Wedding

Artificial pond for breeding crayfish. Breeds of crayfish and features of their cultivation. Capital investments

Anyone who has tried crayfish meat at least once knows how tasty and tender it is. At present, the breeding of these representatives of the fauna in Russia is practically not mastered. However, the demand for the product is high. Some villagers manage to make good money fishing for crayfish in their natural habitat, but in this way they negatively affect the natural population of these animals. Such fishing is essentially poaching. Even before the revolution in Russia, they were successfully breeding crayfish in an artificial environment. The resulting meat was exported to many European countries. The current state of affairs is such that the main suppliers of this product to the world market are Turkey, China and Spain, countries where previously crayfish were not found at all.

Pond

How to breed crayfish in ponds? For starters, if it is silted or swampy. The neighborhood of crayfish with crucians, carps and other non-predatory fish is allowed. However, keep in mind that such a business will suffer with the arrival of winter. This is due to the fact that crayfish tend to hibernate if the air temperature drops below fifteen degrees Celsius. In a state of suspended animation, they stop eating food and, accordingly, do not gain weight. If the reservoir completely freezes to the bottom, your pets will die.

Nevertheless, many businessmen are wondering how to breed crayfish in ponds, because such reservoirs are the most stable aquasystems capable of self-purification and self-renewal. At the same time, it is possible to save a lot on feed, filters and aerators. Crayfish will happily feed on plankton, algae and insect larvae. The disadvantage is that in the natural environment, the growth of these animals is not fast enough. The mass of goods is recruited approximately at the fifth year of life. Thus, the business will begin to generate income only after six years. It is attractive that the initial investment is practically not required.

Aquarium

How To do this, you need an aquarium with a capacity of at least two hundred and fifty liters (frameless). Fill the bottom of the tank with soil, and also place stones and snags there (your pets will hide behind them).

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

The only drawback of the described business is its small volumes. Industrial scale is difficult to achieve due to the limited breeding area. However, some entrepreneurs have figured out how to breed crayfish in an aquarium in order to maximize profits. At home, they grow larvae to "underyearlings", and only then release them into a natural or artificial reservoir. Thanks to this solution, it is possible to organize a successful business. But how to breed crayfish at home to minimize losses? In the first place should be control over water quality. In this case, not very many larvae will die, in addition, they will develop much faster.

Basement

How to breed crayfish at home, if you don’t want to clutter up your living space with huge aquariums? Use your basement. For most people, it plays the role of a place to store unnecessary things, and for you it will become a way to receive money. If necessary, it will be necessary to insulate the basement so that the crayfish do not hibernate at low water temperatures. To organize lighting, purchase a two hundred watt lamp and hang it in the center of the ceiling. Equip your basement with tiered aquarium shelving. After completing the preparatory work, it will be time to ask yourself how to breed crayfish.

Where to buy

Buying larvae is not easy. Most likely, you will have to raise the young on your own. You can buy crayfish even in the supermarket. There should be two females for each male. Mating season begins in autumn. In late spring, females can be easily visually distinguished from males by the presence of eggs under the tail. A kilogram of these animals can cost you from three hundred to five hundred rubles. And even such small expenses can be avoided by catching crayfish yourself in the pond.

What to feed

How to properly breed crayfish so that they actively gain weight? To do this, it is important to provide them with high-quality nutritious food. Crayfish prefer earthworms, insect larvae and small snails. In an artificial habitat, they will not refuse steamed and chopped grains, boiled potatoes and grated carrots. These foods should make up the bulk of the animal's diet. Meat and fish are valuable sources of protein. How to breed crayfish without making mistakes in the process of feeding them? Calculate the daily food intake of animals. It should be 2% of their weight.

Reproduction features

Mating takes place in September and October. Males are able to fertilize up to two females in a row. If they come across a third, they will simply eat it. This fact determines the optimal ratio of individuals of different sexes in the reservoir (two females per male).

Initially, the caviar is located in the animal under the shell. After laying, it is fixed under the tail. In order for the embryos to develop properly, the female constantly washes the eggs, thereby effectively cleaning them. After two months, the larvae hatch. For another three weeks, they rest under the tail of the female to avoid many dangers. After this time, completely independent crustaceans leave their cozy shelter forever. In the natural habitat, each female is able to grow up to twelve larvae. She cannot have more than twenty descendants a year. As for home conditions, this number can really be tripled.

Moult

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

How to breed crayfish correctly? It is necessary to pay special attention to them during the molting period, when the animal becomes especially vulnerable to attack not only by predatory fish and birds, but also by its relatives.

Diseases

breeding sites

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

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

- Pools where crayfish are bred, which have become independent individuals. There they need to be grown to the stage of fingerlings.

- Covered ponds. There should be at least two of them, but it is 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. Keep in mind that gas exchange occurs better in elongated ponds. It is recommended that the water in them be running. That is why it is so important that a river flows nearby. If this is not possible on your farm, drill some water wells.

At the bottom of the reservoirs, be sure to place shelters for crayfish. They can serve as fragments of pipes made of plastic or ceramics, stones, driftwood, etc.

Important point

What are the best crayfish to breed? On the territory of Russia, Far Eastern and European species are most common. The latter are most often used on an industrial scale. They are divided into long-toed and broad-toed. The latter are the most valuable species. It is their bellies that are called "crayfish necks" in cooking. However, keep in mind that this species is listed in the Red Book, so it is still better to breed long-clawed crayfish. This way you will avoid problems with the regulatory authorities.

There are also lake and river crayfish. The former are most suitable for home business, because they do not hibernate and can reach impressive sizes. However, there is one drawback: lake crayfish are very capricious. For their breeding and successful maintenance, a warm room of at least twenty square meters will be required. Crayfish are not so demanding, but they are smaller in size, respectively, and they are not so expensive.

