Breeding crayfish at home: how to grow them yourself. Detailed business plan for breeding crayfish at home - competition analysis, financial plan, assessment of the effectiveness of the project Growing crayfish

Various reservoirs and ponds are constructed, used not only for watering and irrigating the soil, but also as a place for breeding crayfish. To understand how profitable and useful this business is, you need to look deep into the process of breeding crayfish.

Benefits of crayfish farming

Empty ponds and water trenches filled with crayfish can be an excellent source of income for any family. It is known that arthropods are valued for their high-quality and healthy meat, containing a large amount of protein. Dishes from them are served in many restaurants around the world; various salads, sauces, side dishes are prepared from crayfish meat and served as a main dish. All this indicates that a homestead with crustaceans can serve well and bring considerable profit, but this is only possible after 5 years of investment and work. Despite this, after the first settlement of the pond, the fruits of the work will delight the owners for another 10 years.

About crayfish

When starting to independently raise crayfish in your own pond, you need to understand the varieties, biological processes, characteristics and methods of raising both young and adult specimens. On the territory of our country there are several species of arthropods, which differ little from each other. Crayfish are animals that breathe with gills and have 10 legs. The shell is quite dense and covered with chitin. The most famous within Russia are broad-toed crayfish, whose claws, compared to others, differ in width and power. There are also long-fingered (narrow-fingered) and thick-fingered crayfish.

Creating a favorable habitat for crayfish

Under natural conditions, crayfish prefer to stay in calm running water, located mainly on the shady banks of rivers, lakes and canals. Decapods settle in burrows formed under the roots of old trees and plants that are located in the reservoir. Crayfish are very demanding regarding the purity of water, so even at the planning stage of the pond, care must be taken to ensure that the water is changed as often as possible and is not subject to severe pollution and blooming. Also, do not forget about the oxygen saturation and water temperature (should be 17-18 degrees Celsius) intended for breeding and breeding crayfish at home. When starting to build a reservoir, you should purchase sandy soil or rocky soil, in which crustacean creatures love to settle. The river inhabitants that fill the reservoir get along well with trout, which is not their food competitor.

Feeding the crayfish

In addition to creating favorable conditions for normal life and reproduction, arthropods must be provided with a sufficient amount of food. When asking the question of what crayfish eat, you can find a clear answer: everything.

Being omnivores, they eat any food that comes their way. Particularly popular in their diet are plants that grow along the banks of rivers and lakes and contain lime: reeds, reeds, hornwort, and so on. Crayfish also prefer protein, which is present in natural conditions in the form of snails, small fish, worms, various insects and tadpoles. The creature's diet changes with its age. He moves from smaller and plant foods to larger and animal ones.

Walking around the markets in search of what to feed crayfish, you can buy food. Today, there are various feeds created for the purpose of feeding river inhabitants bred at home. Often such additives contain a high percentage of sprouted wheat and other cereal crops, which replenish the natural needs of crustaceans and do not pollute the water space. The optimal ratio of beneficial vitamins and minerals ensures complete and healthy complementary feeding. The plant components included in the food help resist various diseases found in crayfish. In the process of organizing your diet, you must remember that crayfish eat quite a bit, so it is better to underfeed them than to overfeed them. An excess of nutrients in a pond can lead to their decomposition, pollution and cloudiness of the water, as a result of which all the inhabitants of the pond begin to die.

Growing crayfish

The water temperature in the reservoir in summer should fluctuate between 15-20 degrees. There should be 2-3 containers installed on the territory for the purpose of transplanting young animals from their larger relatives, who are capable of devouring the younger generation. You can also purchase an artificial reservoir, which is available on the market in a wide range: swimming pools, ponds and the like. The main task of a purchased structure is to ensure rapid water circulation, so its shape should be oblong and its depth should not exceed 7 meters. Small pools and aquariums are mainly used for breeding and hatching larvae from eggs, after transplanting the females into prepared containers. The material in which the crayfish will be placed must be harmless, so metal containers should be replaced with plastic or plexiglass.

Building a reservoir for crayfish with your own hands

If it is not possible to purchase a ready-made reservoir, you can build an artificial one yourself. Building a pond for such a creature as a crayfish at home is quite a labor-intensive task. You must first select a place for construction, next to which there is a lake, river or pond. Otherwise, the cost of an artificial reservoir will increase significantly. A waterproof bottom plays an important role in construction, on which the entire future structure will depend. Special waterproof and waterproofing layers are usually placed at the bottom to protect the pond from leakage. In the first years of crayfish breeding, it is recommended to use a purchased tank, which is reliable and has a longer service life.

