Breeding crayfish in an aquarium for sale. Preparing the basement and purchasing crayfish. What is suitable as food

The type of business in question is very relevant in modern world. This is because crayfish are in great demand, but their cultivation on a large scale is not developed. Competition in this business is minimal, if not completely absent.

When you start breeding crayfish, no matter how you do it, you become an entrepreneur. You need to register yourself. And only after registration you can move on to business.

Advantages of a crayfish farming business

A number of advantages of such a business can be listed:

minimum initial investment. Compared to any other business, a crayfish breeding business will require you to make an initial investment ranging from 10 to 200 thousand rubles. Or maybe even less.
good opportunity for implementation. Crayfish are quite a popular product. They are in demand not only in the market, but also in bars, restaurants, cafes, etc. There are simply many points of sale, like in no other business.

Reservoirs for breeding and equipment

Crayfish are bred in artificial and natural reservoirs.

IN natural environment It is very difficult to control cancerous populations, but there will be no cost for special equipment, feed, drainage system, etc.

An artificial pond will cost more than a natural one. It will require a special drainage system, aerators, thermometers and other equipment.

Breeding in ponds

Let's start with the fact that a pond can be either natural or artificial. You can dig an artificially created pond yourself or use a ready-made one.

If you decide to dig a pond, you can use special equipment or dig by hand. After all, crayfish do not have to live in deep bodies of water.

There are several requirements for artificial reservoirs:

Another option is to rent a pond. It is necessary to rent a pond for a long period of time. When concluding a contract, it is better to specify the lease term for several years.

Firstly, you will need to take care of protecting the pond. This must be done not only for a rented pond, but also for a self-dug one, if it is located outside your area. To do this, it will not be enough to simply put up a fence or fence off the area. Most likely, you will have to hire a watchman who will guard this area around the clock. Additionally, it is better to put up special signs stating that this area is private.
Secondly, determine the quality of the water (its composition);
Thirdly, examine the reservoir itself for vegetation and fish habitat. This point only applies to a rented pond that you know nothing about. At this stage, you need to determine whether there is enough food for your crayfish, and you may even have to get rid of some fish that can eat the crayfish.

Experts will help you with the last two points.

A pond dug on your own site will require virtually no investment. This is just the perfect option. You will not need any security, you will not depend on anyone.

Whatever method you choose, you will in any case need one or two more ponds for the young animals. Rather, these will be concrete pools. There is no way to keep young animals with adults. Young crustaceans can simply be eaten.

The reservoir with crayfish stock should be in the shade, since crayfish cannot tolerate heat.

There is no cost involved in raising livestock in a natural pond. You won’t have to spend money on equipment, furnishings, or food. The only thing you have to do is get rid of predatory fish.

Of course, a natural pond has many disadvantages:

the growth of individuals slows down due to the presence of uncomfortable conditions in winter;
eating small individuals;
inconvenient catching;
freezing in particularly frosty winters.

Breeding in aquariums

If you decide to breed crayfish in an aquarium, then, to begin with, it is better to purchase no more than 15-20 crayfish. And then, if everything works out, you can rent a special room where you can do real business.

Compared to breeding in reservoirs, aquarium breeding of crayfish has many advantages, for example:

Please note that any aquarium will not work here.

There are special requirements:

volume from 250 liters.
Ideally, the aquarium should have a wide bottom and low walls. This makes it convenient to clean the aquarium.
the walls must be made of plastic.

Content requirements

Crayfish are very picky about their environment.

The following conditions must be strictly met:

The water must be clean.
The water temperature should be between 17-20 degrees. And during the development of the larvae it needs to be increased to 23 degrees. In winter, this figure cannot be lower than 7 degrees. If the temperature is too low or there are sudden changes, this will lead to the death of the crayfish.
There is no way to do without aeration. There must be a constant flow of air into the artificial pond and aquarium, otherwise the crayfish will get sick and grow poorly. In an open reservoir, aeration occurs naturally.

