Assessment of stocking size and density in the production of redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens) (Decapoda: Parastacidae), cultured under earthen pond conditions

A Preliminary Assessment of Growth, Survival, Yield, and Economic Return of Australian Red Claw Crayfish,Cherax quadricarinatus, Stocked at Three Densities in Earthen Ponds in a Cool, Temperate Climate

“…While the present study indicates that there are no differences in growth for red claw stocked at either 12,000/ha (1.2/m 2 ) or 24,000/ha (2.4/m 2 ), growth data from the present study is in contrast to other studies (Pinto and Rouse 1996;Jones and Ruscoe 2000). Pinto and Rouse (1996) stocked red claw (5 g) at densities of 1, 3, and 5/m 2 and reported an average that growth rate was inversely correlated with density.…”

“…However, the duration of the present study was 70 days compared to 158 days used in Pinto and Rouse (1996), although they stocked a smaller (3 g) red claw compared to the size stocked in our study. Jones and Ruscoe (2000) stated that after 140 days, small (4.7 g) red claw stocked at 3, 9, or 15/m 2 had final weights of 45.2, 31.4, and 28.2 g, respectively, while large (17 g) red claw stocked at 3, 9, 15/m 2 had final average weights of 60.6, 46.3, and 43.9 g, respectively. Red claw stocked at 3/m 2 had significantly higher average final weight compared to red claw stocked at 9/m 2 and 15/m 2 for both stocking sizes (small and large).…”

“…Jones and Ruscoe (2000) stated FCR values between 1.4 and 7.4 for different sizes of red claw stocked into pens and fed a prepared diet. FCR values reported in the present study are similar to the value stated in Rouse and Kahn (1998) of 8.0 when red claw were fed a 32% protein pelleted diet supplemented with 250 kg/ha of dried alfalfa hay added to ponds every two weeks.…”

“…Only those factors of economic significance related to this experiment, as shown below, were considered. The ER index was modified from that used in Maguire and Leedow (1983) and Jones and Ruscoe (2000) in that a cost for electricity was based on farm records for cost of operating a 5-HP electric paddlewheel aerator pro-rated on an hourly basis ($0.33/hr. ), and a 15-year amortization on the cost of a 5-HP paddlewheel aerator (required to aerate a 1 ha pond since economic data are based upon a per hectare basis) are included in the equation:…”

“…However, the level of production of red claw in the U.S. may be intensive in nature so as to maximize yield. There is a report on pond-production of newly-hatched red claw (Jones 1995); however, there are only a few reports on pond-production of larger (>2 g) juvenile red claw (Brummett and Alon 1994;Karplus et al 1995;Karplus et al 1998;Rouse and Kahn 1998;Jones and Ruscoe 2000;Salame and Rouse 2000) and of these, only a few have been conducted in a cool, temperate climate.…”