The benefits and harms of crayfish

Very few lovers of sea food know how many useful vitamins and elements river crayfish have. The benefits of breeding a relative of the crab in the garden are obvious, and since they live only in a clean environment, they can be consumed without any fear. In addition to quickly digestible protein, crayfish meat contains large amounts of calcium, iron, phosphorus and cobalt. A wide range of vitamins such as E, D, B, C, sulfur and folic acid are found in their meat. Nutritionists recommend consuming crayfish while on a diet, since their meat is a fairly low-calorie product - only about 80 kcal is contained in 100 grams of product. Doctors also advise including crayfish meat in the diet if there are problems with the kidneys, heart or gastrointestinal tract. By eating crayfish for some time, you can cleanse the liver and remove bile from the body. Iodine, found in them in large quantities, serves as a preventive measure for the thyroid gland.

Crayfish: contraindications

Speaking of contraindications, it should be mentioned that arthropods are prohibited for people who have individual intolerance. Allergies can also be caused by seafood, and in particular crayfish. The benefits and harms of crayfish are incomparable concepts, since the amount of nutrients, vitamins and macroelements in the creature’s meat far exceeds the harm and any of its disadvantages.

Breeding of long- and broad-toed crayfish is carried out
there are two ways. In the first option, the caught products
The children are planted in specially prepared drainage ponds.
lakes with an area of 0.1 hectares, having shallow and deep parts. IN
ponds where crayfish are placed at the end of summer, a natural
ny spawning. Producers are transported from other farms or from
caught.
Crayfish breeders are placed in ponds at a planting density of
ki 1-5 pcs/m2. When the water temperature rises above 7°C, they are
start feeding, give fresh or boiled food (slaughterhouse waste)
fish, vegetables, shellfish, etc.), while the average daily
The feed distribution rate should be 2% of the crayfish’s body weight.
Wet food is placed on wooden trays (40x40 cm), crayfish
They also feed on dry food pellets. With pond-like
When breeding crayfish, the larvae hatch in May-June. In one
In summer, crayfish reach the age of fingerlings weighing 7-10 g, which mainly
put in this pond for the winter, if the pond is more than 1.5 m deep,
or transplanted to other ponds.
The following spring, yearlings are caught and transplanted into
feeding ponds with lower stocking densities. At the end of the second
or in the third year of life, crayfish reach marketable weight (40-
60 g) with a length of 9-10 cm.
There is experience in obtaining offspring in aquariums or small
hy trays, but this is quite complex and ineffective
way.

To get 3-4 c/ha of marketable crayfish production, you need
you can have at least three or four ponds, prepared properly
in a harsh way. The broad-clawed crayfish has wide claws, a shell
smooth, body length about 15 cm. The long-fingered crayfish has narrow and
long claws and a rough shell, the body length reaches
20 cm, the weight of the male is more than 300 g. In winter, crayfish go to depths and
burrow into the silt, where they are comfortable and there is a sufficient number of
food quality. In winter, as is known, there is no oxygen in the water.
enough, some fish suffocate, fall to the bottom and become
feed on crayfish, which even in conditions of low temperature
The animals do not stop actively feeding. Crayfish are caught by special
cial fishing rods, rachevny and merezhki from mid-summer and
until late autumn. A good catch happens in dark waters in the evening -
watches, in transparent ones - from dusk until midnight.
The best catches occur on dark, warm nights and rainy days.
year. In order for the caught crayfish to be better preserved and not
fell on each other, they need to be fed with nettles, alder
leaves, potatoes and other vegetation. Fresh fish
it is not recommended to give, since the crayfish will sweat
cutworms, during which they lose their claws and legs, which means they are marketable
view.
According to the second cultivation technology, an incubation should be arranged
tor, have uterine and nursery ponds. It is known that for semi-
For 5 million larvae, it is necessary to have ten pools of size
mi 2.5x6x1 m and incubation stands with Weiss apparatus. Except
To achieve this, nursery ponds with an area of 0.5 hectares and a depth of
0.25 to 1.5 m. At the water discharge, a waste container is installed with dimensions
1.5x0.5 m. Water requirements are as follows: pH 7-8, acid content
carbon - 3-4 mg/l, oxidability - 5-10 mg/l. Pouring water into ponds
made 10-15 days before the young crayfish are planted. Uterine
ponds are ditches and pools where
harvested from natural reservoirs or brought from
farming of spawning female crayfish.
Crayfish spawners are caught in early spring,
transported to the farm, placed in pools and trays, installed
turn on the water supply and start feeding the fish 1-2 times a week
minced meat, boiled vegetables, seaweed and green
titility.
98
At the end of May-June, when the embryos reach the “eye” stage
or “heart pulsations”, eggs are removed from the playpods of females using pincers
there and placed in Weiss devices. One Weiss device can accommodate
12-15 thousand larvae are loaded with a capacity of 8 liters. Water exchange in devices
set within 1.5-2 l/min, oxygen content -
6-8 mg/l. Dead embryos take on a bright orange color.
Hatched crustaceans measure 7.2-8.6 mm and body weight 11.7-
18.9 mg overcomes the first molt in four to six days.
After overcoming the second molt, they are kept for another two to three days.
are performed in the pool, then, as necessary, they are calculated
volumetric method and implement. Crayfish larvae are transported to
containers (vats, barrels, cans) for stocking nearby streams with fish
Dov. When transporting over long distances, polyethylene is used.
new bags filled with water and oxygen, similar to those dropped
forging larvae of herbivorous fish. In one standard poly-
An ethylene bag can hold 20-50 thousand crayfish larvae.
After transportation, the larvae are released into a nursery pond, pre-
by strictly equalizing the temperature of the water in the transport container,
ties with the temperature of the water of the reservoir of residence. Biological norms
for growing crayfish are given in table. 25.
Table 25
Biological standards for growing crayfish
in aquaculture farms
Indicators Meaning
Pond area for producers, ha 0.5-1.5
Ratio of females and males, pcs. 3:1
Content:
before mating Joint
after mating Separate
Average pond depth, m 1.2-1.7
Maximum pond depth, m 2-2.5
Annual replacement of manufacturers, % 4.5-6
Water exchange, day 1.5-2.5
Feeding for 7 days, 1-3 times
Feeding rate based on body weight, % 2-4
Diet Vegetable and minced meat,
seaweed
99
Continuation of the table. 25
Indicators Meaning
Water temperature (not higher), °C 18-26
O2 content (more), mg/l 5-7
Incubation
Female fertility, pcs. 200-270
Reserve of females, % 25
Average weight of female, g 55-80
Mortality of females when kept in
swimming pools, % 8-10
Caviar waste, % 10
Aging of producers, days 18-35
Water exchange in the pool when maintained
research of females, hours 6-8
Pool depth, m 0.7-1.2
Pool size 1.5x1.5-2.5x6
Water temperature, оС 8-26
O2 content, mg/l 5-7
Content of suspended particles (not
above) 600
Maintenance of larvae
Water exchange in the pool, h:
when hatching larvae 4-6
keeping larvae 5-7
Yield of larvae after two molts, % 85-90
Maintenance of larvae, 10-15 days
Feeding the larvae during the day,
times 1-2
Feed ratio:
zooplankton 2/3
vegetation 1/3
Daily feeding rate based on weight
body,% 2.5-6
Duration of molting of larvae, days:
first 4-7
second 10-17
100
Continuation of the table. 25
Indicators Meaning
Water temperature, °C 16-24
O2 content, mg/l 5-7
Commercial cultivation in ponds
Filling period, 5-10 days
Pond area, ha 0.3-1.5
Pond depth, m:
average 0.8-1.2
fluctuations 0.3-2
Pond bottom Clay
Water exchange, 10-20 days
The period of formation of the food supply,
day 10-25
Daily ration based on body weight, % 2-4.5
The density of planting of larvae in the pond,
thousand pieces/ha 300-600
Selected indicators of the aquatic environment
Temperature regime, °C 6-26
Active water reaction, pH Neutral
O2 content, mg/l 5-8
Biotechnology regulations
Yield of fingerlings, % 45-60
Average weight of fingerlings, g 8-16
Transport containers Boxes, baskets
Duration of transportation, hours:
wet environment 48
dry environment 6-8
Commercial return from fingerlings to
natural reservoirs, % 15-25
Average weight of commercial crayfish, g 35-50

Crayfish meat is distinguished by its juiciness and high taste, and is regularly in demand on the market. Growing and breeding crayfish at home can be a profitable business, since these aquatic inhabitants are ubiquitous in fresh water bodies in temperate climates.

Features of breeding and methods of growing crayfish at home with photos and videos will be described in this article. With its help, anyone can raise these aquatic creatures in their dacha.

How to breed crayfish at home

Growing crayfish at home is a simpler process when compared to mussels or shrimp. They are found in many freshwater bodies, so creating suitable conditions for their reproduction will not be difficult.

Breeding at home requires constant presence. You also need to think about the fact that to collect the catch you will have to drain the water in the pond or install special traps (Figure 1).

