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How to grow crayfish at home. Food base and species of crustaceans. Crustacean breeding is carried out

In the current economic conditions, a novice entrepreneur has every chance for a successful start of his own business. It is important to correctly prioritize and choose the scope of your efforts.

It is worth taking a closer look at such a type of business as crayfish breeding - very interesting direction. According to static data, there is an increase in the consumption of this product, while the supply remains limited.

prospects

The bulk of arthropods on the market is caught from natural reservoirs, which leads to a significant decrease in their population. Industrial breeding of crayfish in our country is extremely poorly developed.

Thus, the competition in this segment is relatively low. The growth trend in demand for this type of product remains unchanged, which contributes to maintaining prices at a fairly high level.

Like any business, breeding crayfish will require an initial investment, the amount of which is determined by the scale of the plans. Before making a responsible decision to open a business, the technology, experience of organizing business at other enterprises and other issues are studied.

After a comprehensive analysis of their capabilities and preliminary calculations, a final decision is made and a plan of preparatory measures is drawn up.

Video - video of Sevan Crayfish LLC, which supplies live crayfish in Krasnodar:

Business plan preparation

Middle lane and southern regions of our country are a natural habitat for crayfish, the cultivation of which is also possible in artificial conditions.

The habitat of arthropods is water bodies with enough clean water, rocky bottom and sandy shores.

Cultivation of crustaceans is carried out:

in natural ponds, lakes or rivers;
in reservoirs of artificial origin;
in specially equipped aquariums.

Each of the options listed above has a number of features and will require different costs to start the project.

The easiest option is the first, where the initial investment will be minimal, however, and the profits are much smaller. The explanation for this is quite simple: for the correct and rapid development of crayfish will require special conditions environments. The temperature drops in winter and water bodies freeze, while the optimum temperature for this process is about +16 C.

The best conditions for breeding crayfish can be created in aquariums, but the latter have serious volume limitations. This option will require the highest costs for the purchase of a whole range of equipment, the lease of premises of a sufficiently large area equipped with a heating system.

Medium in terms of cost - an artificial reservoir for breeding crayfish, located near the river.

In addition to the pond, young growth or larvae, feed, equipment and materials will be required. An entrepreneur starting this type of business does not have to count on a quick return on investment.

Practice and statistics show that the return on investment occurs approximately 5-7 years from the start of the project and reaching the planned level of production.

Organizing a crayfish farm

The first step is to attend to the registration of a newly created enterprise. One of the most common legal forms business organization in our country is. The easiest way to create an enterprise is to contact a law firm, where a package of necessary documents will be prepared for a relatively small fee.

The field of activity in accordance with the legal framework of OKVED has the code 0.121 - breeding and sale of crustaceans, fish and mollusks. When organizing an LLC, the authorized capital of the enterprise is contributed, minimum size- 10 thousand rubles. The created company is registered in the tax office and in all off-budget funds. After that, you can start business activities.

The next step is the selection of a suitable reservoir for breeding crayfish and its improvement. This is a responsible process that determines the success of the entire enterprise; the main thing depends on the quality of the implementation of this stage, whether favorable conditions for the life and reproduction of arthropods will be created.

Experts recommend: to cover the bottom of the pond with a special polymer film, which reliably isolates the reservoir from getting into it harmful substances from the ground. The material has high strength and will last at least 25 years if properly installed.

The next step in the organization of the farm will be the acquisition necessary equipment for breeding crayfish. The complete set includes:

Experienced entrepreneurs arrange a system of three or more reservoirs that communicate with each other. This contributes to an increase in the production of crustaceans and better selection of species. To reduce the impact external environment over the reservoirs, an overlap is arranged according to the type of greenhouses made of polycarbonate.

As the reservoirs are ready, larvae or young crustaceans are purchased, as well as feed in estimated quantities. The best implementation of the preparatory measures will create the best conditions for the start, and subsequently the development of the business.

Where to buy crayfish for breeding

The current practice in our country involves certain difficulties in acquiring the necessary amount of living material for settling water bodies.

Existing farms are extremely reluctant to sell larvae or young. The way out may be the acquisition of adults based on the ratio of two females to one male. Mating of crustaceans takes place in autumn; a fertilized female can be easily identified by the presence of eggs in a special bag under the tail.

The climatic conditions of the middle zone are quite acceptable for different types of arthropods. One of the promising species is the Australian red claw crayfish, the breeding of which can bring a good income.

The meat of this arthropod species is similar in taste and structure to sea lobsters, one of the most expensive delicacies. In our country, there is experience of successful breeding of these crustaceans on a specialized farm near Astrakhan.

Video - experiments on growing Australian crayfish near Astrakhan:

Most accessible view arthropods in our country are common crayfish. Their purchase is possible even in the supermarket, the main thing is that they are alive and healthy.

For an accurate answer to the question of where to buy crayfish for breeding, you should carefully study the offers from working and developing farms.

AT recent times crayfish farms are developing near large cities, which buy crayfish in other regions and supply them to retail chains and restaurants.

Video report from a farm near St. Petersburg, which supplies crayfish from various regions of Russia and abroad:

Breeding technology

In the pond

In this section we are talking about an artificial reservoir, which, before starting the livestock, needs careful preparation. In addition to preparing the bottom, a number of operations are performed:

A protective edge is constructed around the pond and a drainage drain is made on its outer side. This is necessary to prevent rain runoff and debris from entering the pond.
Trees are planted along the banks, one of the best species is the weeping willow, which will create shade.
It is necessary to provide different depths of the pond: near the shore - about 0.4 m in the middle up to 3 m.

The maximum allowable number of adult crayfish per one square meter pond area should not exceed 5 units. Before the settling of the descent reservoir, it is filled, after which the water is given time to settle for a period of at least two weeks, and preferably one month.

Upon the readiness of the reservoir, instrumental monitoring of water quality for nitrate content is carried out; for arthropods, exceeding the maximum allowable doses is detrimental.

With proper arrangement of the pond, crayfish do not need additional feeding, there is enough plankton, algae or larvae in the water.

To accelerate the growth of individuals, vegetable trimmings, compound feed, meat and fish waste, as well as cereals soaked in water are carried out. Feeding is carried out using special bottom devices that are removed from the water after a certain time.

This avoids contamination of the pond water, which can have a detrimental effect on the livestock and lead to the death of part of it. Strict adherence to the recommendations of specialists and the use of a full range of equipment to maintain optimal conditions for the life of crayfish will quickly achieve good performance.

In special aquariums

In artificially created environmental conditions, it is quite possible to achieve year-round growth of arthropods. For their maintenance, tanks of a special design with a capacity of at least 250 liters are required.

The bottom of the tank is covered with sand mixed with stones, snags are laid on them, which serve as natural shelters for crayfish during the period of gestation and laying eggs.