When purchasing animals, do not lose sight of the fact that crayfish of different species do not live in the same reservoir.

Dacha not only for garden beds

When equipping a pond on a personal plot, keep in mind that it is very important for crayfish to have holes. That is why the pond should be with clay banks and a rocky bottom. It is very important that it be on your territory, then it will be possible to control the breeding process and protect animals from criminal encroachments.

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 it on your own, but an excavator will cope with such work much easier. Do not spare money and order the necessary equipment. After completing this stage of work, think about the improvement of reservoirs. It is better to cover the bottom with stones and sprinkle them with river sand. Plant grass (field or garden) along the edge of the pond.

Next, proceed to the organization of water disposal. To do this, you can use a regular pipe, which is closed from above with a valve. Put a net on the pipe so that the crayfish do not have the opportunity to leave the reservoir through a kind of tunnel.

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

Is it profitable to breed crayfish?

To obtain at least one ton of these animals in a few years, you will need to purchase about six hundred individuals. The main costs are in the start-up period. They amount to approximately 120 thousand rubles. for the equipment of reservoirs and 50 thousand rubles. for the purchase of young. With an investment of two hundred thousand rubles, you will earn your first million in about two years. Of course, these are just rough estimates. In fact, income depends on selling prices. Also, keep in mind that the larger the crayfish, 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 area is low, and this is with a constant shortage of cancers. Numerous restaurants, cafes, bars may be interested in your product. As a rule, they prefer wholesale suppliers.

Did you know that salted crayfish caviar is almost as good as red caviar in terms of taste and nutritional qualities? This can also be emphasized in the process of finding buyers. In addition, chitin shells of the considered animals, amazing in their properties, are widely used in various types of production.

Conclusion

We have considered in detail the question of how to breed crayfish. This business is profitable, but don't expect instant profits. Proper organization of the habitat and careful care of crayfish is the key to success.

The article is a unique material based on the author's method of intensive cultivation of crayfish in the conditions of central and northern Russia. This extensive business manual includes a complete list of equipment, a detailed plan for organizing a crayfish farm, a list of permits, an intensive method of breeding crayfish, as well as information on capital investments and expected profits.

The first one is creation of artificial reservoirs, with a total area of 920m². One part of the ponds (320m²) will be completely covered, with water that does not freeze all year round, the other part of the ponds (600m²) will be open, for growing crayfish in natural conditions.
The second is mastering the intensive method of growing crayfish, which includes: species selection and breeding, feed composition and feeding, monitoring of aquatic environment parameters and farm maintenance.
The third is creation of an implementation network, which includes all kinds of marketing channels, the correct capture and transportation of live crayfish.

As a result, taking as a basis the one presented below for growing crayfish, the owner of the farm receives up to 30 centners of finished products per year, with an average cost of 500 rubles. for 1 kg.

What is the essence of the intensive method of growing crayfish and the relevance of the business idea?

According to the latest market research of crustaceans and molluscs in Russia from 2012, the main suppliers of this beloved delicacy are Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Altai and Krasnodar Territories. Moreover, the share of imported crayfish from Altai and Kuban is very small, since the extraction of crustaceans occurs by natural fishing, and the quality of the supplied lots is at a low level.

And it would seem that the situation is completely favorable for the cultivation of crayfish in an industrial way, where the total volume of production can be maximized and sold at the best prices. For example, as is done in the state of Louisiana (USA) 2000 farms, receiving up to 50 thousand tons of crayfish per year and earning about 100 million dollars. Or partly in Ukraine, where the number of crayfish grown in artificial reservoirs is approaching 10 tons.

However, the problem lies in the biological characteristics of breeding crayfish, which grow in natural conditions for a very long time, gaining marketable weight by 4-5 years of age. That is, in the middle lane and in the north of Russia, they do not grow at all for 5-7 months and partially hibernate. Moreover, industrial equipment, which is used in Europe and the USA to obtain commercial cancer in a short period of time, is ineffective in Russia, since huge funds will have to be spent to heat the crayfish hangars.

Therefore, to the question: "What to do?" we get a simple and efficient solution: use a method based on growing crayfish in indoor ponds and reservoirs which gives the entrepreneur a number of advantages:

Obtaining the first batch of commercial cancer in just 1.5 years, where each individual individual can reach a weight of 300 grams, at a wholesale cost of 500 rubles. for 1 kg!
The problem of sales has been completely solved, since this type of product is in constant and increased demand from bars, restaurants and similar establishments, including high demand in retail trade.
Lack of competition and the ability to influence pricing in the local market, due to the supply of really high-quality products.

Organizational and legal forms of conducting

The registration of an individual as is a prerequisite for setting up a crayfish farm. For crayfish breeding as a type of business, the status of the owner of private household plots is not suitable here, since in the future will have to issue a certificate of conformity for this product. And obtaining this document as part of the IP greatly facilitates this task.

OKVED and the form of taxation

According to the All-Russian Classification of Economic Activities (OKVED), crayfish breeding in artificial ponds falls under economic activity with the following wording: "Reproduction of fish and aquatic biological resources by agricultural producers", with code number: 05.02.01. Accordingly, an entrepreneur engaged in a similar type of business is automatically classified as an agricultural producer, and can choose (ESHN) as a form of taxation.

List of documents for opening a crayfish farm

In order to open a crayfish farm on your plot of land, you do not need to obtain any licenses and go through a number of approvals in various instances. For this purpose, it is enough to observe a few simple conditions, which we will consider in more detail.

Normative documents regulating the work of a crayfish farm:

So, based on paragraph 1 of article 40 of the Land Code of the Russian Federation, the owner of the land has the full right to build a pond, as well as use it for his own purposes, subject to urban planning, environmental and sanitary norms and rules.