Crayfish nutrition

IN natural conditions crayfish provide their own food. They feed on small snails, organic remains, carrion, insects, worms and others. IN artificial conditions The diet of crayfish includes mixed feed, fish, meat, potatoes, carrots, steamed grain, etc.

The crayfish are fed twice a day. This usually happens in the morning and evening at the same time. A cancer should eat food constituting 2% of its weight per day.

Reproduction

Reproduction occurs during a certain period, falling in September and October. Males can fertilize up to two females in a row.

The eggs will first be located under the female's shell, then they will be attached under her tail. In order for the embryos to develop correctly, the female must clean the eggs. This happens by washing with water. The larvae emerge from the eggs after 2 months, but for another 3 weeks the female hides them under her tail, protecting them from any dangers.

After this period, small crustaceans appear, which are completely independent. At home, a female will be able to raise about 50 crustaceans, when in natural conditions this figure does not even reach 20 individuals.

Shedding

As they grow, crayfish molt decreases in number of times per year. For example, young animals molt about 8 times a year, in the second year of life they molt 4-5 times, then less. An adult molts a maximum of 2 times a year.

During the molting period, the cancer becomes more vulnerable to its relatives, to birds and fish, because nothing protects it, since it sheds its shell.

Temperature

The most favorable temperature for crayfish is about 20 degrees, but not less than 17. For larvae, this figure should be above 20 degrees, about 22-23.

At lower temperatures, crayfish will eat less and, accordingly, grow worse. In winter they hibernate.

Aeration

In an artificial pond and aquarium in mandatory an aerator must be located. It is an air compressor. If it is not installed, the water will simply stagnate, the crayfish will be sluggish and often sick. The aerator ensures good gas exchange in the reservoir. In a natural pond such equipment is not required.

Diseases

Plague

The most dangerous of all infections is the plague. The plague kills crayfish within a few days. They crawl closer to the shore, where they become paralyzed and their limbs fall off. Healthy crayfish can become infected when they are together with sick people.

When eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, etc. If an infection is detected, then absolutely all individuals must be caught, the sick ones destroyed, the healthy ones sold. The reservoir will be treated with a special solution; it will be usable only after a few years.

Septocylindrosis

Dark spots on the body. At first the spot is green, then brown. On boiled crayfish, the affected areas are clearly visible. This disease quite often appears after crayfish molt. We need to fight it the same way we fight the plague.

Telohanis

Telochanisis is a disease that affects the muscles. They turn white, thicken, and carriers of the disease simply die. It is necessary to catch sick crayfish.

These are the most common and dangerous diseases crayfish

Types of crayfish for breeding

Usually used for breeding special types crayfish This could be the European type.

They, in turn, are divided into two types:

long-fingered. A rapidly reproducing species that does not require any special conditions content. In 1 year, one individual can bring about 30 crayfish. And if you do everything according to the rules and take good care of him, he gains weight very quickly.
broad-fingered. This type of crayfish is listed in the Red Book. Therefore, to avoid any problems in your business, it is better not to separate them. Although they are the most valuable. But there are areas where fishing for such crayfish is not prohibited.

Lake and river crayfish can also be distinguished. Lakefish is a large crayfish, quite valuable. It can be successfully bred at home. Crayfish is a small specimen.

Expenses

To determine the amount of necessary costs, you need to decide on some factors:

the method by which you will breed crayfish. There will be a significant difference between breeding in aquariums, artificial ponds or in reservoirs created by nature.
what the product being grown will be used for. Will it be for sale, processing or crayfish are bred for breeding stock.

If we talk about breeding crayfish in an aquarium, then the cost of the necessary aquarium with all internal equipment, sand, algae, etc. is on average 50 thousand rubles . Although first of all you need to think about the premises. If a suitable one is not available, you will most likely have to rent one.

It will cost you monthly rent from 10 to 20 thousand rubles . You also need to remember about food for crayfish, which will cost about 2 thousand a month. You will also have to spend money on the crayfish themselves. For one aquarium you will need about 50 individuals. You will spend about 300-500 rubles. Or you can catch crayfish yourself and won’t have to spend money on them.