Crustaceans are extremely sensitive to water quality, the aquariums used must meet very stringent requirements. First, the possibility of contact of water with the frame metal should be excluded. Secondly, the tank must be equipped with a water supply system from the bottom. Thirdly, the installation of water filtration, aeration and oxidation systems will be required.

Two weeks before settling, the aquariums are filled with water and plants are planted in the ground. After that, crayfish are lowered into the tank at the rate of one individual should be at least 5 liters of water.

The technology of breeding crayfish in artificial conditions provides for the maintenance of decorative rocks such as Cuban blue. They are great decorations. home aquarium, however, before starting activities, you need to take care of a little marketing research. An agreement with large pet stores will facilitate the accelerated sale of grown products.

At home

This type of business on a relatively small scale can be done at home. To organize such a thing the best way the technology of home breeding of crayfish in pools or aquariums is suitable.

Each of the proposed options has its own specifics and will require the investment of certain amounts to purchase everything necessary and carry out a number of construction works.

The organization of breeding arthropods in aquariums is described above and there is no point in repeating. Let us dwell on the technology of growing crayfish in specially equipped pools in the country or on the site near country house.

At the stage of preliminary preparation, it is necessary to assess the possibilities of the land plot for the placement of an artificial reservoir with an area of at least 30 square meters. m and the performance of the water source.

For home breeding of crayfish, you will need not the usual rectangular pool with a flat bottom and vertical walls, but a reservoir with slightly different parameters.

Requirements for an artificial pond:

The most rational form is a circle or an oval with a diameter of 6 to 10 m, the bottom should look like a bowl with maximum depth 1.5-2 m in its center.
The bottom must be lined with a special film.
The pool is equipped with all systems that provide circulation, purification and saturation of water with oxygen.
Arranged along the shore of the pool drainage system for storm water drainage.
Devices are installed around the artificial reservoir to ensure shading of coastal areas

Such a pool for breeding crayfish can also be dug manually on your own or with the involvement of professional excavators. The amount of work is quite significant, but quite feasible.

The bottom of the pool is covered with river sand and stones and driftwood are scattered over it. Among other things, the necessary equipment is installed. The presence of overlapping and water heating systems in winter will increase the productivity of the pond.

Crustaceans in artificially created conditions grow and multiply faster. This is explained quite simply: arthropods do not hibernate and the process of reproduction of offspring is greatly accelerated.

The presence of several ponds, at least three, and preferably four five - on one site makes it possible to increase the yield of finished products.

Breeding crayfish in a country house will help you gain invaluable experience and get acquainted with the technology.

Organizing a crayfish farm at home is usually only the first step in starting a farm. Having tested the technologies and methods of growing gourmet products in relatively small volumes, and having gained the necessary experience, it will be possible to think about expanding the business. Such a business approach will help to avoid significant losses in future endeavors.

The article intentionally did not provide examples, in different regions they can be very different.

The main thing is that crayfish breeding as a business is a rather promising business, promising high level profitability. When organizing and preparing a project for launch, it is important to carefully and responsibly treat the recommendations of specialists.

Video - how crayfish are bred in Louisiana:

Breeding crayfish in a private area is a simple and profitable business. To grow arthropods at home, you need to acquire a reservoir and maintain minimally comfortable conditions for its inhabitants. Experts give recommendations on where to start and how best to build the process of growing crayfish. And video tips will help you figure it out in more detail.

Fundamentals of breeding crayfish. Preparatory work

The whole process of growing crayfish can be set up with minimal financial investments. Here's where you'll have to be patient. Crayfish grow over 2-3 years. Accordingly, starting from scratch, until this time you will not receive any delicacy meat or profit. But you will need to constantly feed the animals, take care of them.

The efficiency of the process is affected by the quality of the crayfish used for reproduction:

For breeding, it is better to use purchased thoroughbreds. Crayfish caught in an ordinary pond grow more slowly.
You should buy adult arthropods. You can raise the young on your own.
The optimal ratio of males and females for good offspring is 1:2.

For breeding it is better to use purebred crayfish

Calculated: to get 1 ton of crayfish, you need to buy 400 females. For a beginner water management, 40 pieces are enough for the first time. They are sold in specialized fishing companies. This, to a certain extent, guarantees the reliability of the type you have chosen.

Advice. You can not buy males if females have caviar on legs.

How to properly equip a pond

Water - habitat crayfish habitat. For home breeding, both natural and hand-made reservoirs are used. Good housing for arthropods has the following qualities:

area - 30-60 sq. m;
depth - 1-3 m;
optimal heating - not lower than +18 ° C, otherwise the crayfish will go into hibernation;
the water is completely renewed every 2-3 weeks.

Attention! At one time, you can not renew more than 30% of the volume of the reservoir. This will lead to a violation of the microclimate.

The advantage of natural reservoirs is the presence of a clay or sandy bottom with a silt cushion: it is in such conditions that crayfish dig minks for themselves and create a comfortable microclimate. The downside is the slowed down by 3 times the growth rate of cancers.

Pond for growing crayfish

Aquariums are most often used as artificial places. This is quite expensive: you will most likely need several containers. Maintaining the correct temperature in them is easier, but more expensive. You can put filter units at the inlet to the aquarium and save yourself the need to manually renew the water.

Advice. People who decide to start breeding crayfish for sale choose aquariums. All costs for optional equipment pay off due to the rapid growth of crayfish.

The best types of crayfish for breeding at home

Having equipped a place for growing, proceed to the purchase of a living basis for reproduction. Among crayfish lovers, the following varieties are popular:

Australian. Has a good meat layer. It is grown only in buried artificial reservoirs. Comfortable volume for 3-4 individuals - 100 liters. Inside, you should equip a lot of minks and shelters for food, rest, molting. They eat dead fish, bread crumbs, algae, special food.
Blue Cuban. Inconspicuous look. It is unpretentious, except that it needs a water temperature of about +26 ° C. The water itself must be hard. In the reservoir, you also need to equip a lot of shelters. The species develops to an adult in just six months.

blue cuban crayfish

Marble. Large and fleshy. Capricious to care. Requires water heating up to +20…+28 °C, relatively large amount of feed. The comfortable volume of the reservoir is 100 liters for 20 individuals. In reproduction, one individual acts as both a female and a male. Fry should be removed due to the risk of cannibalism.

Attention! The primary purchase of crayfish for breeding is not the last. To get a full-fledged herd that can independently reproduce its numbers, periodic purchases will be needed for 5 years.

Crayfish Care

The main features of caring for a herd of crayfish will help you get full-fledged and healthy individuals:

Separate and transplant to another pond every new young generation.
In the spring, catch females and transplant them into another container. This will help prevent cannibalism and keep the colony alive.
The optimum temperature for females is +22 ° C or slightly lower.

Crayfish are notorious scavengers. Their diet includes the remains of fish, algae. However, at home breeding, animals should be supplemented. To do this, use vegetables, boiled meat, plankton, larvae, worms, the same algae and fish. You can buy special food at the pet store.