And here the phrase “owner of the land” is of key importance. That is, the future owner of the farm must own this piece of land, and not use it on a leasehold basis. Otherwise, for the construction of a reservoir, you will have to go through a long process of obtaining various permits from various authorities.

Based on paragraph 2 of Article 8 of the Water Code of the Russian Federation, a pond or other watered body of water located on the territory of the land plot of the owner is his full property.

The main thing is that the pond or ponds are not connected to natural water bodies, which, in accordance with the same Water Code of the Russian Federation, belong to federal property.

In accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Fishing and Conservation of Aquatic Biological Resources", any aquatic biological resources living in such a pond are the property of its owner.

It should be added to this that according to the federal law "On Subsoil", the depth of the pond should be no more than 5 m. Therefore, this point in the construction of reservoirs should be taken into account.

List of documents for the sale of live crayfish

In the future, for the sale of live crayfish to both legal entities and individuals (shops, etc.), 4 types of documents will be needed:

Sanitary passport for a car for the transportation of crayfish.
Veterinary certificate form No. 2.
Declaration of Conformity.
Mandatory certification according to GOST R 50380-2005.

The first two documents, a sanitary passport and a veterinary certificate, are obtained from the local veterinary station. The very procedure for obtaining documents and the terms of their validity must be clarified on the spot. As for the declaration of conformity and certification of goods, they are issued by accredited bodies, for example, the local branch of Rosselkhoznadzor or commercial organizations.

Organization of a crayfish farm

Land plot

From the above, it becomes clear that the construction of a crayfish farm requires a piece of land that is owned. The farm site itself must meet certain requirements:

Land area - from 2000m² (20 acres).
Availability of convenient access for heavy equipment (excavator).
The most even surface.
The plot of land should not fall into the flood zone.

The layout of the ponds on the farm

In order to understand how to properly use a plot of land for a crayfish farm and according to what scheme to locate ponds, it is necessary to consider this point using a single example.

Suppose there is a land area 25m wide and 100m long, i.e. 25 acres. On one side of the site, for example, on the left, covered ponds will be built in the amount of 10 pcs. size 4X8m, located in length from east to west, with a distance between them of 3m. On the other side of the site, already open ponds will be erected, also in a quantity of 10 pieces, located from east to west, 6x10m in size, with a distance of 3m between them.

A natural question arises: "What is the purpose of indoor and outdoor ponds?".

That's just covered ponds and are designed for growing crayfish by an intensive method. Due to special equipment and polycarbonate coating, water in such reservoirs will not freeze even in the most severe frosts. Accordingly, crayfish will not fall into suspended animation, they will constantly eat, shed every 2 months and gain weight very quickly.

Two out of ten covered ponds are intended for the permanent maintenance of adult females and males. Two more ponds will serve as a kind of incubators, the rest of the covered ponds will be used to grow underyearlings.

But 10 larger open ponds will be used for growing crayfish in natural conditions.

- What is it for?

Firstly, it is very expensive to cover all 20 ponds with polycarbonate.
Secondly, the presence of open reservoirs allows for a more rational use of a piece of land.
Thirdly, these open ponds will give the entrepreneur the opportunity to obtain a rich assortment of products. That is, crayfish of different sizes and weights corresponding to the cost.

Well, in the future, as production develops, all ponds can be transferred to indoor mode and completely switch to an intensive method of breeding crayfish.

Pond Requirements

The pond must meet the following requirements:

The shape of the pond is strictly rectangular.
The side walls of the pond are even, with respect to the bottom they are at an angle of 90 °.
The bottom of the pond is even, with a given bearing capacity.
The depth of the pond is at least 2 m.
Sheathing of the pond polypropylene sheets with a thickness of 8 mm.

- Why is it better to use polypropylene sheets for cladding a pond?

For example, if the sheathing of the pond pit is performed using classical methods, i.e. using reinforced concrete or wood, the likelihood of water pollution increases dramatically. This is especially true for reinforced concrete structures, which tend to enter into a chemical reaction with water. Wood is also not recommended for use as cladding for pond walls. Firstly, it rots quickly, and secondly, the construction of wooden walls and their subsequent replacement is too expensive.

After the frame of the pond is mounted, a layer of large stones or broken ceramic bricks 20 cm thick is poured onto the bottom. A layer of coarse sand 10 cm thick is covered on top and then the pond is filled with clean water. Such bottom layering will serve as a kind of shelter for crayfish and at the same time become the basis for aquatic vegetation.

Equipment for a crayfish farm

Equipped ponds are the basis of the crayfish breeding business, through which the production stage of the plan is implemented. It is known that freshwater crustaceans are very demanding on the conditions of detention, especially on the quality of water. In this connection, the presence of ponds alone is not enough for successful breeding of crayfish and they must be equipped with appropriate equipment.

Pond cover

An ordinary polycarbonate-based greenhouse serves as a heat-insulating structure that will maintain the water temperature in the ponds within the specified parameters. Here you have two options:

The first is to convert an ordinary greenhouse into one, where a huge solar collector can easily warm up all the water in the pond. Such a greenhouse is perfect for breeding crayfish in the northern regions of Russia.
The second is to take advantage of, which, due to their large dimensions, capture and let in a lot of sunlight and heat.

pond frame

As mentioned above, the pond frame is best made from polypropylene sheets. This material is absolutely neutral to the aquatic environment, and with the help of polyfusion welding, polypropylene sheets are easily and quickly connected to each other, forming a durable, waterproof structure.

aerator

If you do not install an aerator of a given capacity in the pond, it is also an air compressor, then after a couple of months the pond water will stagnate, turn green, and no one will survive in it, except for mosquito larvae and other insects.

Oxidator

An oxidizing agent is needed to saturate the pond water with oxygen. This device is of particular importance in the winter season, when open ponds are covered with ice, and crayfish may lack oxygen. An oxidizer is installed at the bottom of the pond in late autumn and, using a cassette with dry hydrogen peroxide, gradually enriches the under-ice water with oxygen.

Flow filter

To maintain a high vital activity of crayfish, it is necessary to install a filtration system. Over time, the bottom of the reservoir, like water, becomes contaminated with food residues and waste products of crustaceans and other organisms that release toxic substances into the water. And if such a system is not installed in advance, then production volumes will drop sharply.

Measuring instruments

Since the quality of water, as well as its temperature, plays a decisive role in breeding crayfish, it is necessary to use the following devices to control its parameters:

Oximeter - measures the concentration of oxygen dissolved in water.
Salinometer - determines the level of salts in water and similar substances, and also gives an estimate of the total hardness of water.
Conductometer - measures the electrical conductivity of water, on the basis of which the effectiveness of cleaning systems is checked.

Table 1. A complete list of equipment for a 1100m² crayfish farm.

A photo	Name of equipment	Purpose of equipment	Cost in rub. for 1pc. or 1m².	Required quantity in pcs. or sq. m.	Total cost in rubles
		Construction of the pond frame
		Enrichment of water with oxygen
		Enrichment of under-ice water with oxygen
		Water purification
		Measurement of oxygen in water
		Determination of water hardness
		Determining the level of water pollution
Total: 2 million 913 thousand rubles.

Note. This figure of 3 million rubles required for equipment should not be taken as a mandatory component of the initial investment. After all, the general infrastructure of the crayfish farm does not have a rigid relationship. For example, it is possible to equip 2-3 covered ponds and in the future, using the profit received, gradually develop the enterprise.

Breeding and feeding crayfish

What type of crayfish is suitable for artificial breeding?

For breeding in artificial ponds, the long-clawed crayfish is best suited.

This species of crustaceans is ubiquitous in the water bodies of central Russia. He is the least demanding of the conditions of detention and, with good care, quickly gains marketable weight. Cases have been recorded when the record-breaking crayfish caught reached a length of 35 cm and weighed up to 700 grams!

But the problem is different: where to get the right amount of long-clawed crayfish? Buying live crayfish from Kazakh or Altai suppliers is pointless, since the crayfish they import belong to different species, and their very condition upon arrival at the place of transportation leaves much to be desired. There are no specialized crayfish farms in Russia. Therefore, there is only one way out - to engage in independent catching of viable and healthy individuals.

But how many crayfish you need to catch and at what time of the year it is best to do this directly depends on the density of planting adult crayfish per 1 m² and the characteristics of their reproduction.

Stocking density of adult females and males of crayfish

Table 2. Chemical indicators of water for keeping adult crayfish and juveniles.

If initially it is not possible to determine the water indicators, then the crayfish are placed at the bottom of the pond at the rate of 3pcs / 1m².

Reproduction of crayfish

In its natural habitat, the Long-clawed crayfish mates in October-November, at a water temperature of 4-6 degrees, and only in late spring, when the water warms up to 15 degrees Celsius, the crayfish females begin to spawn. Based on this, we draw a simple conclusion: crayfish for breeding should be caught in August-September, before the mating period, and according to the scheme of the crayfish farm, their number will be 384 pcs., where 256 pcs. there will be females and 128 pcs. males. That is, for the correct placement of all caught crayfish, 2 indoor reservoirs will be needed.

After the required number of crayfish is caught, the most important process begins - reproduction. And here, thanks to the non-freezing pond water, mating of females takes place not in late autumn, but in early spring, sometimes in February. Accordingly, this process must be monitored and controlled.

- How to do it?

The first sign that the crayfish are ready to mate or have already begun to do so is the water temperature - 4-6°C. The second sign by which the fertilization of eggs is determined is the presence of a white hardened mass of spermatophores in the lower part of the female's cephalothorax. When the number of such females increases during control captures, they are caught and transferred to a separate incubator pond, while controlling all phases of spawning, egg maturation, and developmental stages of fry.

In a more concise form, the whole breeding process is as follows:

Mating time for females is February-March.
Spawning occurs at a water temperature of 14-15 degrees Celsius.
The maturation of eggs from spawning to the eye stage takes 7-10 days at an optimum temperature of 21-24 degrees.
The first stage of fry after hatching is 1-7 days.
The second stage of fry after hatching 5-8, then the first molt occurs, and the crustaceans pass to active feeding.
The third stage of fry after hatching is 14-20 days. Juveniles are completely similar to adults and can feed on their own and do without the care of their mother.

Advice. To quickly lower or raise the temperature of the water in the reservoir, it is enough to increase or decrease its volume.

As a result, from the period of spawning to obtaining viable juveniles, it takes about a month. During this time, the female crayfish is able to bear 40-50 fry on her underbelly. After that, the females are caught again and transferred to the old place. And crustaceans, as they grow, are gradually distributed over free ponds in accordance with the planting rate.

Feeding and feeding crayfish

Table 3 Feed recipes for the entire age category of crayfish in % ratio.

Note. Some expensive components, for example, fish or can be completely replaced with fish or meat waste. That's just the percentage of meat and fish waste should be doubled in relation to their dry counterparts.

Feeding of crayfish is carried out in the morning or evening hours at the same time. The daily feed intake is 0.2% of the total wet weight of crayfish. For females during the spawning period, this rate increases by 0.7% and decreases to 0.3% by the end of the month. An important role in the diet of crayfish is played by aquatic flora and fauna, which include algae, river plankton, and insect larvae. Therefore, ponds must be “populated” and “planted” with similar living creatures and plants in advance.