If you have chosen a natural reservoir for breeding crayfish, then you only need to purchase breeding stock and feed. Or maybe you want to install a guard or rent a pond, or dig a pond yourself.

And if we talk about an artificial reservoir, then if you dig it yourself, you will only spend on waterproofing, which will cost you about 1000 rubles. Purchasing crayfish – 500 rubles and food This is the most profitable option.

Overall, there are a lot of different possibilities here. Act based on your financial capabilities.

Implementation

There is practically no competition in this type of business. Simple places to sell great amount. You can sell your products simply by trading at the bazaar, or through networks of cafes and restaurants and other similar establishments. You can also open your own small kiosk.

Of course, this will require certain investments, but you will develop your own client base, from which there will be no end. And, for example, having agreed with some large restaurant, we can already talk about wholesale supplies.

Payback period

You can consider an artificial pond. So, to dig three reservoirs and equip them you will need a maximum of 50 thousand rubles. Let's assume that you purchased 500 crayfish. It will cost you 10 thousand rubles. Of the acquired stock, there will be about 350 females, each capable of breeding 40-50 crustaceans.

As a result, we get 15,500 crayfish, the total weight of which will be on average 4,000 kilograms. You can sell one kilogram of crayfish for 300 rubles. It turns out 1 million 200 thousand. If you consider that you spent only 60 thousand rubles on this business, then you get quite a good profit.

True, crayfish will grow to normal sizes only in 2 years, that is, this time there will be no profit at all. But it's worth it. Crayfish farming is a fairly profitable business.

Stanislav Matveev

Author of the bestselling book "Phenomenal Memory". Record holder of the Book of Records of Russia. Creator of the training center "Remember Everything". Owner of Internet portals in legal, business and fishing topics. Former owner of a franchise and online store.

As of 2018, the wholesale cost of live crayfish on the free market ranges from $8-10 per kilogram, especially large specimens rare species can be valued at up to $20 per kilogram. Retail price(piece sales), as a rule, is 20% higher, but this method of marketing products is only suitable for mini-farms, as well as species of arthropods with light shells. A pond with an area of 50 square meters on average produces approximately 60 kilograms of crayfish per year, which provides a profit of $600.

From a practical point of view, you should start crayfish breeding as a business only after analyzing the demand for products, but it is important to take into account that you can make the first deliveries no earlier than in a year and a half. Therefore, market research should not be confused with concluding preliminary agreements. Your potential buyers of live crayfish could be:

Pubs and restaurants;
Food delivery services;
Private individuals;
Seafood stores;
Supermarkets.

For each of the categories, you will need to collect information about interest in a similar product, volumes and conditions of supply, on the basis of which you can draw a conclusion about the profitability and the most optimal scale of the enterprise.

Growing technology and organizational issues

As with any type farm, you need to start growing crayfish only after deep learning features of the life activity of the animals themselves. Therefore, before investing, it is advisable for an entrepreneur to first work in this area, at least in fishing.

Common methods of growing crayfish

There are several basic methods for breeding crustaceans, the choice of which depends on the initial conditions (climate, availability of accessible areas and technology), as well as the planned scale of production. The most popular and cost-effective are:

Open natural ponds. This method is the least expensive, but different high risk poaching and the difficulty of brood control. Also, in natural reservoirs it is impossible to influence the temperature of the environment, which is especially critical for regions with cold climates.
Artificial open reservoirs. If you have a large enough plot of land, you can build your own pond in a protected area. It must be at least 1.5 meters deep. Recommended area is at least 30 square meters. The bottom of such a pond should have a spherical shape. Also, to prevent water from escaping, it is sealed and then covered with a layer of sand and gravel, in which the crayfish can build their burrows.
Home aquariums. In this case, you will need at least 3 containers of 250 liters each. This is one of the least profitable methods, since it is difficult to grow in aquariums a large number of arthropods.
Recirculated water supply installations (RAS). They are polypropylene pools with built-in filtration systems. The most progressive and effective method to create a full-fledged farm that allows you to grow crayfish all year round, without the latter going into hibernation. When using RAS, the total period of growing adults is reduced by about a third.