Note: A good option would be if you find a body of water directly next to the river. Then it will be possible to make a good flow: you take water from the river into it and take it out.

Before you start breeding crayfish at home, study all the necessary literature, and also visit farms where they are grown.

Figure 1. Features of raising animals in artificial reservoirs

The first specimens need to be purchased in special stores, and not caught from the river. It is desirable that the reservoir has clay or sandy soil. Particular attention should be paid to the water temperature. Experience has shown that old females should not be kept in the pool for more than 3-4 months, as they can eat their cubs. Consequently, after the females lay eggs, they are moved to another tank, and the eggs are left separately.

If you want to breed them for wholesale, you need to be certified.

Home breeding technology

There are several technologies for breeding: naturally - in a pond, home pond or aquarium, and an expensive method - industrial, with the installation of a closed water supply (Figure 2).

With the first method, large expenses are not required, since they feed on natural food contained on the bottom. But under such conditions, they grow slowly because they hibernate, and because of this, they gain marketable weight only by the age of three. The second technology is considered more successful, where a decorative pond is set up on the site, individuals are released into it and periodically fed so that they gain weight faster. With this method, the crustaceans will all go into hibernation.

Figure 2. Methods of growing in bathtubs and aquariums in home and industrial conditions

If you want to raise livestock all year round, a more expensive technology will suit you. To do this you will need: a heated room, several containers, a system for constantly ensuring optimal temperature, circulation, water purification and oxygen saturation. This method is good because individuals do not hibernate due to the constant temperature of the water in the containers. Therefore, you will see profits faster.

Any species can be grown using this method, the main thing is to create comfortable conditions for their life. To do this, the bottom needs to be covered with clay, crushed stone, coarse gravel or lined with stones. At the bottom of the reservoir you need to install shelters: pipe fragments, branches, stones, snags.

To organize a drain in the far part, install a pipeline with a protective mesh. Next, according to the technology, the reservoir is insulated so that the crayfish do not die. The finished pond at home is filled with clean water, without heavy impurities and chlorine, and the livestock is populated. Every two weeks a drain is made, draining a little less than half of the old water to preserve the microclimate.

How to choose a place for breeding

It is better to choose a place for a pond near a river. An ideal place to live would be a coastline with inlets and aquatic vegetation. The bottom of the reservoir should be hard (clay or sand), with the addition of stones and limestone.

If there is a small pond on your site, then the soil near the shore should be such that individuals can build burrows, or you will have to install shelters for them manually. They often build their burrows on steep, shady banks where there is less sun. For example, in the reeds or on the banks where willow, willow, and acacia grow. The main thing is that the water in the reservoir is clean, because freshwater species love cleanliness.

Growing crayfish at home: video

If you want to start growing crayfish at home, we recommend watching a video that shows how to organize this process for beginners.

Growing crayfish at home

The main place for cultivation is ponds. They are natural and artificial. Regardless of what type of pond you use, it should be insulated. They can also be grown in aquariums, swimming pools and ponds.

Having decided on the breeding site, the livestock is released into it. There should be two females per male, but no more. Water must be clean and of high quality, without impurities. Several times a month it will be necessary to change approximately 30% of the total volume of the tank, this will preserve the microclimate and update the oxygen balance. To replace water, you need to provide drainage and supply systems, and the holes need to be covered with a mesh. Water can be taken from clean water reservoirs or from a well. The water temperature should not fall below 15 degrees, this will allow individuals to grow faster.

Note: For better survival of juveniles, females should be placed in separate containers, and when the small crustaceans hatch, they should be removed, this will allow the crustaceans to grow.

Young animals eat the same foods as adults. Typically, these are dead fish, meat, bread and vegetables. You can also purchase special food for crayfish. The main thing is that the food contains fats, protein, fiber and calcium. Under natural conditions, they feed on anything - carrion, algae, frogs, worms, small fish.

They molt several times a year, at which time they are very vulnerable. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor their diet so that they do not eat their relatives.

Note: It is most profitable to breed blue crayfish; they grow faster and are more fleshy.

The technology of breeding crayfish in a pond is very popular. By following certain rules, large and fleshy individuals can be grown even in a small country pond (Figure 3).

Peculiarities

A pond is a natural and most suitable habitat. The main thing is that there is clean water in it, otherwise the livestock will decrease or even die. In the cold season, having given up food, crayfish hibernate. To prevent this, greenhouses are built over reservoirs.

