Where and how to breed crawfish? How beneficial is the breeding of crayfish?

Anyone who at least once tried the meat of crawfish, knows how delicious and delicate it is. Currently, the breeding of these representatives of fauna in Russia is almost not mastered. Nevertheless, the demand for the product is high. Some rural residents manage to earn well on the crayfish fishery in their natural habitat, but in this way they negatively affect the natural population of these animals. Such fishing is inherently poaching. Even before the revolution, the territory of Russia was successfully engaged in breeding crayfish in an artificial environment. The meat received was exported to many European countries. The current state of affairs is such that the main suppliers of this product to the world market - Turkey, China and Spain, - countries where previously there was no cancer at all.

Pond

How to breed crayfish in ponds? First, clean the pond if it is silt or swampy. Neighboring cancers with carp, carp and other non-predatory fish are allowed. However, keep in mind that such a business will suffer with the advent of winter. This is because crayfish have the property of falling into a hibernation if the temperature of the air drops below fifteen degrees of heat. In a state of suspended animation they cease to consume food and, accordingly, do not increase their weight. If the pond completely freezes to the bottom, your pets will die.

Nevertheless, many businessmen are wondering how to breed crayfish in ponds, because such ponds are the most stable aqua systems that are capable of self-cleaning and self-renewal. At the same time, there is an opportunity to save a lot on the stern, filters and aerators. Cancers will eat with pleasure plankton, algae and insect larvae. The disadvantage is that in the natural environment, the growth of these animals is not fast enough. Commodity is gained about the fifth year of life. Thus, the business will start to generate revenue only after six years. It is attractive that almost no initial investment is required.

Aquarium

How to breed crayfish at home? To do this, you need an aquarium with a capacity of at least two hundred and fifty liters (frameless). At the bottom of the tank, fill the soil, and place the stones and driftwood there (your pets will hide behind them).

How to breed crayfish at home in such a way that they do not fall into hibernation? For this, it is important to take care that the water temperature fluctuates insignificantly and is not below fifteen degrees of heat. In addition, it is important to ensure high-quality filtration and aeration of the liquid. Under such conditions it is allowed to increase the density of planting animals to three hundred and fifty individuals per square meter.

The only drawback of the described business is its small volumes. The industrial scale is difficult to achieve due to the limited breeding area. However, some entrepreneurs came up with how to breed crayfish in an aquarium in order to get the maximum profit. At home, they grow larvae up to the "fingerlings", and only then release them into a natural or artificial pond. Thanks to this decision, it is possible to organize a successful business. But how to breed crayfish at home to minimize losses? The first place should be the control over water quality. In this case, not a lot of larvae will die, in addition, they will develop much faster.

Basement

How to breed crayfish at home, if you do not want to clutter the living area with huge aquariums? Use your cellar. For most people it plays the role of a place of storage of unnecessary things, and for you it will become a way of getting money. If necessary, it will be necessary to insulate the basement so that the crayfish do not fall into winter hibernation at a low water temperature. For the organization of lighting, get a lamp with a capacity of two hundred watts and hang it in the center of the ceiling. Equip the basement with multi-tier shelves to accommodate aquariums. After the completion of the preparatory work, it will be time to ask the question of how to breed crayfish.

Where to buy

It is not easy to buy larvae. Most likely, you will have to grow young ones yourself. You can buy crayfish even in the supermarket. Each male must have two females. In autumn, the time of mating begins. At the end of spring, females can easily be visually distinguished from males by the presence of caviar under the tail. A kilogram of these animals can cost you in the amount of three hundred to five hundred rubles. And even such small expenses can be avoided by catching crawfish on its own in the pond.

What to feed

How to properly breed crayfish so that they actively gain weight? To do this, it is important to organize a quality nutrition for them. Cancers prefer earthworms, insect larvae and small snails. In an artificial habitat, they will not give up steamed and crushed grains, boiled potatoes and grated carrots. These foods should make up most of the animal's diet. A valuable source of protein will be meat and fish. How to breed cancers without making mistakes in the process of their feeding? Calculate the daily rate of food animals. It should be 2% of their weight.

Features of reproduction

Mating takes place in September and October. Males are able to fertilize up to two females in a row. If they get a third, they just eat it. This fact is due to the optimal ratio of individuals of different sexes in the body of water (two females per males).

Initially, caviar is located in the animal under the shell. After shelving, it is fixed under the tail. In order for the embryo to develop properly, the female constantly bathes the eggs, thereby effectively cleaning it. Two months later, the larvae hatch. Another three weeks they are buried under the tail of the female in order to avoid many dangers. After this time, completely independent crustaceans leave the cozy shelter forever. In a natural habitat, each female is able to grow up to twelve larvae. More than twenty descendants a year it can not be. As for domestic conditions, this number can actually be increased threefold.