Selecting species for breeding

Each breed of crayfish differs in growth intensity and requirements for climatic conditions. Therefore, when planning to breed crayfish at home, it is very important to choose the most optimal species for your chosen breeding method. The following breeds are most popular among domestic farmers:

Cuban blue- a specially bred breed of crayfish, very different rapid growth(the minimum level of marketability is achieved within one year) and unpretentiousness. Females of this species can lay up to two hundred eggs, from which young crustaceans hatch within three weeks. During this period, the water temperature should be at least 25°C. Suitable for breeding in open waters southern regions, aquariums and RAS.
Broad-clawed crayfish - unpretentious breed, capable of living and reproducing in water with a temperature of 16°C. It is distinguished by a large amount of meat, but today it is a rare endangered species, which complicates the purchase of young animals.
Australian- heat-loving, fleshy breed (not lower than 22°C). Suitable for growing in pools, where it can grow up to 150 grams per year.
Marble- one of the most prolific breeds, which is achieved due to the lack of separation of individuals into female and male sexes. Loves warm climates (from 20°C), but it takes at least two years to grow to a marketable state.
European long-fingered crayfish- an unpretentious (from 19°C) and quickly reproducing breed, suitable for open water bodies of the European continent. It has a low percentage of cannibalism compared to more heat-loving species, which simplifies the maintenance process.

Breeding crayfish is a profitable and interesting business. Just like in the case of, this does not require huge expenses, but can bring you good profits. The only drawback of such a business is its seasonality. You can win financially from crayfish farming only in the period from May to October. But despite this, breeding crayfish at home has been and remains a popular way of earning money.

Determining market demand and distribution options

Just like any other type of business, crayfish farming should begin with an analysis of market demand. To understand whether your product will be popular, you can go this way: find out from the establishments Catering(cafes, restaurants), supermarkets, etc. will they want to purchase goods from you for subsequent sale? If in most cases your offer is received with a bang, then you don’t have to worry about having nowhere to put the goods.

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

How to breed crayfish

Breeding crayfish is a simple process, although it does require some effort, both mental and financial. You can come across a large number of opinions about how to do this correctly and more rationally. If you yourself have not previously encountered breeding crayfish (or any other creatures), then try to use only verified information to organize your activities in order to reduce the likelihood extra costs time and money. If you have plenty of time and money, then you can go through trial and error - no one has canceled that either.

You need to buy the first crayfish for breeding, and not catch them in the nearest river (such crayfish will most likely grow very slowly and will not bring you the desired profit). Buy adult specimens and raise the young ones yourself. To get good offspring, take twice as many females as males.

What should a body of water be like?

For home breeding crayfish need an aquatic environment, where, in fact, this will happen. Both natural and artificial reservoirs are suitable. Crayfish feel the need to dig holes for themselves, so they will feel best in reservoirs with clay or sandy soils; the presence of silt will also be beneficial. In such a reservoir, crayfish will be able to create the most comfortable living conditions for themselves. Pay special attention to the temperature of the water in the pond.

In order for crayfish to feel great, grow and reproduce, it is necessary to constantly maintain the temperature at 18°C. If the temperature is below this mark, the crayfish will most likely hibernate and, therefore, will not produce any offspring.

The optimal depth of the reservoir is from 1 to 3 meters, and the area is from 30 to 60 square meters. Do not forget that the water in reservoirs must be updated regularly. It is best to do this every 2-3 weeks, however, replace no more than 30% of the water at a time, otherwise the microclimate of the reservoir will be disrupted.

Breeding crayfish in an aquarium

If you are aiming for an even more home-based business option, then think about breeding crayfish in an aquarium. This is quite real, and has its pros and cons. If you install special cleaning filters in an aquarium with crayfish, you will save yourself from the need to constantly change the water in the aquarium. Maintaining the desired temperature in an aquarium is also much easier than in artificial reservoirs, and catching crayfish is also easier. In addition, crayfish living in an aquarium grow 3 times faster than those living in a pond. Therefore, you will be able to sell your finished product faster.