Figure 3. Arrangement of a breeding pond

For crayfish to live comfortably in a pond, you need to properly equip it. It is advisable to have a pond on your property, as there are many who like free crayfish. Do not place the pond in a sunny place. The pit area should be more than 50 square meters, two meters deep, and the bottom should be flat. The pond should be lined with polypropylene sheets; it is safe for crayfish. Next, the bottom must be covered with stones and sand so that individuals can build burrows for themselves. The shore of the reservoir should be clayey, and grass should be sown around it.

When breeding in ponds, it is important to ensure an influx of fresh water, aeration and to prevent algae overgrowing; for this, the bottom must be periodically cleaned. In addition, the pond should be filled with plankton.

In general, breeding crustaceans in a pond has both positive and negative aspects. The first is that the cost of maintaining a reservoir is minimal and feeding does not require large expenses due to natural food. Disadvantages include a long payback period, low stocking density and a long growth period.

More information on how to breed crayfish in a home pond is shown in the video.

Rules

In order for cultivation to be successful, it is necessary not only to equip the reservoir properly, but also to follow certain recommendations.

Among the basic rules for growing crayfish are::

the pond should be located in shaded areas;
the banks are strewn with rich clay and planted with plants;
periodically plant algae and other plants to recreate natural living conditions;
a third of the water needs to be changed several times a month;
The pond needs to be cleaned periodically.

Also, units are installed in the reservoir to aerate the water so that the individuals living in it receive a sufficient amount of oxygen.

Breeding crayfish in the garage

Growing in a pond can be called the standard method. But there are also more unusual options, for example, breeding in the garage.

From the sections below you will learn how to properly set up a crustacean room so that you have access to their meat all year round.

Peculiarities

Before you start breeding arthropods, it is important to think about whether you can provide the conditions they need. After all, they react very sensitively to water pollution and decreases in water temperature. In addition, you need to choose a room. This could be a garage, the area of which should be at least 50 square meters (Figure 4). There you need to clean and prepare the room; if necessary, it should be insulated. You need to place one light bulb in the center of the ceiling, because crayfish do not need a lot of light. You will also need three large containers. One for adults, the second for teenagers and the third for babies. When placing all the crayfish in one tank, the adults may begin to eat the young.

Figure 4. Arrangement of a garage for breeding crayfish

Sandy soil is laid on the bottom, then various driftwood, stones, and pipe fragments are placed, which will serve as shelter for the crayfish. Each container must have a drainage and water supply system, because the liquid must be changed frequently. The holes in the drain pipe must be lined with fine mesh.

The next step is purchasing the individuals themselves in special stores. You just need to buy them, and not catch them in an ordinary body of water. It is important to remember the proportion of the sexes, namely: one male needs two females, but not three.

The water needs to be changed several times a month, replacing a little less than half the volume. This will enrich the water with oxygen and preserve minerals and microclimate.

Crayfish feed on algae, so they need to be regularly fed with fish, worms, cereals, bread, and special food. During the breeding and molting season, they especially need good nutrition.

Rules

As with other breeding methods, growing crayfish in a garage follows certain rules:

the room should be spacious, if necessary, the walls and floor should be insulated;
all individuals should be purchased at specialized points, taking into account the fact that there are two females per male;
The water temperature should not fall below 15 degrees, otherwise the crayfish will hibernate.

In addition, in artificial conditions, crayfish need balanced food, but overfeeding should not be allowed.

Breeding crayfish in a greenhouse

You can also breed crayfish in a greenhouse, because according to the climatic conditions, this room is excellent for growing these arthropods (Figure 5).

However, when growing in a greenhouse, you should still take into account all the breeding rules described above.

Peculiarities

In countries with cold climates, to reduce the duration of crayfish hibernation or completely eliminate it, they use the method of insulating ponds, where crayfish breeding can be carried out in winter. To do this, a polycarbonate-based greenhouse is erected over the pond. You can convert an ordinary greenhouse into a thermos greenhouse, where the solar collector warms up the water in the pond. Such a greenhouse is good for use when breeding in northern territories. You can also use industrial greenhouses. Due to their dimensions, they transmit a large amount of light and heat.

Figure 5. Arrangement of a greenhouse for breeding crayfish

Under such conditions, the air temperature in the cold season will be 3-12 degrees. Water at this temperature will not freeze, which means nutrition and growth will continue. Thanks to this, the crayfish will grow faster and reach marketable size.

The cost of equipment will depend on the type and size of the greenhouse. It must be remembered that the insulation of part of the ponds must be taken into account at the design stage, since standard models of industrial greenhouses impose restrictions on the size of the reservoir.

Rules

When planning breeding in a greenhouse, you should take into account the number of individuals and the expected size of the reservoir. Based on these parameters, a greenhouse is also built.

In addition, it is better to immediately build the structure from polycarbonate, since this material transmits light well and retains temperature, but at the same time provides a stable microclimate.

Australian red claw crayfish: breeding

To breed the Australian Red Claw, special conditions are needed. This breed is the most “fleshy”. Their breeding is possible only in closed reservoirs with additional heating. At home, they are bred in aquariums with a volume of at least 100 liters. It is quite possible to contain 3-4 crayfish there at the same time (Figure 6).

When arranging a reservoir, you need to take into account the fact that crayfish periodically rise to the surface. They need shelters for eating, resting and during the molting period. To do this, you need to arrange holes in advance, set up driftwood, locks, and pots. The optimal water temperature is 20-26 degrees; temperatures above 36 and below 10 degrees will be destructive for them. Australian crayfish are very sensitive to copper levels in water.

Figure 6. Peculiarities of growing Australian red claw crayfish

This species is not picky when it comes to food: it eats well dead fish, bread, vegetables, peas, algae and combined feed. Beech or oak leaves must be present in their diet. Feed regularly with snails, earthworms or frozen live food.

Along with crayfish, you can also grow certain types of fish. Inexpensive, fast-growing species are suitable for this, because there may be cases of overeating and death of more fastidious fish. It is better to buy ordinary guppies.

Breeding aquarium crayfish

Aquarium crayfish need fairly clean water with a temperature of 21-27 degrees (Figure 7). High water hardness guarantees the possibility of building a shell after molting. To increase water hardness, you can put limestone or marble in the soil. Acidic water is not acceptable for these animals.

Note: If you decide to keep only aquarium crayfish, then an aquaterrarium with a small area of land will be more suitable for you.

Breeding crayfish in an aquarium requires the creation of artificial conditions with which they must be provided. Therefore, you need to put stones, sand, clay, driftwood at the bottom - this will resemble natural conditions and make it possible to dig holes. The soil should be coarse, especially if there are living rooted plants. In an aquarium, crayfish need oxygen, so it is necessary to ensure constant aeration and filtration of the water.

Figure 7. Setting up an aquarium for growing crayfish

In the wild, crayfish love to wander along the shore in search of something edible. It is advisable to give them the same conditions in the aquarium; for this you can take an ordinary driftwood that will protrude above the surface of the water.

Based on the fact that crayfish like to walk on land, the aquarium should be covered with thick glass with a gap corresponding to the body of the container.

Note: The desire of crayfish to get out of the aquarium intensifies when the water quality is low, there is a lack of shelter, or it is overcrowded.

Crayfish feed on various mollusks, tadpoles, worms, and insects. During the molting and breeding season, they need more food.

Reproduction under artificial conditions mainly takes place after molting. The female lays eggs 20 days after mating. Juveniles are very shy; they spend most of their time under snags or behind ledges.

Breeding crayfish in an aquarium is good because you can control the temperature, hardness and other parameters of the water. Also, by growing crayfish in an aquarium, the larvae will be protected from enemies, and mortality from unfavorable factors will also be reduced.

Crayfish farming as a business is a new, non-competitive topic in the business world, but one that is rapidly gaining momentum. It is especially understandable and pleasant for farmers or summer residents who have both an area and a hectare where they can “walk around” and bring such an interesting business idea to life.

Types of crayfish for breeding

To start breeding crayfish, it is enough to purchase adult females and males (in proportions 2:1 or 3:1) from river fishing enthusiasts or from large commercial crayfish breeding companies (specialized fish farms), given that for further reproduction, females can lay 100 eggs

Types of crayfish for breeding:

Australian crayfish - the most fleshy and most suitable for breeding at home under artificial temperature maintenance, namely in an aquarium.
Marble crayfish- suitable for cultivation, like the Australian one, in special conditions and warm water. Reproduction is unisexual (parthenogenesis).
Armenian and Altai crayfish - based on reviews from farmers in Russia, they are the most popular both in taste and in breeding.

European long-toed - a breed of crayfish that grows quickly and adapts well to any conditions.

It is necessary to remove fry from all crayfish individuals so that they do not suffer from cannibalism.

Breeding crayfish in an aquarium or pool

If you do not have the opportunity to grow crayfish in natural conditions (or there is no opportunity to create such conditions, for example, a pond) or your climate is too cold for this fishery, then you can use aquariums for this.

