What Season Do Crayfish Spawn? A Detailed Explanation of Annual Spawning Frequency and Egg Output

Crayfish are freshwater economic shrimp species, widely welcomed by people for their delicious meat. In summer, they are an indispensable delicacy at late-night food stalls. So do you know what season crayfish spawn? How many times can they spawn in a year? How large is the egg output? According to crayfish farmer Grandpa Li, crayfish mature at 9-12 months of age, the mating season is generally from late April to July, and the peak group mating period is in May. During mating, the female shrimp lies on its back at the water surface, the male shrimp positions itself on top, grips the female's front legs with its chelae, holds the female with its walking legs, and inserts its gonopods into the female. Mating lasts 10-30 minutes. Three to ten hours after mating, the female begins to spawn. Spawning is a one-time event, and the eggs produced adhere to the setae on the abdominal legs.

How many times can crayfish spawn in a year?

Crayfish belong to the multiple-spawning-per-year type. When the water temperature rises above 20°C, the broodstock begin to spawn. The spawning season lasts as long as 6 months, and they can spawn 3-4 times a year.

How large is the egg output of crayfish?

The egg output of female crayfish increases with individual length. For female crayfish with a total length of 10.0 to 11.9 cm, the average number of eggs carried is 237. The largest spawning individual collected had a total length of 14.26 cm and produced 397 eggs, while the smallest spawning individual had a total length of 6.4 cm and produced 32 eggs. Under artificial rearing conditions, the egg output of female crayfish is generally greater than that of egg-bearing females collected from natural waters.

Nutritional value of crayfish

1. Crayfish have a very high protein content in their bodies, and their meat is soft and easy to digest, making them an excellent food for people who are weak or need recuperation after illness.

2. The meat is also rich in magnesium, zinc, iodine, selenium, etc. Magnesium plays an important regulatory role in heart activity and can protect the cardiovascular system. It can reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, prevent arteriosclerosis, and also dilate the coronary arteries, helping to prevent high blood pressure and myocardial infarction.

3. Crayfish contain astaxanthin, which is a very strong antioxidant. Scientists at Osaka University in Japan found that astaxanthin helps eliminate “jet lag syndrome” caused by time-zone changes. In addition, crayfish can also be used as medicine, helping to resolve phlegm and relieve cough, and promoting tissue regeneration and healing of wounds after surgery.