Crayfish In The Pond - Breeding Features. Optimal Water Conditions, Feeding And Care. Photo

Table of contents:

Crayfish In The Pond - Breeding Features. Optimal Water Conditions, Feeding And Care. Photo
Crayfish In The Pond - Breeding Features. Optimal Water Conditions, Feeding And Care. Photo

Video: Crayfish In The Pond - Breeding Features. Optimal Water Conditions, Feeding And Care. Photo

Video: Crayfish In The Pond - Breeding Features. Optimal Water Conditions, Feeding And Care. Photo
Video: TOP 30 TIPS AND FACTS ABOUT FRESHWATER CRAYFISH BY FISH TANK AQUARIUMS 2018 2024, March
Anonim

Breeding crayfish is an interesting and profitable activity. If you already have a reservoir in the country, then the costs will be minimal, and the result can be impressive. If there is no reservoir, then, of course, the idea of breeding crayfish in a pond will be out of reach until you dig it up. But the pond in the country is not only crayfish or fish! It is also a stable access to water for irrigation, it is a beautiful design (if, of course, you set yourself such a goal), and for the soul, a reservoir in the country is the very thing! In general, if you do not have a pond, read this article. Perhaps the idea of breeding crayfish in the country will push you to organize a reservoir. And there and to crayfish - a stone's throw!

Crayfish in the pond - breeding features
Crayfish in the pond - breeding features

Content:

  • Benefits of breeding crayfish in a pond
  • Where and what to buy crayfish for the pond?
  • Cooking a reservoir
  • How to feed crayfish?
  • Where do crayfish hibernate?

Benefits of breeding crayfish in a pond

Raki is a delicacy that the owners of grocery stores, cafes and restaurants are willingly buying up. But even if you cannot find a sales market, you will always have tasty, fresh products rich in proteins and microelements - for your family and for your own consumption.

These arthropods are omnivores and the females are very prolific. One season will be able to reproduce 50 of its own kind!

It is possible to breed crayfish not only in a reservoir, but also in an aquarium or in special containers in basements. Unlike the last two cases, crayfish in the pond will hibernate in winter, do not gain weight, and, in general, will be unavailable for consumption.

But on the other hand, crayfish in the pond will not require the purchase of special equipment to create optimal conditions, and no premises are needed. And if you work correctly on creating a favorable microclimate in the pond, then you will not be required to care for and feed the crayfish in the pond, since over time they will switch to complete self-sufficiency. In fact, you only need to regulate their population, serving a tasty and healthy delicacy to the table in a timely manner.

Where and what to buy crayfish for the pond?

Experts advise to contain no more than 9 crayfish per 1 m² of pond. They can be purchased from special farms. Find the latest will help advertisements on the Internet. It is very useful to ask if there are similar farms in your region, or maybe someone from summer residents or residents of nearby villages is already breeding these arthropods. Then you can buy "zoned" crayfish, they will definitely feel good in your area.

When buying, it should be borne in mind that in 1 season 1 female is able to lay up to 450 eggs (but on average this figure is 100). And only half of the crustaceans will then hatch. That is, next year the number of crayfish will increase by an average of 50 times (sometimes up to 200 times). But small crustaceans will need less space than adults (up to 300 individuals can live on 1 m²). This should be taken into account when you buy your first crayfish.

As a rule, adult crayfish 3-4 years old are bought for breeding (for one male, two females). This is done in August-September. And in October they will begin the mating period. Cubs will appear in May-June. Already at the age of 20 days, they will begin to feed on their own.

For breeding crayfish in summer ponds, long-toed crayfish (narrow and long claws and a rough shell, body length 20 cm, male weight - more than 300 g) and wide-toed crayfish (wide claws, smooth shell, body length about 15 cm) are most suitable.

Long-toed crayfish (Pontostacus leptodactylus) naturally live in the Moscow region, on the Middle Volga, in the Astrakhan region. They are very prolific.

Broad-fingered crayfish (Astacus astacus) live naturally in Northern Europe. They have a massive neck, abdomen, paws, but grow very slowly.

Important! Only one breed of crayfish can be bred in one pond!