What is needed to grow crayfish in an aquarium:

A well-heated room with a closed water supply system; the room temperature should not be lower than 15 degrees for the normal functioning of your “pets”.
Pools with a volume of at least 250 liters of water are preferably large in area and not very high, in order to reduce the density of crayfish per square meter (the estimated density is no more than 50 crayfish per pool of 250 liters).
Plastic pipes, cut to a length of 20 cm (during molting, crayfish can eat their “brothers”, so it is necessary to provide them with shelter).
Aerator for enriching the aquarium with oxygen.
Equipment for catching and special devices for transporting crayfish.
You can use special “feeders” for crayfish so that leftovers from feeding do not contaminate the pool (aquarium).
The temperature of running water in the pool should be 5 degrees. These are optimal conditions not only for overexposure of the cancer, but also for the cancer to become active in search of food and molt.

Aquariums are good not only because they save the farmer from inconvenience, but also because they can set the necessary temperature for more active growth of crayfish, their reproduction and weight gain, which will consequently increase the turnover of your business. Well, it’s worth mentioning that there is no “wintering” for crayfish raised in an aquarium, which will bring profit to the entrepreneur faster.

Business plan for breeding crayfish in an aquarium

To breed crayfish in aquariums you will need special equipment:

The actual swimming pools (aquariums). Swimming pools for country use are also suitable here (if they are framed, it is necessary to prevent the frame from coming into contact with water so as not to change the usual habitat of crayfish) - about 200,000 rubles for 4 pieces.
Aerators for swimming pools - 60,000 rubles.
Oxygenator mainly for young individuals - 70,000 rubles.
Various instruments for measuring water quality - an oximeter - 20,000 rubles, a special device with the functions of a conductometer, salinity meter and thermometer - 7,000 rubles.
Food for six months - 20,000 rubles.

Total costs for a year of doing business will be about 450,000 rubles. Next year, costs will decrease significantly, and the productivity of crayfish will increase. Therefore, a business plan for breeding crayfish is considered quite profitable and pays off in 2 years. If you don’t know what a business plan is, then read it.

Breeding crayfish involves creating artificial habitat conditions for arthropods similar to their natural environment. You can grow arthropods both outdoors and indoors, provided you have the necessary equipment and follow the rules of care.

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What kind of crayfish is best to breed?

Popular types of crayfish in artificial breeding are presented in the table:

	Dimensions	Peculiarities
Blue Cuban crayfish	Small, from 6 to 12 centimeters in length	Becomes sexually mature and reaches adult size in just six months. Unpretentious in food, loves water at temperatures up to 25 °C. The female lays up to 200 eggs once a year.
Australian red claw crayfish	Large, up to 30 centimeters in length and 400 g in weight.	Sensitive to maintenance conditions: dies at temperatures below 15 °C and above 30 °C. In addition, it requires at least 20 liters of water per individual. Extremely prolific: having reached the age of ten months, females bear offspring of up to a thousand eggs several times a year.
Marble crayfish	Medium size, 10-15 centimeters in length.	Reaches puberty at five months of age. Hermaphrodite, produces offspring alone, bearing up to hundreds of eggs several times a year. In Europe and the USA it is prohibited from sale as it poses a threat to local crayfish species.
European broad-toed crayfish	Large, up to 30 centimeters in length and 800 grams.	Low fertility. They reach sexual maturity at three years. The female bears about a hundred eggs. The natural population in Europe is almost destroyed by crayfish plague. A vulnerable species, catching is prohibited in many regions of the country.
European long-fingered crayfish	Large, size up to 30 centimeters and weight up to 700 grams (Armenian subspecies).	Widely distributed, there are many subspecies. Relatively unpretentious, but not fertile: it becomes sexually mature at two to three years. The female bears up to two hundred eggs.

Where to buy crayfish for breeding?

It is quite difficult to buy purebred crayfish larvae in Russia. Most likely, the farmer will have to raise the young animals himself.

Ways to purchase crayfish:

At the supermarket. There is a high probability of receiving specimens weakened from transportation (with overdried gills, overheated) or specimens rejected by breeders.
Purchase fertilized females from a manufacturer specializing in a specific breed. It is more expensive, but you can count on high-quality livestock. In addition, experts will certainly share the intricacies of arthropod breeding in a particular region and help you avoid mistakes.

Where to breed?

Arthropods are grown:

in natural reservoirs;
in artificial reservoirs;
in swimming pools;
in aquariums.

In the pond

The pond is the natural habitat of crayfish. However, it should be remembered that the Russian climate imposes restrictions on the breeding of arthropods in the open air.

Pond requirements:

depth from two meters;
location on its own territory to avoid poaching;
rocky bottom with sand to create shelters and burrows;
sandy or clayey shores shaded by vegetation;
area - at the rate of five to seven copies per square meter.