For more accurate calculations of the norms for giving feed, we present practical example.

So, there is a covered pond with an area of 32 m², in which there are 192 one-year-old fingerlings. (6pcs/m²). Their total weight will be about 30 kg (150g. One individual). One percent of 30kg will be 0.3kg, and 0.2% of 0.3kg will be only 60g of compound feed. This is how the meager daily norm of giving feed is obtained. At the same time, a batch of live crayfish weighing 30 kg, according to the most conservative estimates, will pull 8-9 thousand rubles. And for a year, such a number of crayfish will eat no more than 25 kg of feed.

How to quickly establish distribution channels for live crayfish?

Another of the advantages of the intensive method of breeding crayfish is manifested in the process of their implementation. The owner of such a farm does not need to rack his brains over how to sell huge, multi-ton lots of live crayfish, which is constantly confronted by large fishing companies.

It is enough to find in advance several restaurants, bars or just a group of people who want to purchase such a valuable food product. And subsequently, at any convenient time of the year, even in summer, even in winter, to catch the necessary batch of crayfish, for example, 100-150 kg, to issue a vet on them. form 2 certificate and calmly distribute them to catering outlets, which are unlikely to refuse to diversify their menu with freshly cooked crayfish.

Feasibility studies for starting a business

Capital investment *

Expenses for the construction of ponds: 300,000 rubles.
Equipment and accessories for ponds: 2,913,000 thousand rubles.
Purchase of land: 60,000 rubles.
Purchase of feed: 100,000 rubles.
Other expenses: 200,000 rubles.
Total: 3,573,000 rubles.

* Capital expenditures, in this example, are conditional and are given for the reader's understanding of the approximate order of investments required to open a crayfish breeding farm (approx. Moneymaker Factory).

How much can you earn?

Revenue calculation:

Production of crayfish per year: 12 thousand 500 pieces.
The total weight of the crayfish is 2500 kg.
The average cost for 1 kg is 500 rubles.
Revenue for the year: 1,250,000 rubles.

Annual expenses:

Electricity: 9 thousand rubles.
Compound feed: 12 thousand rubles.
Other expenses (transport, veterinary): 100 thousand rubles.
Total: 121,000 rubles.

Profit calculation = 1,250,000 rubles. - 121000 rub. = 1,129,000 rubles. **

ROI: 2.5 -3 years

** The size of the profitability of activities according to the expert opinion of the author of the article and is conditional, presented for the reader to understand how profitability is calculated (note from the Moneymaker Factory).

Video with experience from the USA

We have already talked about that, and about. Now let's pay attention to such an entertaining aspect as the adaptation of a country reservoir for breeding crayfish.

Preparing a pond for crayfish

If you haven't laid out a crayfish pond yet, choose a shallow spot for it where the soil contains a fairly high percentage of clay. It is good when bushes and sprawling trees grow along the banks, which give shade. A prerequisite for breeding is the presence of a duct, that is, a barred drainage drain. At the stage of laying the reservoir, it should be noted that there should be no metal elements: these amphibians do not like them.

The maximum depth of the reservoir for breeding crayfish should be 2-2.5 meters. Gentle banks and shoals are obligatory, where the depth reaches no more than 40 cm.

Take a look here:

Organization of the pond

The chronology of the process is as follows:

1. Laying a pond (read about this in the section), installing an aerator.

2. Institution of water.

3. Settling of water: 4-5 weeks.

4. Laying algae and snags.

5. Settlement of crayfish.

In their natural environment, crayfish hide under snags, stones and burrow into silt, so you need to provide them with appropriate shelters. In addition, it is necessary to populate the pond with algae. We do the "settlement" of the flora after the water settles.

Crayfish grow most intensively at a water temperature of 18-22 °C. They prefer water of low (3 - 4 mg equiv / l) and medium (4 - 8 mg equiv / l) hardness at slightly alkaline pH values (7.2 - 8.8). The critical water pH for crayfish is 4.6. The content of sulfate and chloride ions should not exceed 10 mg / l, and total iron - 0.3 mg / l.

How to calculate the number of young animals? To do this, please note that under ideal conditions per 1 sq.m. 4 cancers get along. You can compact up to 5 heads per square meter. If for some reason you plan to get by with a minimum of individuals when populating the pond, take the material at the rate of 2 males per 1 female. Under favorable conditions for a reservoir of 5 sq.m. the annual increase in livestock will be 240 crayfish. However, keep in mind that in conditions of winter cooling, the processes of growth and reproduction freeze.

Features of breeding crayfish at their summer cottage

If you are looking into crayfish farming as a side hobby then just follow the tips above and enjoy a little water farming. It is a completely different matter if you decide to earn extra money on it. There are a couple of things to understand here:

for commercial success, you will need from 100 to 200 sq.m. reservoir;
before the first "wholesale" sales will have to wait several years;
you will be strictly limited in the choice of species (in particular, we recommend having a long-clawed crayfish);
you will have to purchase equipment so that the pond does not freeze.

Who Can Crayfish Live With?

It is a common misconception that in a pond you can start either fish or crayfish. However, practice shows that these animals sometimes come to symbiosis. With cancer can live:

carp;
roach;
crucian.

You can't start with cancer:

catfish;
pike
burbot.

Crayfish can eat each other, including during molting. To reduce their aggressiveness, temporarily transfer pets to plant foods.

Crayfish in the country pond

Breeding crayfish in the country Lately becomes fashionable. Not every summer resident will be able to do this, but if there is a desire, it is worth a try. What do you need to know and be able to do? Know: structure, life cycle and ecology of crustaceans. To be able to: maintain the necessary conditions in the reservoir.

