Jones, Clive (1995) Evaluation of six diets fed to redclaw, Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens), held in pond enclosures. In: Freshwater Crayfish X: Papers from the 10th International Symposium on Astacology. pp. 469-479. From: 10th International Symposium on Astaclogy, 10-15 April 194, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

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Abstract

Five formulated pelleted diets and one natural diet were led to redclaw crayfish held within 9 m2 cages fixed to the bottom of an earthen pond in a 6x4 randomised block experiment. Crayfish were stocked at a mean weight of 9.7 ± 0.13 and a density of 6. 7 per m2 in June and harvested 5 months later in November. Formulated diets varied considerably in composition, particularly crude protein which ranged from 18 to 42%. A sixth natural diet consisted of a combination of whole rice, lupin seed and raw potato. Food was provided to each cage 3 times per week to excess. Numbers harvested from each cage were severely affected by escape and to a lesser extent by water rat predation. In excess of 500 of the 1,440 experimental crayfish were captured outside the enclosures. Considerable growth was achieved in all cages, with one of the pellet diets significantly out-performing all others. Size at harvest from this superior diet averaged 45.8 g. Average size lor the other live diets ranged from 31.3 to 38.5 g. The mean size of escaped crayfish was 49 g. Due to the significant reduction in density in each cage because of losses attributed to escape and predation, the nutritional value of each diet was not completely tested. Nevertheless, the results suggest that at the densities which prevailed at harvest, the total protein level of the diet is of minimal significance, and other characteristics including those of a non-nutritional nature may be of greater importance. This supports the notion that a simple diet formulation which feeds the benthic microbial biomass is required for redclaw aquaculture, rather than a nutritionally complete diet formulation which feeds the animal.

Item ID:	31588
Item Type:	Conference Item (Scholarly Work)
ISBN:	978-0-9642382-2-0
Keywords:	redclaw, aquaculture, Cherax quadricarinatus, nutrition
Funders:	Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Projects and Grants:	Production Technology for Redclaw Crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus. FRDC 92/119
Date Deposited:	14 Sep 2017 00:13
FoR Codes:	07 AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES > 0704 Fisheries Sciences > 070401 Aquaculture @ 100%
SEO Codes:	83 ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND ANIMAL PRIMARY PRODUCTS > 8301 Fisheries - Aquaculture > 830101 Aquaculture Crustaceans (excl. Rock Lobster and Prawns) @ 100%
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