Crayfish coexist well with peaceful fish, but there should be no predators in the reservoir that feed on arthropods and their eggs.

Advantages of raising crayfish in a pond:

low costs for maintaining or creating a reservoir;
Water purification most often occurs naturally;
reduced feeding costs: crayfish feed on plankton, algae and insect larvae.

Disadvantages of raising crayfish in a pond:

Slow population growth and reproduction: when temperatures drop, crayfish hibernate. Accordingly, in regions with cold winters, breeding arthropods in a pond is not practical.
Low population density per unit area.
Long payback period for business.

In the garage

To breed crayfish in a garage, you need to take into account a number of requirements for such a room:

Arthropods can be kept:

in aquariums installed on multi-tiered racks;
in large pools - at least two (the first will contain adult individuals, the second - young animals).

You cannot keep different types of crayfish in the same body of water, pool or aquarium.

Equipment needed for breeding crayfish in the garage:

filters (need to be changed three times a year);
compressors that enrich water with oxygen;
heaters;
devices for monitoring oxygen levels and water temperature.

Photo gallery

Filter Compressor Heater Thermometer

In the greenhouse

In cold countries, when breeding crayfish, pond insulation is practiced. To do this, structures are erected over the reservoir - most often made of polycarbonate, which transmits light well and retains heat. In such ponds, the duration of arthropod hibernation is significantly reduced; accordingly, crayfish grow faster and reproduce more actively.

The cost of re-equipping a reservoir will depend on the type and size of the greenhouse, but it can pay for itself within a year.

In aquarium

The easiest way to grow crayfish for yourself is in an ordinary apartment. A stable microclimate will allow arthropods to do without hibernation altogether, constantly gaining weight.

For continuous breeding, it is advisable to have three aquariums:

for adults;
for mating;
for young animals.

It is very easy to regulate all water parameters in an aquarium. In addition, with this method, significantly fewer larvae die from enemies and unfavorable factors. The population density in some cases reaches 350 individuals per square meter. The only disadvantage of this method is the area limitation imposed by the size of the container.

Breeding crayfish in an aquarium from Oleksandr Yashchykov.

Crayfish, in comparison with many animals that are bred en masse for sale, are relatively unpretentious.

specifics of feeding;
nuances of breeding and reproduction;
probable diseases and methods of their prevention;
features of molting.

What to feed crayfish?

Crayfish are omnivores; they, among other things, do not refuse carrion and practice cannibalism.

Food in natural conditions:

earthworms;
snails
plants;
insect larvae;
fry.

It is not difficult to select the appropriate composition and amount of food for crayfish at home, taking into account a number of nuances:

the amount of food per day for one individual is approximately two percent of body weight;
young animals eat the same food - but it is better to chop it more thoroughly.

The diet of animals in captivity consists of:

steamed feed;
meat and meat products;
boiled potatoes;
fish;
grated carrots;
insects

More details about feeding crayfish are described in the video. Filmed by Dmitry Semenov.

How to breed?

There are certain requirements for the water in which crayfish live.

optimal temperature for a specific breed;
sufficient oxygen saturation.

Features of crayfish breeding:

High water hardness is necessary for the strength of the shell - for this, limestone or marble is placed in the ground.
It is advisable to provide the crayfish with the opportunity to get out onto land. To do this, it is enough to place a driftwood or stone in the aquarium, which will protrude above the surface.
Every two weeks, the water in the aquarium or pool needs to be updated, but no more than by a third. The restriction exists to ensure that the existing microclimate is not disturbed.

Reproduction of crayfish

Peculiarities of crayfish reproduction:

Crayfish from breeds popular in the industry mate several times a year. Females are smaller than males; the latter have more developed two pairs of legs near the abdomen, with which he holds the partner during fertilization. After mating, she immediately hides in her hole and tries not to leave it.
The male is able to cover two partners, and this exhausts him so much that he can, having fertilized, eat the third. Therefore, the ratio of females to males in a healthy population should be 2:1.
A month after mating, the female lays eggs, which are glued to the pseudopods on the abdomen. The cancer mother supplies the future offspring with oxygen and, continuously working with her tail, protects them from predators and pollution.
After a few weeks, the crustaceans hatch from the eggs. At first, they live under the female’s abdomen, gradually traveling further and further to find food.
Having reached a size of about three centimeters, the crustaceans leave the mother and become independent. In nature, no more than fifteen percent of the offspring survives, but in artificial conditions it is quite possible to save up to 90 percent.

Reproduction of crayfish Crayfish mating

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