Attention! Can't overfeed crayfish. Better not feed.

The ratio of 1:2 males and females is relevant, based on physiology. One crayfish can only fertilize two females. If after that he sees another one, he will probably decide to eat it. After fertilization, the layer of eggs is located in the female under the shell. By the end of next spring, it moves to its hind legs. From the eggs of one arthropod, an average of about 20 young crayfish appears, although at home, experienced breeders achieve an indicator of 60.

Crayfish breeding for sale is a profitable business

An important sign of the normal development of livestock is molting. Cancer throws off the shell, which has become cramped for him, and acquires a new one. Young individuals do this about 8 times a year. In the next 365 days of life, this number is reduced to 5, then to 3-4. Normal cancer growth - weight about 50-60 g and body length about 10-12 cm by the end of the second year of life.

Additional equipment for breeding crayfish

You can achieve greater efficiency by improving the living conditions of animals. To do this, for example, you can equip the reservoir with an air compressor. The device will prevent stagnation of water in the pond. An oxidizer will serve well. In autumn, the device is mounted at the bottom of natural reservoirs and in winter it saturates the water with oxygen.

For open ponds, stakes and lakes in cold weather, the installation of greenhouses is relevant. They keep warm, maintaining a normal temperature level for crayfish. Farmers also use various filters to keep the pond clean, and polypropylene frames to keep water in the pond.

Industrial cultivation of crayfish is not popular among domestic businessmen. Large aquaculture businesses try to avoid this direction, as the long payback period does not justify the significant investment in setting up a crayfish farm. As a result, the high demand for products is partially satisfied by catching crustaceans in natural reservoirs, however, the size and quality of these individuals leave much to be desired.

In such a situation, you can consider breeding crayfish at home as a business that brings, albeit a small, but stable profit. In addition, a farm of this magnitude does not require intensive care: the daily tasks of an entrepreneur are limited to feeding pets once and checking water quality. Finally, modern equipment makes it possible to grow not only common crayfish, but also larger heat-loving species, the high market value of which serves as an additional incentive for beginners.

Business features

Crayfish breeding in a pond is considered the easiest way to organize a business: in order to equip a farm, it is enough for an entrepreneur to rent or purchase a land plot with a natural reservoir. The pond basin is cleared of debris, populated with young growth, and after 5–6 years a self-reproducing population is obtained.

Of course, one should not expect any significant income in this case: the simplified method completely excludes the possibility of controlling the most important parameters for herd growth, which include the chemical composition and temperature of water, feeding ration and planting density. Therefore, experienced farmers prefer intensive technologies for breeding crayfish, involving the construction of artificial reservoirs with a partially or completely controlled environment. The advantages of this method are obvious:

The entrepreneur can receive the first profit in 12–18 months;
Individuals grow much faster, and in a year they reach a weight of 100–150 g;
When placing aquariums or pools in heated rooms, you can buy heat-loving species of crayfish that are highly productive for breeding at home;
Thanks to the control of reproduction and incubation, the survival rate of young animals is increased to 85–90%.

The business of growing crayfish is characterized by certain advantages and disadvantages: in order to conclude on the feasibility of implementing this idea, an entrepreneur must consider them as a whole, taking into account, first of all, factors that can turn into an insurmountable obstacle for him. Listing positive sides, it should be mentioned that:

There are several methods of breeding crayfish at home for sale, and some of them are quite loyal to the amount of investment;
In the process of work, the entrepreneur's expenses are limited to paying utility bills and buying feed at the rate of 0.5 kg per individual per year;
Care of crayfish practically does not require time and physical effort;
An entrepreneur may not be afraid of competition, since in Russia few farmers are engaged in the implementation of the business idea of \u200b\u200bcrayfish breeding;
Demand for products remains high regardless of the season.

The main disadvantage of this type of activity is the slow growth of crayfish: representatives of common river species reach marketable sizes within a few years. Besides:

Setting up a crayfish farm using intensive technology requires a significant investment;
In open reservoirs, at water temperatures below 17 ° C, crustaceans stop growing and hibernate, so the business is seasonal;
Regardless of the method of cultivation and the type of crayfish, the return on investment should not be expected earlier than in 3-4 years.

Species for breeding

An entrepreneur who wants to buy live crayfish for breeding needs to take into account such factors as growth rate and commercial sizes of individuals, consumer demand and climatic features of the region - a domestic buyer perceives some completely edible crustaceans solely as an aquarium decoration, and the maintenance of heat-loving species in the conditions of the Middle Strip only possible in closed heated tanks. In general, for growing with intensive methods, the following are suitable:

Broad-toed cancer. It has a fleshy body up to 20 cm long and large claws. It prefers reservoirs with a rocky bottom, warmed up to a temperature of 16–22 ° C, and therefore feels good in artificial pools. Currently, this species is endangered: you can buy crayfish for breeding only in the nurseries of the Leningrad region, the Baltic states or Belarus;
Narrow-clawed cancer. The most common species in Russia, characterized by high fecundity: every year the female lays at least 300 eggs. The body length of a male at the age of five reaches 16–18 cm with a weight of 120–150 g. Crayfish prefer sandy and clayey soils suitable for building burrows, which helps them adapt to the conditions of open artificial ponds;
Blue Cuban crayfish. It has a calm peaceful character, as a result of which it rarely attacks relatives and fish. With quality nutrition, this species grows to 8–12 cm in less than a year. It prefers moderately warm water bodies with a temperature of 23–25 ° C, therefore it takes root well in aquariums and pools, where each pair needs about 20 liters of water. To buy blue crayfish for breeding, you need to contact a large pet store;
Marble Cancer. It lives in well-heated water bodies with a temperature of 20–28°C, where it grows up to 15 cm in two to three years. This species does not have a sexual division - each crayfish can simultaneously lay and fertilize up to 300 eggs. It calmly tolerates a planting density of up to 20 individuals per 100 liters of water, since it is distinguished by its peaceful character. You can buy crayfish fry and adults for breeding in online stores or from private breeders;
Australian red claw crayfish. A heat-loving species that prefers water bodies with a temperature of 21–28°C. It differs in fleshiness up to 30% of body weight, fertility and growth rate - during the year, young growth reaches a weight of 120–150 g with a body length of 12–15 cm. Due to its calm nature, it feels good at a planting density of up to 25 pieces / m². You can buy Australian crayfish for breeding in the nurseries of Astrakhan and the Krasnodar Territory.

Breeding methods

Popular methods of keeping crustaceans can be divided into two groups: the first involves the creation of identical natural conditions for breeding crayfish, while the second focuses solely on achieving maximum productivity through the formation of an artificial environment with optimal parameters for the development of livestock.

open ponds

Breeding crayfish in a pond is characterized by high labor intensity at the initial stage: on the site it is necessary to dig out and equip several reservoirs with sloping walls with water circulation systems. The area of each can be 0.01–0.1 hectares with a depth of up to two meters. The bottom should be laid out with clay, covered with sheets of polypropylene or plastic wrap, then pour a layer of sand and stones on top, under which the crayfish can equip their shelters.

In the future, the tasks of the entrepreneur are reduced to periodic monitoring of water quality, its timely aeration and purification from algae. It is also recommended to regularly feed the pets, since at a high stocking density the volume of the natural food supply may be insufficient. Listing other requirements for artificial ponds, it should be mentioned that:

In order to avoid the death of livestock, water bodies should by no means freeze completely, therefore, in a cold climate, it is advisable to deepen them to 3.5–4 m;
To prevent flowering and growth of microalgae, up to 30% of the total water volume should be replaced every two weeks;
Drainage ditches should be dug around the perimeter of the ponds, and the shoreline should be fortified and shade should be created by planting grass and trees.

Advantages of the method:

The cost of maintaining the reservoir is minimal;
The water in the ponds is partially aerated and purified by natural processes;
The development of a natural food base allows you to save on the maintenance of crayfish.

Disadvantages:

In an open reservoir, crayfish grow quite slowly;
Permissible planting density - no more than 5-6 pieces / m²;
It is impossible to control the temperature and chemical composition of water;
To fill the ponds need a constant source of water supply;
It is necessary to think over ways to drain the ponds - you can’t just pour hundreds of tons of water into the garden or into the yard;
It is difficult to transplant young stock after breeding stock;
In winter, crayfish do not gain weight.

Aquariums

You can breed crayfish in an aquarium not only in the village, but also in urban conditions - it is enough to choose a room in which the temperature does not fall below 19–21 ° C. Several wide aquariums with a capacity of about 250 liters each are installed here, filled with soil and plants, and then equipped with microclimate and water quality control systems.

As a business, breeding crayfish for sale in an aquarium is associated with large-scale investments - the cost of a tank equipped with everything necessary is commensurate with the cost of equipping a pond with an area of 90–100 m². Therefore, this method is mainly used for keeping ornamental species, or for growing fry before planting in open ponds.

Advantages of the method:

Availability automated system control;
Ability to maintain any given temperature;
Thanks to the heating of the water, crayfish do not go to winter;
Permissible planting density - up to 30 pieces / m².

Disadvantages:

High cost of equipment per unit of production;
Aquariums need to be regularly cleaned, water and plants changed.

RAS units

Special equipment for breeding crayfish is more cost-effective and practical than ponds: for example, under natural conditions, individuals reach marketable weight in 3-4 years, while in recirculating water supply installations this period is halved. Moreover, the ability to adjust the parameters aquatic environment in RAS allows you to breed Australian crayfish and other productive species that grow to the required size in just 12-18 months.

Commercially available installations are equipped with equipment that allows you to purify water from impurities and residues of vital activity, disinfect it, heat it and saturate it with oxygen. They are placed in any insulated rooms where the temperature does not fall below 10 ° C: in a home farm, cellars or sheds are allowed as such.

Advantages of the method:

Water consumption is limited by the initial filling of crayfish breeding tanks and minor level corrections after evaporation;
The growth rate of pets does not depend on the season and outdoor temperature;
The operation of the plant is fully automated;
The vital activity of the herd is perfectly controlled - you can plant females for spawning, sort the fry and keep the crayfish separately for sale;
Stocking density of adults - up to 25 pcs/m², fry - up to 250 pcs/m².

Disadvantages:

High cost of equipment;
In the room, the humidity of the air rises significantly;
The operation of the installation is accompanied by the consumption of electricity.

Farm in the basement

The advantages of intensive crayfish breeding technologies fully compensate for the costs associated with setting up a farm: the productivity of a 2 m³ RAS installation is equivalent to the productivity of an 80 m² open pond. In a small insulated basement 5x10 m, five such installations can be placed and, by breeding Australian red claw crayfish, annually receive at least 120-130 kg of products. In the process of preparing the premises, the following must be considered:

The basement must be dry, free from fungus and mold, with concrete floors and walls. When pests are found, sulfur checkers and aerosol insecticides should be used. It should be noted that it is possible to populate crayfish in pools only 12–14 days after treatment;
For active life, crayfish practically do not need light. In the basement, it is enough to install several lamps at the rate of 5 W / m² and organize the duration daylight hours within 10-11 hours;
The room must be equipped with an exhaust ventilation system, since the evaporation of water from the pools contributes to an increase in the level of humidity.

farm equipment

A farmer who is going to buy equipment for breeding crayfish should know that fish-breeding baths with a capacity of 2–3 m³ with high walls are not suitable for these purposes: their filling is accompanied by excessive water consumption, and operation is inconvenient due to the great depth. Therefore, for growing crayfish, special RAS is used, which is a frame with six polypropylene pools installed on it in three tiers. At the same time, five containers with dimensions of 2000x830x250 are used for keeping the herd, and the sixth has:

Circulation pump;
Biological filter;
UV sterilizer lamp;
heating elements;
Aeration compressor.

An entrepreneur who has at his disposal five of these three-tier RAS units can organize the work of the farm as follows:

One pool is intended for keeping a broodstock of 30 heads (20 females and 10 males) with a stocking density of 18–20 pcs/m²;
Four pools are used for depositing females for the period of incubation and subsequent rearing of fry at a stocking density of 200–250 pcs/m²;
Four units with five pools each are used for keeping a commercial herd of 830 heads at a stocking density of 25 pcs/m².

Farm arrangement

Name	price, rub.	Qty	Amount, rub.
Three-tier RAS	116000	5	580000
Oximeter	12800	1	12800
Universal Measuring Instrument	1400	1	1400
shelters for fry	2,9	900	2610
Shelter for the young	7,7	900	6930
Shelter for broodstock	12,5	50	625
feeders	150	50	7500
Lamp	1200	5	6000
Exhaust fan	3200	1	3200
electronic scales	2000	1	2000
Total:			623065

Considering functional purpose equipment, it should be mentioned that:

Using an oximeter, measure the degree of saturation of water with oxygen;
The universal measuring device is a conductometer, salinometer and thermometer combined in one case;
Shelters for adult crayfish and fry can be made from propylene pipes cut into pieces 15–20 cm long;
Electronic scales are used to weigh feed and control the weight of livestock.

Breeding conditions and technology

Studying the species characteristics of crustaceans, one can notice that breeding Australian crayfish at home seems to be more profitable: firstly, they grow much faster than the narrow-toed crayfish known to everyone, and secondly, their market value is three times higher than the price of crayfish. The step-by-step technology for growing a red claw species is as follows:

Purchased fry or adults are planted in RAS pools;
Crayfish are grown up to reproductive age;
Females with eggs are deposited in free pools;
A month later, the fry are left in incubators, and the females are returned to the herd;
After two months, the grown young animals are distributed among the pools.

A year later, crayfish reach a weight of 130-150 g. Some of them are selected for the tribe, and the rest are sold wholesale or retail.

To create comfortable conditions for crayfish, it is necessary to adhere to the recommended values of the most important parameters of the aquatic environment at all stages:

The chemical composition of water

Buying young animals

When choosing where to buy crayfish for breeding, aspiring entrepreneurs often go to the supermarket or the nearest market, or collect fishing tackle and try to catch specimens for the breeding herd in the nearest reservoir. Meanwhile, these methods can hardly be considered effective:

crayfish caught in wild nature, grow very slowly;
The natural environment is not sterile, as a result of which there is a danger of catching infected individuals;
When delivered to retail outlets, carriers are not concerned with creating ideal conditions for crayfish, which leads to drying out of the gills and oxygen starvation;
Stores most often receive rejected specimens that are not suitable for breeding.

Therefore, when looking for suitable suppliers, it is better to contact private breeders and specialized nurseries: here it is desirable not only to make sure that cancers do not have diseases, but also to get advice on breeding them.

You can buy Australian crayfish and representatives of other heat-loving species for breeding at a price of 120 rubles per adult, while the cost of an ordinary narrow-clawed crayfish is 400-500 rubles per kilogram. In the process of forming a herd, a 2: 1 ratio should be adhered to - in other words, the number of females should be twice the number of males.

Feeding

When using intensive technologies, there is usually no natural food base in the pools, and therefore it is necessary to provide for the costs associated with the purchase of feed in the business plan for breeding crayfish. To form the diet of animals in an artificial environment, use:

crushed corn, wheat, barley;
Fish and minced meat, bone meal;
Boiled mashed potatoes or carrots;
Steamed hay;
Oak or beech leaves as a natural antiseptic;
Larvae, insects, worms.

However, with a large population, it is more expedient to use ready-made feed - as practice shows, crayfish willingly eat mixtures intended for salmon and carp fish. In this case, the daily feeding rate is 2% of the body weight for a commercial herd and 5–6% for spawning females: thus, the annual food supply for growing crayfish is determined at the rate of 530–550 g per individual.

The composition of feed for crayfish

Ingredient	For young animals	For adults
Bran from wheat	–	25 g
crushed wheat	–	15 g
sunflower meal	15 g	20 g
soybean meal	15 g	20 g
Fish flour	35 g	5 g
feed yeast	10 g	5 g
Bone flour	–	5 g
Powdered milk	20 g	5 g
Sunflower oil	5 g	2 g
Premix for fish	1 g	1 g

Reproduction and growth

In nature, crayfish mate in the fall, after which the female glues the eggs under the tail and carries them during the winter. In heated reservoirs, this pause is absent, so the breeding cycle lasts two months instead of six.

Depending on the species, the clutch volume is 100–500 eggs, most of which die. As a result, 40–60 larvae are born, which quickly gain weight, and after a month they acquire the ability to feed on their own. Under natural conditions, the survival rate of fry usually does not exceed 15–20%, while in RAS pools, with abundant feeding, up to 90% of the brood can be preserved.

During growth and development, crustaceans periodically molt - up to six times in the first year of life, and then two to three times annually. Due to the fact that this process does not occur simultaneously in the entire population, at different stages of growth both small and larger individuals appear in the pool at the same time. The latter, in order to avoid cannibalism, are recommended to be deposited in other tanks.

The molting stage itself is very dangerous for cancer: being left without a shell, covering of gills and teeth, it becomes completely defenseless against aggressive relatives. Therefore, molting individuals tend to equip themselves with a hole or find another shelter: the owner of the farm must provide them with such an opportunity by placing pipe cuts, clay shards and stones at the bottom of the aquarium.

Paperwork

Unlike other types of agricultural business, the activities of a cancer farm within the framework of private household plots can only be carried out when selling products to friends, since the sale of crayfish on the market or to other entrepreneurs requires the issuance of appropriate certificates. Therefore, the work of the enterprise should be legalized in the form of individual entrepreneurs or peasant farms; in order to avoid paying insurance premiums and issuing unnecessary reporting, it is better to submit documents to the IFTS after receiving the catch.

With legal point of view, the cultivation of crayfish can be represented as one of the industries Agriculture in the field of aquaculture. This means that the owner of a cancer farm is allowed to choose the ESH as a taxation system at a rate of 6% of the total profit.

In addition, in accordance with the law and sanitary requirements, retail stores and catering establishments that buy products from a farmer may require supporting documentation such as:

Sanitary passport of the car used for the transportation of crayfish (can be obtained by contacting a veterinary station);
Declaration of Conformity (issued by Rosselkhoznadzor);
Form No. 2 (can be obtained after submitting samples of water and products to the veterinary service);
Certificate of Conformity GOST 50380-2005 (issued by both Rosselkhoznadzor and private certification bodies).

Investments

The organization of the work of a large enterprise requires knowledge, which can be acquired as a result of practical activities and studying the experience of other entrepreneurs - for example, by watching the video “Crayfish Breeding at Home”:

Annual expenses

Expected earnings

Breeding crayfish as a business - profitable or not? To determine the profitability of a crayfish farm, it is necessary to estimate the annual production volumes: for an enterprise using five RAS units of the type described above, after annual feeding, the output will be at least 830 individuals with a marketable weight within 150 g. Accordingly, total weight herd will reach 124.5 kg.

Australian crayfish of the indicated sizes on the market is estimated at 1,500–1,600 rubles per kilogram when sold in live weight: the total income of the farmer in this case will be 199,200 rubles. Taking into account the amount of current expenses, it is possible to calculate the annual profitability and payback period of the enterprise:

Economic parameters of a cancer farm

Conclusion

Obviously, it is hardly advisable to consider the cultivation of a small number of crayfish as a source of the main income: according to calculations, in order to make a profit of more than 1 million rubles a year, an entrepreneur must have a whole complex of RAS installations with a total area of 200 m² or a pond farm with an area of up to 1600 m² .

The second task that a novice farmer must solve is marketing: despite the high level of demand, only large stores have equipment for selling crayfish, and only a few catering establishments include dishes from them on the menu. At the initial level, this problem is solved by selling products to acquaintances and private clients brought by them, however, an increase in production volumes requires a qualitatively different approach. The way out can be close cooperation with fish shops or opening your own outlet, supplemented by a full-fledged virtual representation.
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At present, there is not much competition in the crayfish breeding industry on the territory of the Russian Federation. Despite the large consumer demand for crustaceans, not many subjects entrepreneurial activity express a desire to breed them. This is most likely due to the lack of payback at the initial stage, as well as the inability to get too much profit. Despite this, for people who do not plan to breed crayfish on an industrial scale, this business line can be very interesting, low-cost and profitable. Homeowners may well.

How to grow crayfish at home?

