What do crayfish eat at home? Cultivation and breeding features
Despite the fact that the meat does not use crayfishhuge popularity, it is quite useful. It is believed that this product does not contain any harmful substances, since these arthropods are never found in contaminated water bodies. However, not everyone has time to catch these animals, so many people start to think about the arrangement of the farm to grow them. What do crayfish eat at home, their content and other characteristics, we will consider in today's article.
Short description
These valuable invertebrates belong to the detachmentdecapod crustaceans. A distinctive feature of these animals is the presence of three anterior thoracic segments, fused with the head. Together they form the so-called cephalothorax.
Those who do not know what they eat cancers in the homeconditions, for sure this and other information will be interesting. The head and body of the animal are covered with a shell, which is called carapace. The seizure of food takes place through the jaws formed from the three front pairs of thoracic limbs. The color of crayfish depends on the color of the bottom of the pond in which they live.
Which species are suitable for breeding?
On the territory of Russia and most Europeanstates grow long-fingered, signal and broad-mouthed arthropods. Those who want to understand what they eat cancers at home, it does not hurt to find out that river individuals are not suitable for breeding. They bring a lot of trouble. In addition, in winter, they fall asleep, which significantly inhibits their growth. The best for breeding are large blue or lacustrine cancers. These arthropods perfectly adapt to domestic conditions and grow quite rapidly.
For breeding it is desirable to purchasemature individuals, the length of which is not less than eight centimeters. And for one male there must be two females. The latter can be distinguished by a broader abdomen and undeveloped first pair of limbs. Next we will tell you that they eat crayfish at home.
Cultivation in an aquarium
This method of breeding is suitable even for urban apartments. But its scale will be much less than in the pond. This technique has a number of significant advantages, including:
- Convenience of control over life and growth of pets.
- Possibility to strictly adhere to the desired temperature regime.
- Simple catching crayfish.
- Reduced amount of feed.
- Reduced wintering time.
Young growth in greenhouse conditions is growingand develops faster than its relatives. To ensure that your venture does not end in failure, you need to find the right aquarium. For the cultivation of cancers, it is desirable to purchase a wide-bottomed container with low plastic walls. It is important that its volume is at least two hundred and fifty liters. The bottom of the aquarium must be covered with soil and pebbles. Also in it you can plant algae and put snags there. A little later, we will understand that eating cancers at home.
Features of breeding in the pond
At once we will notice, that it is quite profitable andsimple occupation. This activity can be dealt with by any owner of a land plot on which there is a place for the construction of a reservoir. Preferably, the pond area is 25-60 squares, and the depth is 1-3 meters. At the bottom it is desirable to pour sand and stones so that animals can dig burrows.
For fattening and overexposure of young animals it is recommendedto build separate concreted pools. It is important that the pond is equipped with a reliable water drain and a source of its replenishment. This advice is useful to those who do not know that they eat crayfish at home. The breeding of these arthropods in artificial reservoirs implies the obligatory availability of qualitative aeration and purification systems.
With the onset of cold weather, the inhabitants of open ponds need to be caught and transplanted into an indoor pool. Otherwise, they may suffocate under the ice.
Requirements for an artificial reservoir
Before answering the question: "What do crayfish eat at home?", You need to understand the criteria that must correspond to the pond intended for their maintenance. It is important that it has a shaded sandy beach and a rocky bottom, suitable for burrowing holes.
It is strictly prohibited to equip the reservoir withsunny place. It is advisable to conduct regular checks for the absence of pathogenic flora. To protect your farm from unauthorized crayfish, around the ponds you can install stretches with bells, and over them to stretch the net.
What to feed arthropods?
It's time to take a closer look at what you eatcrayfish at home. Features of their nutrition consist in the fact that these herbivorous animals do not disdain carrion and various organic remains.
The basis of their diet is composed of earthworms,greens, insect larvae, small snails and bottom fish. This is what arthropods eat in the wild. Those who are interested in eating river crayfish at home can be recommended to supplement the menu of these animals with grated carrots, fish, boiled potatoes, meat and ground parboiled grains. The average daily norm of food should be 2% of the weight of the individual.
Crayfish food can be purchased atspecialized markets, in greenhouse farms and in enterprises related to the fishing industry. That the food remains not spoiled, you can not leave them for long in the water. Undernourished food must be removed in a timely manner from the pond.
Features of reproduction and growth
Having understood that they eat crayfish in the homeconditions, you need to briefly consider another issue. The breeding season for these arthropods falls during the autumn months. Those who plan to seriously engage in the cultivation of these arthropods, it must be taken into account that from one sexually mature female, from thirty to sixty cubs can be obtained.
The mating period, starting immediately aftermolts, lasts for several hours. Twenty days later the female lays eggs and for some time carries them on herself. To save all the offspring, it is advisable to plant the crab in a separate aquarium. Before the first moult, the cubs will hold on to their mother, and after that it is recommended to separate it from the growing offspring.
The most common cancer diseases
Like any other animals, these arthropodsare subject to various ailments. The cause of health problems may be overfeeding, inadequate aeration, dirty water, unchecked food, a violation of the temperature regime or infection.
Among the most common ailments thatcan catch cancers, includes plague and "porcelain" disease. All of them badly affect the appearance of arthropods and their ability to reproduce the offspring. In some particularly severe cases, the infection can lead to the death of a whole generation of cancers. Therefore, with the slightest suspicion of the occurrence of animal health problems, it is necessary to show the veterinarian.
Useful recommendations
Those who decided to start breeding crayfish shouldto provide them with conditions that most closely resemble natural ones. In addition, it should be understood that you are unlikely to be able to immediately grow a large number of individuals. Experienced experts recommend buying a few spacious aquariums to plant adult individuals from young animals.
Mature arthropods should be kept in a separatepond, and it is desirable to leave the kids in the usual conditions for them. So you protect the younger generation from unnecessary stress and disease. In addition, it is important to observe the recommended population density.
To create a farm, you will need a specialEquipment, including aquariums, swimming pools and ponds. It is desirable that the former be equipped with compressors, filtration systems and heaters for the incubation of eggs. Ponds should be oval in shape, because it is believed that it provides the correct gas exchange. At the bottom of the reservoir it is necessary to build shelters for its inhabitants. They can be made from stones, snags and debris of plastic pipes. You can not plant artificial plants in a pond or aquarium. Cancers can eat them and perish. These are the basic rules for keeping crayfish at home.