The shell-clad body and 19 pairs of limbs testify to the ancient origin of these arthropods. Ancient crustacean scorpions reached more than a meter in length, and their modern descendants - lobsters, scorpions and well-known freshwater crayfish are significantly inferior to them in size, although they have an external resemblance. Despite their formidable appearance, crayfish are peaceful animals that consume plants and dead animals as food, they are orderlies of reservoirs.

The chitin-calcium shell inherited from ancient ancestors cannot increase as the cancer grows, so it has to be discarded. Moulting crayfish sheds not only its outer case, but also the membrane of the gills, eyes, and even the esophagus. Of all the solid parts of the body, cancer leaves only white calcium formations located in the walls of the stomach - gastroliths. In the Middle Ages, they were called "crayfish stones" and considered a miraculous medicine, but in fact, gastroliths are a depot of calcium, which, after molting, is spent on recreating the shell and other solid organs. Crayfish molt the first year of life 8 times, the second 5, and then 1-2 times a year. The molt is especially dangerous for juveniles - the soft-bodied crustacean becomes an easy prey for any predator. Adult crayfish also do not always successfully molt, it happens that a claw gets stuck in the old shell, then the cancer rejects it in order to free itself (but like many other arthropods, crayfish are able to regenerate lost limbs).

Crayfish mate in the fall, then the females lay 100–300 eggs each, which they carry under their belly all winter and spring, washing them with water with the help of swimming legs. In June-July, offspring hatch. Small crustaceans at first hang motionless on the legs of the female, after the first molt they try to leave her (but in case of danger they hide under her abdomen), and after the second molt they move on to independent existence.

Crayfish lead a solitary lifestyle, their shelters under stones or snags are vigilantly guarded by exposing their claws. Therefore, in the breeding pond, it is necessary to equip a sufficient number of cubbyholes and add wood material (fragments of branches, roots) to construct shelters. In search of food, crayfish leave their shelters late at night, “graze” all night and return home early in the morning, before sunrise. They do not go far from shelters, especially females and old males. In late autumn, crayfish go to the deep places of the reservoir. They are not afraid of crayfish and a long stay without water.

IN last years pollution of water bodies and (as a consequence) an increase in epidemics among crayfish populations in the rivers and lakes of Europe led to a sharp reduction in their numbers. The most affected species was the broad-toed crayfish (with a smooth, without thorns shell and a bright ruby color of the body and claws), which has been harvested since ancient times. Therefore, it is better, without depleting natural resources, to breed crayfish in a pond.

Native species of crayfish are suitable for breeding: northern broad-toed and southern long-toed. Currently, biotechnology is being developed for the artificial breeding of signal crayfish (introduced species) with white spots with a blue border on the claws. Signal cancer does not suffer from crayfish plague, it grows rapidly. When growing juvenile crayfish, I recommend using the technology of accelerated development, when the time of embryonic diapause is reduced by temperature exposure. As a result, the crustaceans hatch in early spring and become much larger and more viable by autumn.

Crayfish breeding can be practiced from May to October, until the water freezes in reservoirs. First of all, it is required to dig at least three reservoirs on the site. The soil must have low water permeability to avoid water loss due to seepage. Areas with meadow soils and poorly permeable soils (clay, loam) are best suited. Sandy soils can be used to build a pond by reinforcing dams, slopes and its bed with plastic wrap, and the top of the film must be covered with soil. The size of one reservoir is 5x10 m, shallow, the bottom is sandy, with rocky shelters, aquatic plants can be planted in the coastal part. Running water is carried out to the dug hole and a drain is arranged, fenced with a fine-meshed strong mesh.

Naturally, much will be determined by the size of your site, but special attention should be paid to the layout of the pond bed, good water supply and the possibility of a complete discharge of water. It would be ideal if the stream flows through the site, then the reservoir is provided with running water, and several reservoirs in a row can be made on the path of the stream. When breeding crayfish, it is necessary to carefully monitor the quality of the water. You can make a water analysis at any sanitary and epidemiological station or in an agrochemical laboratory. Water should be free from various impurities, have no foreign odors, tastes and colors. The presence of free chlorine, hydrogen sulfide and methane in the water is unacceptable (these substances can provoke a death or an outbreak of diseases).

Crayfish-producers are placed in ponds, and food is placed on special wooden trays. You can feed crayfish with pieces of meat, fish, potatoes. After a few months, the crayfish will begin to multiply, one pair of crayfish can produce about 30 young crustaceans per year. It takes 3-5 years from the stage of eggs of broad-clawed crayfish to the commercial size, narrow-clawed crayfish grow faster. The larvae of the first stage emerge in May-June, they can be grown in the same pond or transplanted to another. One-year-old crayfish are caught and transplanted into feeding ponds, where the stocking density is lower.

Well-developed crayfish are eaten, mainly as a beer snack. They are boiled in boiling water, adding salt, dill, pepper. It is necessary to cook crayfish over high heat, maintaining it as such throughout the cooking. Cooking time, as a rule, is up to 25 minutes, and a bright reddening of the shell is an indicator of readiness. In any case, you do not need to save on salt, because the crayfish is covered with a shell and therefore does not absorb salt well. Dill in the pot can be put in the form of seeds or roots, it gives the crab meat a special piquancy in taste. If spices are not used or used in insufficient quantities, then crayfish meat may seem tasteless to you. To enhance the flavor, it’s not bad to add spices such as a couple of onions cut into halves, currant leaves or cherries while cooking crayfish. They can also be boiled in beer, cucumber pickle, milk and wine.

A. Lenshin, assistant

Departments of St. Petersburg State University

Newspaper "GARDENER" №54, 2010

For farmers and fish farms, crayfish, including long-toed and broad-toed crayfish, are of great interest as the main or additional object of cultivation.