Before you start breeding crayfish at home, every aspiring entrepreneur must weigh the pros and cons. The following factors testify to the benefits of this business area:

small start-up capital is required to open a business;
in the process of work, the entrepreneur will not need large investments;
there is no need to constantly monitor and control the process of vital activity of crustaceans;
when selling crayfish, entrepreneurs, as a rule, do not have problems, since these products are always in consumer demand;
many people position shellfish farms as an environmentally friendly type of business, so interest in it is not lost, especially among the category of the population that monitors its health and uses only safe and high-quality products for food.

Despite the apparent advantages of the cancer business, aspiring entrepreneurs should also be aware of its disadvantages:

starting investments begin to pay off after 3-4 years;
after starting a business, entrepreneurs will be able to transfer crustaceans for sale no earlier than 3 years later.

Although crayfish belong to the category of specific products, they are always in demand, so budding entrepreneurs, especially those who have the conditions for breeding them, should try their hand at this business line.

Crayfish breeding equipment - price

Among Russian citizens who are already engaged in the cancer business, the following breeding options are popular:

in natural or artificial reservoirs (also requires such conditions);
in basements;
in pools;
in aquariums;
in special installations in which there is a closed water supply (the price of such containers may vary depending on their quality and size, but on average, entrepreneurs will have to spend up to $ 1,200 on the purchase of polypropylene pools).

To breed crayfish at home, novice entrepreneurs most often use special equipment that needs to be installed in well-heated rooms. In order for crustaceans to develop rapidly and actively multiply, it is necessary to maintain a favorable temperature for them, which should not fall below 15 degrees. Before populating crayfish, people should prepare three large containers (they can be made of either plexiglass or food grade plastic). At the bottom of such containers (the price can reach $ 400 per 1 piece), a layer of stones, clay and river sand should be laid out, thanks to which the crustaceans will be provided with living conditions close to natural. The thickness of such a bottom should be such that crayfish can dig holes for themselves.

Everyone knows that crayfish can only live in clean water. That is why novice entrepreneurs should install filters in containers (it is not recommended to manually clean the walls from plaque, as you can inadvertently injure or destroy young livestock). Also, people should purchase such devices that will help in the care, capture and transportation of crayfish to the places of sale:

special feed;
oximeter with oxygen generator;
devices for catching crustaceans;
shipping containers.

Advice: many novice entrepreneurs do not understand why it is necessary to install several containers at once. This is necessary to ensure optimal reproduction of crustaceans. If natural processes take place in one container, then large crayfish will begin to eat small crustaceans.

Food base and species of crustaceans

The process of feeding crayfish will not cause any particular difficulties for entrepreneurs, as they are unpretentious in food and can eat both meat and vegetables, cereals. Currently, in specialized retail outlets, you can buy feed, which contains all the trace elements necessary for their development.

If a novice entrepreneur plans to breed crayfish at home for profit, then it is best for him to purchase a stock of blue crayfish (they are sold in specialized fish farms). Experts recommend starting with these crayfish, as they grow several times faster than river crustaceans. As for the number of crayfish that will be the first to be populated in prepared containers, here entrepreneurs should take into account the following factors:

volume of containers;
the size of the room;
number of containers.

Advice: when purchasing the first livestock of crayfish, the following proportion should be used: the ratio of males to females should be 1:3. If a novice businessman has an aquarium or a 300-liter tank installed, then no more than 80 crayfish can be launched into it.

If people do not want to, but want to be engaged in a more stable business, they should consider the cancer business as an option. An important point that novice entrepreneurs should not forget is right choice breeds. Experts recommend buying livestock the following types crustaceans:

Red cancer (marsh). Representatives of this species do not grow to large sizes. Their main advantage is the ability to adapt to any conditions. They are very unpretentious and can live in artificial reservoirs, where the depth ranges from 15 to 20 cm.
Blue (Cuban). This breed was bred artificially for industrial breeding. Representatives of this species grow rapidly, reproduce well even in hard water, and are unpretentious in their diet.
Australian crayfish. This type of crustacean is in high demand among establishments Catering and end consumers. For their breeding, you do not need to create special conditions, as they are very unpretentious. The perfect place for their cultivation is the pool.
Cancer marble. This type of crustacean should be kept at a temperature that does not fall below 28 degrees. Males are not needed for fertilization of females, as they reproduce by the parthenogenesis method.
European long-toed crayfish. This breed is considered one of the most prolific. Crayfish grow very quickly and can be kept in both natural and artificial reservoirs.

Crayfish breeding in an aquarium as a business

If aspiring entrepreneurs decide to breed crayfish in aquariums, then they need to have heated rooms in which a favorable microclimate will be created. The capacity of one aquarium must be at least 250 liters. The bottom of the glass container should be lined with stones. In order to bring the conditions closer to natural, you need to pour sand under the stones, and lay snags on top.

Advice: when breeding crayfish in aquariums, the proportion should be observed: no more than 350 individuals can be launched per 1 square meter.

To create optimal conditions for crayfish in which they will actively breed, entrepreneurs need to consider the following factors:

The number of females should always be several times greater than the number of males.
For mating, a separate aquarium should be allocated, the volume of which should not be less than 200 liters.
After the birth of crustaceans, they should be transferred to another aquarium to minimize losses.
Aquariums can be placed in heated basements.

What do crustaceans need for a fulfilling life?

Each person who decides to go into the cancer business should familiarize himself in advance with all the nuances that may affect the final result:

crustaceans, regardless of breed, are very sensitive to water, therefore, to ensure their normal functioning, it is necessary to monitor its quality;
in artificial or natural reservoirs used for breeding crayfish, there must be a large number of snags and stones;
crayfish begin to mate from autumn to spring, so during this period it is necessary for them to provide decent conditions;
the water in the container or in the reservoir must be enriched with oxygen;
it is important to monitor the temperature regime, which should not fall below 1 degree (the best option is 18-24 degrees);
if crayfish will be bred in natural reservoirs, then you need to protect them from predatory fish and waterfowl;
in order for crustaceans to grow quickly, it is necessary to provide them with a balanced diet (if there is not enough food, adults will begin to eat young and weak crayfish), etc.

How to find distribution channels?

Some Russian citizens who are interested in the cancer business do not dare to start it, as they doubt that they will be able to sell livestock ready for sale. In order to never run into problems when selling crayfish, you should find one or more wholesalers in advance who will buy whole lots of crustaceans.

It should be noted that cooperation with wholesalers will not work at market prices. Despite minor financial losses, Russian citizens do not have to spend time and money on organizational issues:

transportation of finished products (as a rule, wholesalers come to entrepreneurs on their own transport);
store and feed grown crayfish;
draw up documents (including sanitary ones) for each batch of crustaceans, etc.

In addition to wholesalers, catering establishments, grocery stores, and pubs can be considered as points of sale. If an entrepreneur has free time and a desire to earn more, he can independently sell the grown crayfish in organized markets. In this case, he will have to without fail undergo sanitary control and have documents confirming the origin of crustaceans.

