A Detailed Guide to Artificial Farming Methods for the Red Swamp Crayfish

    Prevention and treatment of common shrimp diseases. Hemorrhagic disease is shrimp septicemia caused by Aeromonas bacteria, and this disease strikes fiercely with a high incidence rate. The body surface of sick shrimp is covered with bleeding spots of varying sizes, especially obvious on the appendages and abdomen, the anus is red and swollen, and once crayfish are infected with hemorrhagic disease, they soon die. Prevention and treatment: (1) If sick shrimp are found, isolate them promptly and disinfect the pond water; for every 667 sq m with a water depth of 1 m, use 25 kg to 30 kg of quicklime dissolved in water and splash it over the whole pond; (2) for every 667 sq m, take 750 g of tobacco leaves, soak them in warm water for 5 to 8 hours, then splash the liquid over the whole pond, and at the same time add 1.25 g to 1.5 g of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride raw material drug per kg of feed and feed it for 5 consecutive days.

Saprolegniasis is caused by water molds. The symptoms in the early stage of infection are not very obvious; when the symptoms become obvious, the hyphae have already invaded the shrimp epidermis and muscle, growing outward as cotton-like hyphae and forming the visible “white hair”. Sick shrimp become thin and weak, restless in activity, and their food intake decreases, with severe cases leading to death. Prevention and treatment: (1) During capture, transport, and stocking, operate carefully to avoid injury to the shrimp body; (2) soaking sick shrimp in 1% to 2% salt water for a relatively long time has a good effect; (3) for every cubic meter of water, use 400 g each of table salt and baking soda dissolved in water and splash it over the whole pond.

Gill rot disease is caused by bacteria; the gill filaments of sick shrimp turn black and partially rot. Prevention and treatment: (1) Frequently remove leftover feed and debris from the shrimp pond to keep the farming environment clean and hygienic; (2) for every cubic meter of water, use 2 g of bleaching powder dissolved in water and splash it over the whole pond.

Black gill disease is caused by severe water pollution, with the gill filaments contaminated by molds. The gills of sick shrimp change from red to brown or light brown, until they become completely black, causing gill atrophy. Sick shrimp often lie motionless by the shore and finally die from breathing difficulty. Prevention and treatment: (1) Keep the farming water clean with sufficient dissolved oxygen; (2) soak sick shrimp in 3% to 5% salt water 2 to 3 times, for 3 to 5 minutes each time; (3) for every cubic meter of water, use 10 g of methylene blue dissolved in water and splash it over the whole pond.

Tail rot disease is caused by injury to the shrimp, cannibalism among them, or infection by chitin-decomposing bacteria. In the early stage, blisters appear on the tail of sick shrimp, causing the tail edge to ulcerate, necrose, or become incomplete. As the condition worsens, the ulceration of the tail spreads from the edge toward the middle, and in severe infections the entire tail of the sick shrimp is consumed. Prevention and treatment: (1) When transporting and releasing seedlings, do not stack, press, or damage the shrimp body; (2) feed sufficiently and evenly to prevent shrimp from killing each other due to insufficient bait; (3) for every cubic meter of water, use 15 g to 20 g of tea seed cake soaking liquid and splash it over the whole pond.

Epistylis disease is caused by Epistylis parasitizing the shrimp shell. Sick shrimp have more debris on the body surface, and their feeding and activity ability gradually weakens; severe cases die before dawn. It can occur in both larvae and adult shrimp, and is more harmful to young shrimp. Prevention and treatment: (1) Thoroughly disinfect to kill pathogens; (2) when this disease occurs, frequently change large amounts of water to reduce the number of Epistylis

and lessen its harm to crayfish; (3) soak sick shrimp in a mixed solution with a concentration of 0.5 mg to 1 mg/L benzalkonium bromide and 5 mg to 10 mg/L potassium permanganate.

Ciliate disease. The most common pathogens of ciliate disease include Epistylis and Coleps, among others. Ciliates attach to the body surface, appendages, gills, and other parts of adult shrimp and shrimp seedlings. When attached in large numbers, they hinder the shrimp's breathing, swimming, activity, feeding, and molting functions, affecting growth and development. Especially when attached in large numbers on the gills, they affect gas exchange in the gill filaments and can even cause hypoxia and suffocation death in the shrimp body. During infection, the body surface of larvae is covered with a layer of white flocculent material, which weakens larval activity and affects larval development and metamorphosis. Prevention and treatment: (1) Maintain a reasonable density, pay attention to the sanitation of the shrimp pond, frequently change water, and keep the water quality fresh; (2) soak sick shrimp in a formalin solution containing 25 g to 30 g per cubic meter of water for 4 to 6 hours, for 2 to 3 consecutive times, which has a relatively good effect.