Moulting

Young crustaceans in the first twelve months of their life molt eight times. In the next two years they will have to go through this even seven to nine times. Adult individuals moult much less often - once or twice every 12 months. During this period, the old shell is simply discarded, as it becomes cramped for the growing animal.

How to breed cancers correctly? We need to pay special attention to them during the moult period, when the animal becomes especially vulnerable to attack not only of predatory fish and birds, but also of its relatives.

Diseases

The main ailments of cancers can be divided into infectious and invasive. The causative agents of the latter are parasites (most often microsporidia, branhii bodelli, trematodes and metacercaria). The most dangerous infectious diseases are plague and burn disease. They develop under the influence of various pathogenic fungi. In addition, the business may suffer from a decrease in the number of livestock due to overfeeding, insufficient filtration and aeration, a sharp change in the temperature of the water.

Place of breeding

If you are serious and plan to turn the breeding of crayfish into a highly profitable business, we recommend organizing a farm. Only in this case it will be possible to establish the production of a delicious product on an industrial scale. This will require the following:

- Incubation aquariums. It is very important that they are equipped with powerful heaters, compressors and a filtration system.

- Pools, where they breed crayfish, which have become independent individuals. There they need to grow up to the stage of thirties.

- Covered ponds. There should be at least two of them, but it's better to try to organize even more. Thus, the business will develop faster. The minimum area of the reservoir should be 25 square meters. M, and the depth is 2 m. Please note that in gas ponds, gas exchange is better. It is recommended that the water in them be flowing. That's why it's so important that the river runs alongside. If this is not possible on your farm, drill a few water wells.

At the bottom of the reservoirs, you must place shelters for crayfish. They can serve as fragments of pipes made of plastic or ceramic, stones, driftwood, etc.

An Important Moment

Which cancers are better for breeding? On the territory of Russia, the Far Eastern and European species are most common. The second is most often used on an industrial scale. They are subdivided into long-toed and broad-shouldered. The latter are the most valuable species. It is their abdomens in cooking called "cancer cervix". However, consider that this species is listed in the Red Book, so it is better to breed long-lobed crayfish. This way you avoid problems with inspection bodies.

Crayfish and lake cancers are also distinguished. The first ones are most suitable for home business, since they do not hibernate and can reach impressive sizes. However, there is one drawback: the lake crayfish is very capricious. For their breeding and successful maintenance will require a warm room area of at least twenty square meters. River crayfish are not so demanding, but differ in smaller sizes, respectively, and they are not so expensive.

When purchasing animals, do not miss out on the fact that there are no different types of cancers in one pond.

Cottage not only for beds

When constructing a reservoir on a plot of land, consider that it is very important for crayfish to have burrows. That's why the pond should be with clay banks and rocky bottom. It is very important that he was in your territory, then it will be possible to control the breeding process and protect animals from criminal encroachment.

How to breed crayfish in the country? If the site is large enough, it is better to organize three or four reservoirs. Of course, you can do on your own, but it's much easier to work with such a job excavator. Take the money and order the necessary equipment. After the completion of this stage of work, think about the improvement of water bodies. The bottom is better covered with stones and sprinkled with river sand. At the edge of the pond, plant grass (field or garden).

Then start the organization of water disposal. To do this, you can use a conventional pipe, which is closed with a latch on top. Put a net on the pipe so that the crayfish do not have the opportunity to leave the pond by a peculiar tunnel.

The most exciting moment is filling the foundation pit with water and launching the first crayfish. Now comes a period of constant concern for the habitat of animals. Do not forget to change the water every two to three weeks. It is better to update the pond by about a third, so as not to violate the established microclimate.

Is it profitable to breed crayfish?

To get at least one ton of these animals in a few years you will need to purchase about six hundred individuals. The main costs are for the start-up period. They are about 120 thousand rubles. For the equipment of reservoirs and 50 thousand rubles. To buy young animals. With an investment of two hundred thousand rubles, you will earn your first million in about two years. Of course, these are only approximate calculations. In fact, revenue depends on the prices of sales. In addition, consider that the more crabs, the more expensive they are.

How to sell?

The absence of problems with points of sale is one of the main advantages of this business. The fact is that at present the competition in this sphere is low, and this is with a constant deficit of cancers. Your product may be interested in numerous restaurants, cafes, bars. As a rule, they prefer wholesale suppliers.

And do you know that salted caviar of crayfish practically does not yield to red on taste and nutritious qualities? This can also be emphasized in the search for buyers. In addition, in various types of production, the chitinous shells of the examined animals are surprisingly used in their properties.

Conclusion

We have considered in detail the question of how to breed crayfish. This business is profitable, but do not expect instant profit. Proper organization of the habitat and careful care of the crayfish are the key to success.