Crustacean diseases

If Russian citizens create the most favorable conditions for keeping crustaceans, they still will not be one hundred percent insured against various diseases. The most life-threatening cancer is plague. Burn disease, which develops under the influence of pathogenic microorganisms, can also cause serious harm to livestock.

The death of livestock (both adult and growing) can occur due to constant overfeeding. Therefore, it is extremely important to feed crustaceans in a dosed manner. Insufficient water filtration leads to the development of pathogenic microflora, against which appear serious illness. Rapid temperature fluctuations and insufficient water aeration can also cause the death of crustaceans.

Breeding crustaceans in vivo

Owners of summer cottages and country houses living in close proximity to natural or artificial reservoirs can breed crayfish in them for subsequent sale. To start this business, Russian citizens need to fulfill several conditions:

before launching the livestock of crayfish into the lake, you need to clear it of predatory fish;
it is important to prepare the bottom, on which, if necessary, stones and driftwood should be laid;
a natural or artificial reservoir must be divided into three parts (this can be done using a metal mesh);
it is important to consider how the purity of the water will be maintained in the lake (if necessary, pumping and filtering stations are installed), etc.

by the most dangerous time for the life of crayfish is the period of their molting. Without a shell, they are forced to constantly be in shelter, which they leave only to eat. The task of the entrepreneur is to provide enough food so that the crustaceans do not eat each other.

What documents are needed to open a cancer business?

Every Russian who plans to breed crayfish for subsequent sale must obtain the status of an individual entrepreneur without fail. To do this, he must perform a number of actions:

Pay the state fee.
Apply to the state registrar with a minimum package of documents (passport, tax identification number, payment receipt indicating payment of the state duty).
Choose a taxation system (the ideal option would be a simplified tax regime).

If it is planned to breed crayfish in natural conditions, then a novice entrepreneur must fulfill the basic requirements of Federal law:

a reservoir (artificial, dug on his personal plot) must belong personally to an individual entrepreneur;
the lake must be leased from local authorities;
the pond should not flow into a natural reservoir.

To be able to sell crayfish to end consumers and catering establishments, individual entrepreneur must provide additional documentation:

in accordance with state standards in 2005, certificates are required;
in veterinary service you need to get a certificate of form No. 2;
for the transportation of crayfish by your own or rented transport, you will need a sanitary passport;
the process of selling crustaceans will have to be reflected in the primary and accounting documentation, on the basis of which the individual entrepreneur will fill out reports and submit them to regulatory authorities, etc.

Profitability of the crayfish breeding business

Is the cancer business profitable, Russian citizens will be able to understand the example below.

Acquisition of livestock and other primary expenses - 100,000 rubles;
Payment for electrical energy - 9,000 rubles;
Purchase of special feed - 12,000 rubles.
Total for the year - 121,000 rubles.

The market price of crayfish is 500 rubles per 1 kg;
In a year, an entrepreneur can grow 12,000 pieces of crayfish, the weight of which will reach 2,450 kg.
Revenue for the year will be 1,225,000 rubles.

For the year of net profit, the IP will receive in the amount of 1,225,000 - 121,000 \u003d 1,104,000 rubles. The business project will begin to pay off in 3 years. If an entrepreneur decides to breed blue crayfish, then he will be able to receive income in 1.5 years.

Many people think about how not to work too hard, but at the same time receive a stable income. If they own personal plots, then the cancer business will be an ideal option for them. By breeding crustaceans, people do not have to make any supernatural investments. Over time, they will begin to receive a stable income if they can provide the conditions necessary for the life of crayfish. Despite the fact that crayfish cannot be considered as, their income from them will be quite enough to ensure normal level life.

The figures in the table are conditional and reflect data for one indoor pool (8x4 sq. m) and one open pit.

Crayfish breeding as a business: pros and cons

Breeding crayfish is a promising occupation for home production. Such products are in demand, but, unfortunately, not on an industrial scale. Abroad, crayfish entrepreneurs earn millions, although competition there is quite high.

Of the existing methods of breeding crayfish, it is best to choose an indoor artificial reservoir. It is less expensive than indoors and more controllable than a natural pond. Therefore, starting a business from scratch, give preference to this particular method, provided that you have your own piece of land.

The business development process involves three stages:

Arrangement of a reservoir.
Mastering the intensive method of breeding crayfish:

selection of a fast-growing species;
providing the necessary diet;
compliance with the technical condition of the aquatic environment.

3. Development of a product implementation plan, which includes:

mastering the correct transportation of live goods;
catch of crayfish;
agreements with various outlets about supplies.

The advantages of such a business include:

Significant investment is required only at the initial stage. The amount depends on the expected scale of the activity. It can start from 20,000 rubles, or from one and a half million.
Production has prospects for development and expansion. With accumulated experience in breeding crayfish, there will be chances to scale up the business and make more profit.
Cancer breeding does not require large human resources. The hardest part is the beginning. A lot of effort will be needed to lay the "foundation" for organizing, studying and registering an enterprise. When the business is already established, work on the farm will not cause big problems.
The specifics of the business is such that there are no competitors. In comparison with European countries, the niche in the production of crayfish in our country is not occupied. So, there will be no problems with the sale of products.

Cons are present only when breeding in a natural habitat, these include:

payback period, tk. it is delayed for 3-4 years;
growth retardation of underyearlings due to hibernation;
seasonality of product sales.

How to start breeding crayfish?

If you decide to breed crayfish for profit, then keep in mind that this applies to farming. Start by writing a business plan and start looking at issues such as payback period, risk, costs, expected profit. This will give a clear picture of the implementation of the plan. In business, no one will give a 100% guarantee of success - it depends on many reasons.

Crayfish: choice and purchase

Of the prolific and undemanding, long-clawed crayfish are suitable for keeping conditions. Unlike broad-toed, they gain weight faster. The growth of individuals is influenced by the temperature regime of the reservoir. The further south the range, the more prolific they are. On average, a female can lay from 60 to 230 eggs in one fertilization.

It is undesirable to buy them from Kazakh or Altai producers, because the difference in climate and the distance of transportation make the products unsuitable for profitable breeding in other latitudes. It is better to catch crayfish in nearby water bodies using a baited trap cage.

The number of individuals is calculated by the area of the reservoir. In order for reproduction to be intensive, it is necessary to adhere to the optimal planting density of sexually mature individuals. It is 6 pieces per 1 sq. m., of which two males are required.

It is important to observe the parameters of the aquatic environment, which, according to chemical composition meet all the requirements for the favorable development of the life of females and fry. Otherwise, the density should be halved.

Breeding methods

Crayfish can be bred in three ways: in open natural or closed artificial reservoirs, as well as in specialized closed nurseries.