Long-toed crayfish (Pontostacus leptodactylus)
Long-toed crayfish (Pontostacus leptodactylus)
Broad-fingered cancer (Astacus astacus)
Broad-fingered cancer (Astacus astacus)

Cooking a reservoir

The pond in the country should be checked for readiness to accept crayfish as new settlers. If a stream flows into the pond, a drain must be made. Otherwise, running water will not warm up well, and in cold crayfish they grow poorly, sometimes die.

It would be nice to check the quality of its water before putting crayfish into the pond. It is better to take the samples to a laboratory, where they will tell you if there are any chemical contaminants in the liquid. If this is not possible, then take a spacious basin, pour water from the pond there, provide an aeration system for oxygen supply, put in some food and start several individuals.

If the crayfish after a short time try to get out of the container, then most likely this water is not suitable for breeding them. If they behave calmly here, then this water can be used to breed them.

Cancers are not for nothing considered indicators of pure water. They will not live in water contaminated with household or chemical waste. In addition, an acidic pond is not suitable for them. And in such a pond, crayfish will like:

  • depth 2-5 meters;
  • rich coastal aquatic vegetation, covering part (but not all) of the bottom;
  • sandy or clayey coastal bottom with the presence of limestone rocks, stones;
  • the soil of the shore and the bottom is such that crayfish can easily build their burrows, although they can live under snags, stones and stumps.

For crayfish, you can make small houses in the water. To do this, take plastic pipes, on one side of which be sure to put on covers. Then the cancer will crawl into the free hole and feel protected from three sides.

The natural pond in the country must be checked for readiness to accept crayfish as new settlers
The natural pond in the country must be checked for readiness to accept crayfish as new settlers

How to feed crayfish?

It's great if you start breeding crayfish in the "old" reservoir. The necessary ecosystem has already developed here - there are plants necessary for crustaceans. By eating elodea, hara, hornwort and other plants and algae, crayfish accelerate calcium metabolism, and this contributes to hardening of the shell after molting.

Under natural conditions, in addition to vegetation, crayfish feed mainly on invertebrates - worms, molluscs, insects and larvae, small crustaceans and fish. Despite the careful care of females for offspring, large crayfish can eat smaller ones. Therefore, in summer cottages, it is advisable to feed them, even if the pond is old - with an ecosystem suitable for crayfish.

They begin to feed the crayfish in the spring, when they have already activated after the winter dormant period. Here are some plant foods you can sometimes give to these arthropods:

  • almost all cereals, steamed or boiled until tender;
  • legumes in an amount of no more than 10% of the total feed;
  • lettuce leaves;
  • carrot;
  • cucumbers;
  • spinach;
  • zucchini.

Also, crayfish will not give up:

  • pieces of fish:
  • chicken offal;
  • lean meat and offal;
  • bloodworms.

Crayfish food can be scattered over the entire pond area. But it is better to put it in the feeders to see if all the food has been eaten. Then you can determine how often to feed the crayfish in a particular body of water.

They usually consume food in the evenings. You can feed these animals every 2-3 days. But if there is a developed ecosystem in the pond, then with the help of feeders you should find out how often crayfish eat in your pond.

When these arthropods grow up, they are caught with crayfish or taken out of coastal houses. Large specimens are used for food, and small ones are again released into the pond for growing.

You can feed crayfish with steamed or boiled cereals
You can feed crayfish with steamed or boiled cereals

Where do crayfish hibernate?

Maintenance of the natural reservoir and the crayfish that inhabit it will be minimal. It is important to maintain the depth of the pond so that it is at least 2 m. Since the depth of any water body becomes less over time, it is better to immediately use a pond with a "spare" depth. The depth of the reservoir, first of all, is important for the wintering of crayfish.

In the cold season, the water below in the reservoir is warmer than above, so the crayfish will hide here, burrowing into the clay bottom. If it is not like that, you should pour clay on the bottom of the reservoir with a layer of 30 cm or put pipes made of this material (where the crayfish will be taken), then pour gravel in some places. It is also important to put large branches, small sawed-down trees near the banks, directly into the water, which will be natural shelters for these animals.

If the reservoir begins to be covered with a thick crust of ice in winter, it is necessary to make several holes for oxygen access. This technique is also necessary when fish live in the pond together with arthropods. You can make holes using a conventional submersible pump or use other available means for this.

Recommended: