Detailed Explanation of Freshwater Crayfish Farming Methods and Technical Points

The pond needs an adequate water source with convenient inflow and drainage, and its area is generally 3 mu-5 mu. The pond ridge should have a certain slope, and around the pond ridge a 0.5 m high escape-prevention wall or escape-prevention board with smooth inner walls should be installed; some mud ridges should be built in the middle of the pond to provide burrowing habitat for the crayfish; before stocking, strict disinfection should be carried out, and 300-500 kg of decomposed livestock and poultry manure should be applied per mu; aquatic plants such as vallisneria should be planted in the pond to cover 30% of the pond area.

Pond Conditions The pond for farming freshwater crayfish should be selected in a place that is well ventilated and sunny, quiet in environment, convenient for drainage and irrigation, and with unpolluted water quality.

① The pond should be rectangular, with an area of 1334-3335 sq m being suitable, and a water depth of about 0.9-1.5 m.

② The pond bottom should be hard soil or sandy soil, without silt, and the pond walls must have a certain slope.

③ The pond must have a good drainage and irrigation system, with water inflow at the upper part of one end and drainage at the bottom of the other end, and both the inflow and drainage outlets must have protective mesh covers against predators and escape.

④ The bottom of the pond should have an appropriately sized area of submerged plants, and sufficient artificial hiding structures, such as waste tires, mesh sheets, bamboo rafts, etc., to provide hiding and habitat for the crayfish.

⑤ If conditions permit, an aerator can be installed in the pond.

⑥ Before stocking shrimp fry, the pond should be disinfected. If it is a newly built shrimp pond, quicklime can be used to clear the pond with water; if it is an old fish pond for farming, the pond must be dried and disinfected. In addition to sprinkling quicklime, loaches, catfish, snakeheads, snakes, rats, and other predatory harmful organisms in the pond must also be thoroughly eliminated.

Water Quality Requirements The water source is mainly unpolluted surface water from large water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, and groundwater can also be used as a water source. Freshwater crayfish have strong adaptability and can survive within a water pH range of 6.10-9.33, but 6.5-9.0 is suitable, preferably neutral to slightly alkaline, to facilitate rapid growth of the crayfish.

Although freshwater crayfish are tolerant of low oxygen, long-term exposure to low dissolved oxygen conditions will affect their growth rate and survival rate. Pollution of water quality by heavy metals, insecticides, herbicides, oil, methane, and other substances should also be avoided. During farming, micro-flow water or regular addition of fresh water should be adopted, which can promote growth.

Shrimp Fry Stocking and Daily Management Shrimp Fry Stocking Shrimp fry stocking should be carried out in the early morning or evening on a sunny day. Before stocking, slowly add a small amount of pond water to the transport container to adjust the water temperature until the water temperature in the container is close to the pond water temperature, then release the shrimp fry into the pond. The stocking density is 7.5-9.0 individuals per sq m, and the shrimp fry stocked in the same pond should be required to be uniform and consistent in size.