It is necessary to pay attention to the following points of each of the methods:

Natural breeding conditions are equipped farms for growing crayfish in a natural environment. The peculiarity of this method is that individuals are dependent on hibernation. Profitability in such conditions is much lower. In a state of suspended animation, crayfish do not grow, which affects the profitability of the enterprise.
Closed rooms with artificial containers (aquariums, baths, pools) - exclude hibernation of individuals. This method of breeding requires significant financial investments in the purchase of equipment, as well as maintenance climatic conditions life of crayfish. In aquariums, they grow all year round, after 1.5-2.5 years (depending on the species) they reach commercial standard sizes.
Artificial, covered by the type of greenhouses, reservoirs. This is the most optimal form of keeping crustaceans in terms of payback. The period of growth from eggs to salable specimens takes 1.5 years. At the initial stage, the farm requires investment in the construction of pools and equipment to maintain optimal conditions of the aquatic habitat.

Creation and development of the farm

Breeding crayfish on the territory of your site, take care of the water supply or create a natural cycle of water purification. Dig several holes with a depth of 2 to 5 m, an area of 30-60 square meters. m.

Running water is not a prerequisite, but a drainage system will be needed. Change the water after 2-3 weeks, but not all - about 30% of the total volume is enough. So the natural habitat will not be disturbed, and the water will be purified.

Lay stones at the bottom, you can even chipped bricks with hollow holes (burrows), pour a 10 cm layer of coarse sand. Make clay banks, plant vegetation.

To bring an artificial reservoir closer to the natural habitat of crayfish, build streams with thickets of hornwort, jara, elodea, etc. Driftwood and stumps can be a favorite refuge for arthropods, but they pollute the water. In such conditions, it is good to breed the broad-toed (Astacus astacus) species and the long-toed (Pontostacus lepto-dactylus) species.

To breed crayfish in aquariums, you will need a room with heating and lighting. It can be natural or completely artificial - it does not matter. This method will require large financial investments, but the profit grows many times. In open water crayfish molt once a year, and in aquariums from 3 to 5. This indicates that they grow three times faster.

In order to bring the living conditions in closed reservoirs closer to optimal, you will need:

cleaning filters (no need to change water);
aerator (air compressor), the temperature in the aquarium should not fall below 17 ° C, otherwise the pets will go into hibernation;
oxidizer for water enrichment with oxygen.

Pay attention to breed crayfish in the factory (in enclosed spaces), it is best to visit someone's farm, where you can see everything with your own eyes and get answers to your questions. The advice of practitioners will be more useful than the mountains of theoretical literature - you will avoid many mistakes.

Purchase of feed

Feed requirements depend on where the crayfish are grown. In open reservoirs where there is vegetation, they find food on their own. You can feed them during the appearance of small crayfish. Care should be taken to determine if they need to be fed or not. In winter, crayfish are not eaten.

In the factory, feed must either be purchased or prepared by yourself. They feed on cereals from various cereals, boiled grains, carrots, potatoes, herbs, soybeans, etc. The diet must include fish waste, for example, capelin heads.

To achieve maximum growth, it is better to purchase products that are used by fish farms or special food for crustaceans.

Now this is not a problem - many manufacturers produce ready-made nutritionally balanced feed. If you calculate the need for them for a year, you will see that this is a very small amount.

Note that care must be taken to ensure that food does not remain in excess in the water. As it decomposes, it releases toxins that can kill a large number of individuals.

To avoid an overabundance of feed, feed it in special feeders. The amount of necessary food is taken from the calculation of the weight of pets - this is 0.2%. Feeding is carried out every two days in the evening or morning time, as during the day crayfish hide in burrows. For different ages of crayfish, a diet with additives is selected that accelerates their growth.

Sale of products

Selling products shouldn't be a problem because you don't have industrial production with tons of goods. After registering the IP, the ways for sale to shops, bars, restaurants, markets are open. It is possible that customers themselves will come to the farm for a batch of crayfish. You only need to catch the right amount and get a veterinary certificate.

The financial component of the business

In business, financial profitability is taken into account in the first place. When you have to start a business from scratch, there is a big risk that the representation on paper of all stages of development will diverge from the realities of life. To reduce the risks, you need to start with the purchase of small batches of females, feed, equipment, etc. Gradually, gaining experience, expand production. Consider what awaits you on the way to the implementation of your plans.

Cost of opening and maintaining

It is impossible to talk about exact figures, since the amount of costs depends on many components of the business: the method of breeding and the scale of production.

If you decide to engage in crayfish breeding on a serious scale, then you first need to register your activity with the tax office as an individual business. This, in turn, will make it possible to legally purchase the necessary equipment from the manufacturer at the best prices, and in the future to have documentation that allows you to sell the goods.

To sell a batch of goods to shops, bars, restaurants, you will need a product certificate, which you will not receive without registration.

As an entrepreneur, you will have to pay tax as an agricultural producer. It will be most advantageous to issue an ESHN (Single Agricultural Tax). The cost of expenses must be calculated independently, having collected the necessary information on the prices of purchased equipment, feed, and design.

At closed method breeding despite big investment, you can make a profit after 2 years. Depending on the type of crayfish, special feeding for accelerated growth, compliance with the technological process of purification and oxygenation of water, the profitability is 300%. That is, for every ruble spent, you get 3.

Initial investment includes:

Polypropylene sheets for wall cladding of 1 pool - from 20 to 25 thousand rubles.
Aerator for enriching water with oxygen - 5.5 thousand rubles.
Oxidator for supplying oxygen to under-ice water - 12.5 thousand rubles
Filter for cleaning - from 20 to 26 thousand rubles.
Oximeter for measuring oxygen content - 12 thousand rubles.
Salt meter - 1.5 thousand rubles.
Conductometer for pollution control - 1.5 thousand rubles.

Total: the total cost is 73,000 rubles. Add to this other expenses, feed, electricity, which is about 12 thousand rubles. The final figure is 85,000 rubles.

Size of future income

The profitable part of the production will depend on the experience and knowledge of breeding profitable crustacean breeds. Under favorable conditions for business development, the profit from the sale of products will allow:

for the first year - to return the invested funds, expand production, lay promising projects for the next season;
for the second year - profit increases by 3 times;
for the third - profit increases by 5 or 6 times, and then exponentially.

Please note that before you open your business, you must think through everything to the smallest detail.

An important factor is the type of bred crayfish. For example, a long-toed (leptodactylus) can gain up to 200/300 g of weight in a year, and a tropical gloom - 150 g.

Payback period

Starting from 500-700 females in a year, you can get about a ton of products, subtracting losses, unforeseen illnesses and circumstances, in 2 years you can recoup the investment and make a profit.

The type of cancer plays an important role proper care, then the income will be maximum. Estimate the prices yourself (because they are constantly changing). With a competent approach to business, you will become a millionaire for 2-4 years of the existence of the farm.

All figures given in the article should be considered as conditional. They are provided as an example and may differ from yours. Calculate according to data that is acceptable for your region and the chosen way of doing business.