crayfish farming

Crayfish farming is very profitable, but the conditions must also be properly controlled.

1. Preparation of the crayfish pond

Choose a site that is well ventilated, sunny, and quiet. The selected pond should be about 70 cm to 150 cm. The bottom of the pond should be flat, with slopes around it; the inside of the pond should have a slight slope all around, with a good incline to make it easier to establish a drainage outlet. The pond ridge should be about 45 cm higher than the water surface, and the pond ridge width should reach 60 cm to prevent crayfish from burrowing and causing water leakage. For larger crayfish ponds, more field ridges can be built. To ensure there is shade in the crayfish pond, aquatic plants such as water hyacinth, water lettuce, and similar plants can be planted around the pond. Both new and old ponds should be disinfected with quicklime. Make sure there are no natural enemies of crayfish in the pond; to be safe, it is best to install water-blocking nets. In addition, the water surface can be fertilized to ensure an abundance of plankton.

2. Water source management

Crayfish have relatively vigorous metabolism, so attention must always be paid to keeping the pond water fresh, with transparency at about 30 cm. Water can be added every week, about 15-20 cm deep, to keep the water clean and fresh. When the weather is too hot, the pond water should be appropriately deepened to stabilize the water temperature. Strictly prevent the water quality from being polluted by industrial pollution, pesticide pollution, and chemical pollution. In severe weather such as thunderstorms and overcast days, or when water quality is poor and dissolved oxygen is low, reduce the amount of bait or stop feeding, and pay attention to observation. For crayfish that are short of oxygen, floating at the surface, and climbing onto the shore, add water or take oxygen-increasing measures, such as turning on an aerator.

3. Preparation for feeding

The length of stocked crayfish seedlings is about 2-4 cm, with an average of 6,000 per mu. Generally, one pond of seedlings is of one pond's specification. Within 3 days after stocking the seedlings, put in the prepared minced fish and minced meat, then feed small miscellaneous fish, scraps of minced meat, or compound feed; when the crayfish seedlings grow to 6-7 cm, not only meat feed but also plant-based feed can be added. The daily feeding amount should be based on eating until full, finishing the food, and leaving no residual bait. Generally, medium and small crayfish are fed at 15%-20% of body weight, and adult crayfish at 5%-10% of body weight. The specific amount can be adjusted according to the feeding situation of the crayfish. Feed 2 times a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, with feeding mainly in the evening. When scattering the feed, spread it out, and put more where crayfish gather in greater numbers.

What to pay attention to in crayfish farming

1. You should inspect frequently and patrol the pond frequently, and pay attention to various situations during the crayfish growth stage. Remove algae from the pond in time; to prevent crayfish from escaping or natural enemies from entering the pond due to damaged filter nets, often check the filter nets at the water inlet and outlet.

2. Throughout the entire growth process of crayfish, promptly remove organisms that may endanger the crayfish, such as water rats, water snakes, water birds, and so on.

3. Before stocking the seedlings, the crayfish seedlings need to be disinfected to prevent pathogens from entering the water. Regularly disinfect the crayfish pond with quicklime, often add fresh water, and keep the pond water clean and hygienic.

4. To enhance the resistance and immunity of the crayfish, add more vitamins.

5. Generally, crayfish above 50 grams are selected for timely harvesting and sale.

These are roughly the conditions and precautions for crayfish farming. When carrying out crayfish farming, you must pay attention to the overall environment of the crayfish pond, maintain good water quality for the crayfish, and provide a good area for the growth of the crayfish.