Biology of crayfish

Fauna of European water bodies in con. 19th century became more diverse due to the introduction of American striped, signal and red marsh crayfish, as well as Australian red claw crayfish and yabi. The exception is the USSR.
The broad-toed crayfish has powerful non-closing, and its long-toed relative has somewhat flattened claws that close. The reason for this difference is the presence (first case) or absence (second case) of a notch between the fingers.

Taste qualities are higher in broad-clawed crayfish. There is more meat in his claws. At the same time, there are also many edible parts in the long-toed Kuban and Don crayfish.
The minimum water temperature of reservoirs in summer, in which crayfish prefer to live, is 15 degrees. More thermophilic - long-clawed crayfish. In comparison with the broad-toed, it is less demanding on the oxygen content. The habitats of the broad-clawed crayfish are deep reservoirs with clear water and a stable regime, the long-clawed crayfish are flat rivers, backwaters, flowing lakes.

Breeding and cultivation of crayfish in ponds

In pond fish farming, crayfish are grown in small drain or non-dump ponds. The second content option makes it possible to create a self-reproducing herd. In this case, captured egg females, males that have reached puberty, or young individuals move into the reservoir. In practice, it has been proven that it is more rational to introduce underyearlings at the rate of five individuals per 1 sq. m. usable area of land suitable for animal burrows. The recommended time for the introduction of underyearlings is the second half of August. Only in this case, the crustaceans will fully master the reservoir before wintering.

The following year, yearlings are re-launched into the reservoir. The number of animals is the same. In the middle lane, crayfish reach puberty in the third, fourth year of life. Therefore, the herd becomes self-reproducing after about five years. It is already possible to catch adults from it - annually up to 20% of adults.

Crayfish are caught with crayfish traps. Pieces of fish or meat are used as bait. On the basis of many farms, crayfish are caught with cast nets.
Possibly autumn settling in the discharge ponds of underyearlings (four individuals per square) with subsequent catches of adult 40-gram individuals every two years. The live weight of crayfish caught in specialized elongated ponds is approximately equal to 4 q/ha.

It is possible to grow replacement young stock in small ponds, the area of which is 0.1 ha, and the depth is 1.2-1.4 m. There should be no more than five producers per square meter of the reservoir. To obtain 100 underyearlings, one egg female is required. Therefore, sexually mature males and females should be quite a lot. Producers are fed with fish feed, slaughterhouse, kitchen waste, low-value fish ... The feed is distributed on the feed tables. Feed more efficiently before sunset.

Technology based on growing crayfish in discharge ponds makes it possible to control the planting of aquatic organisms and other production processes. In this case, you can create shelters for crayfish. In farms, it is more efficient to grow animals in outlet nursery ponds. Broad-clawed crayfish grows best in flowing reservoirs when fresh, clear water is supplied to them. Long-toed crayfish shows good results in stagnant ponds, if the oxygen concentration in the water is more than 4 mg / l at pH - 7-8.

In commercial fish farming, a technology has taken root that provides for the cultivation of crayfish with peaceful fish species. We are talking about carp, silver carp, crucian carp, tench, grass carp…
Planting density of crayfish of different age groups in commercial fish farms, pcs./sq.m.:
- fingerlings - 30. The output of production of fingerlings of the Kuban crayfish in the farms of the Kuban reaches 15 centners per hectare when receiving the same amount of stocking material for carp and herbivorous fish;
- two-year-olds - 3-5.

Of the underyearlings and two-year-olds, approximately 70% of individuals survive by the end of the growing season. In order to increase the survival of crayfish, they are given additional protection: the banks are lined with stones, embankments are made of stone and rubble, islands are made of dense soil, which allows crayfish to dig holes. Broken drain pipes are a safe haven. Long-toed crayfish may not need to create additional protection, since it makes good use of silt and aquatic vegetation as a refuge.

Crayfish habitats and their diet

The lifestyle of crayfish is sedentary, food falls at night. During the day they are in a hole.
We can speak of a high density of habitation if there are more than two mature individuals per square. Convenient places of water for the life of crayfish are coastal areas of the pond with steep and steep banks and dense soil, in which animals make burrows 10-20 cm long. Although crayfish are devoted to their burrows, they are characterized by migratory behavior, especially diurnal foraging migrations from deep areas to the overgrown shallow water zone.

The hydrochemical composition of crustacean reservoirs is bicarbonate-calcium, which is the reason for the sensitivity of this object of commercial fish farming to the calcium content in the water. Cancers do well in both neutral and slightly alkaline water, but not outside of these boundaries.
By the way, crayfish are a kind of indicators of pollution of water bodies.

The optimum temperature regime is 19-21 degrees, water hardness is low, medium; reaction - pH 7.2-8.5.
The growth rate of these animals is primarily determined by the food supply. The smallest algae and zooplankton serve as food for juveniles at the beginning of development. The natural diet of grown-up and adult crayfish includes young shoots of aquatic plants: hornwort, hara, elodea, uruti, pondweed, horsetail, chastukha, reed, reed, sedge, etc. Hornwort, hara, elodea, pondweed contain lime, necessary for cancer not only for nutrition, but also for building a shell, since calcium is not absorbed directly from water by cancer.

Food of animal origin is one of the factors that guarantees the intensive growth of cancer. Under natural conditions, cancer feeds on insects, tadpoles, frogs, and fish. It should be noted that animal food comes across to cancer by chance, and it is represented mainly by weak small individuals. More accessible are mollusks that are eaten whole (together with solid parts of the body).

The mouth of the crayfish consists of three pairs of mandibles, including two pairs of lower and one pair of thick upper jaws.
Cancer is not a food competitor of fish. This indicates the possibility of its cultivation in polyculture.
If carp underyearlings are grown in the pond, crayfish are fed with trout and sturgeon feed. Both of them are subject to preliminary crushing.

crayfish reproduction

Sexually mature are two to four year old crayfish. The duration of the breeding season is from two weeks to a month. In the central regions of Russia, crayfish mate in October-November; in the south - in February-March.
During the breeding season, the male wanders along the bottom of the reservoir, watching for the female. Catching up, he overturns her on her back. When mating, the male pours out a rapidly hardening seminal fluid near the genital openings of the females. One male can fertilize up to five females, so there are always fewer males in breeding ponds than females.

A hungry male is dangerous to females. Therefore, females are launched into the pond first. This is done so that they dig a hole for themselves - a permanent habitat. Cancers do not tend to live in other people's holes.
After 20-25 days after mating, the female lays dark-colored eggs in the pursed abdomen, which are attached to the legs of the abdomen. The number of eggs laid is 60-600 pcs. The fertility of females of the long-clawed crayfish is higher than that of the females of the broad-clawed crayfish.

Eggs develop within five to six months. After the first stages of crushing a fertilized egg (egg), the development of the embryo is interrupted by a dormant stage (diapause), which lasts 3-3.5 months in crayfish from northern populations. The development of the embryo continues only with an increase in water temperature, which occurs during the period of melting of the ice of the reservoir.

The hatching of juveniles begins in May-June. The average length of hatched crustaceans is 8 mm. They are located under the mother's abdomen. In juveniles, the caudal region of the abdomen (tail part of the body) is undeveloped.
For the first time, shed crustaceans crawl near their mother. Sensing danger, they hide under her belly. After the second molt, the juveniles move on to independent existence. The number of molts in the first summer of life is on average 7 times, in the second - 4, in the third - 3 times. In winter, the growth of crayfish stops, and therefore they do not molt. Crayfish live for about 7 years, some individuals reach 20 years of age. The mass of adult males is 150 g, and females - 90 g.

Usually ovary females and sexually mature males are caught in lakes, rivers, reservoirs in April-May. After the ice breaks, females can be found in warm coastal areas. This is where bait traps are set up. Caught crayfish before transportation are kept in a cage, which is located near the shore of the reservoir.

Diseases and molting of crayfish

One of the disadvantages of cancers is their susceptibility to various diseases. More often they suffer from plague (pathology destroys the population inhabiting large stagnant and flowing reservoirs in a couple of days). This problem can be diagnosed by elongated limbs, moving or standing animals, body spasms. Cancers affected by this disease, in any case, die. Sources of infection are fish, ducks, swans, geese and other waterfowl. There are no effective ways to deal with pathology. Everything is built on the quarantine of problematic reservoirs.

A large departure of the crayfish population is also possible during the molting period. Thanks to the hard shell, the size of the cancer before molting remains unchanged, only the mass increases. The formation of a new, soft shell occurs before molting. Molting consists in dropping the old shell. It takes from 5 minutes to 24 hours. The hardening of the new shell occurs within 6-10 days. During the molting period, the crayfish is helpless and especially suffers from the attack of enemies and fellows that are not in the molting stage. Enemies of cancer are predatory fish, otter, water rat, waterfowl. Moulting crayfish can become prey for frogs, snakes and omnivorous fish.

During the first molt, usually in June-July, only males molt, and in August-September individuals of both sexes already molt. Females molt after they are released from eggs and stop caring for offspring. Outwardly, females differ from males primarily in body weight and shape. Males have longer and more powerful claws, females have a wider abdomen.

Transportation of crayfish

On land, crayfish are able to breathe atmospheric air until the gills dry out - for several days if the animal is kept in a cool, shaded place.
For the transportation of adults, boxes or boxes (60x40x30 cm) are usually used.
Before transportation, animals are kept in water for a quarter of an hour. This minimizes (eliminates) the chance of suffocation.

The method of laying crayfish in containers is with their backs up in four rows, covered with grass, moss. Applicable gauze, shavings, straw. It is better to transport in containers at a slightly lower temperature. For this purpose, crushed pieces of ice are used.

In the past, crayfish were transported in a dried state. Approximately seven hours prior to packing, the crayfish were removed from the cage and placed on dry moss, straw, shavings, or other bedding material. For such an old-fashioned method, a shaded room is needed. Drafts are also unacceptable. The animal is ready for transport if drying on the palm of your hand or dry paper does not leave wet spots. Crayfish are placed with a tucked-in neck on the bottom of the container with the belly down and covered with cushioning material. The maximum height of the layers is 25 cm. The denser the crayfish are packed, the less likely they are to move during transportation.

Crayfish farming as a business

Just like any other type of business, crayfish breeding should begin with an analysis of market demand. To understand whether your product will be popular, you can go this way: ask catering establishments (cafes, restaurants), grocery stores, supermarkets, etc. whether they want to buy goods from you for subsequent sale. If in most cases your offer will be accepted with a bang, then you don’t have to worry about the fact that the goods will have nowhere to go.

You can try another option: to sell crayfish through your friends and acquaintances. Everyone knows the power of word of mouth, when some people tell others about a product, and those, in turn, tell the next, and so on. However, such a mechanism will only work if your product is of really high quality, and the pricing policy is acceptable to most people.

For farmers who have the opportunity to rent a plot of land, the best option is to breed this type of arthropod in an artificial pond. And it's completely easy to do so. All that is required for this is a pond of 30-50 m² with a depth of at least 1.5 m. On an average-sized farm, there are usually 2-4 such reservoirs. The main condition for such a pond is a clay bank and a bottom with stones.

Crayfish breeding is a great way to get additional income, which is primarily of interest to small farms, on the basis of which, along with fish, other farm animals are grown, including fur animals, poultry ... In such farms, crayfish will become excellent orderlies.

On the video: Growing crayfish in fish farms.