The only significant disadvantage of raising crayfish in an aquarium is the limited space. You will not be able to install many aquariums within one medium-sized apartment, and you will also have to spend more money on paying for electricity to heat the aquarium. However, according to reviews of people who breed crayfish in conditions home aquarium, we can say that the income will easily cover all expenses if you take care in advance about where and to whom you will sell the goods.

Crayfish Care

When all the preparatory work has already been done, you can purchase crayfish and send them to the reservoir. It is necessary to purchase both females and males. To calculate the required number of individuals for the first purchase, keep in mind that each female crayfish can lay about a hundred eggs. The purchase of individuals will not be the only one - this will need to be carried out periodically for at least five years. Only after this period can you get a herd that is capable of self-reproduction.

From time to time it is necessary to isolate certain groups of individuals from each other. In order for crayfish to develop and grow normally, it is sometimes necessary to separate the older and younger “generations” from each other. Also, every spring, females should be caught and moved to a separate pond. This is necessary so that you do not lose a significant part of the individuals, since crayfish can eat each other. Females will develop best in water with a temperature of about 22°C, although it is not scary if it is a little lower. At proper care in two years, crayfish can grow 10-12 centimeters in length and weigh about 50-60 grams.

Feeding the crayfish

Crayfish are omnivorous creatures. They can feed on fish remains and various aquatic plants. However, it is important to provide additional feeding, and to do this at regular intervals. Boiled meat, fish, vegetables, algae, worms, larvae, and zooplankton are well suited for feeding. There are also special feeds for crayfish.

However, be careful not to overfeed the crayfish: they tolerate an excess of food eaten much more difficult than a lack of it.

Reproduction and moulting

Mating in crayfish occurs in early autumn. As mentioned above, it is necessary that for each male there are two females. This is due to the fact that a male can only fertilize two females in a row. If after two matings he sees a third female, then there is a high probability that he will try to eat her. The eggs of females are initially under the shell and cannot be seen. But when it moves under the tail (usually this happens towards the end of spring), you can easily see it. When the larvae emerge from the eggs, the females keep them under their tail for some time, thus protecting them from possible dangers. On average, the number of offspring per female reaches about 20 individuals per year, and in home breeding conditions there can be up to 60.

When the shell becomes too tight for the growing crayfish, they shed it. This process is called molting. Young crayfish molt about eight times during their first year of existence. In the second year, crayfish survive no more than five molts, in the third - about three or four.

Equipment for breeding crayfish

If you decide to create your own small crab-breeding farm, then for greater efficiency you should supplement the pond with special equipment. Crayfish are creatures that are quite picky about their living conditions, and therefore the better environment you create for them, the more they will repay you with magnificent growth. To complete the pond you will need:

Equipment for thermal insulation. They can be used in greenhouses, both special industrial and ordinary ones. Greenhouses are necessary to maintain the optimal water temperature for crayfish in a pond.
Frame. To hold water in the pond, a frame is needed, and it is best made from polypropylene.
Air compressor. This equipment is necessary so that the water in the reservoir does not stagnate, and the crayfish can continue to grow actively.
Oxidizer. In winter, crayfish may lack oxygen, but an oxidizer installed at the bottom of the reservoir will saturate it with oxygen. It is best to place the oxidizer in a pond in late autumn, without waiting until the pond is already covered with a layer of ice.
Filtration system. Even if you change the water on time, there will still be food debris and waste products of various insects and the crayfish themselves at the bottom of the reservoir. If all this is not removed, the health of the crayfish can deteriorate significantly, which means their growth will slow down.

If we talk about breeding crayfish in an aquarium, then it is also necessary special systems filtration, heaters and compressors.

How to breed crayfish video

And finally, we offer you several videos in which you can clearly see what it means to breed crayfish in a RAS, and also learn useful information about the reproduction of crayfish.

Anyone who has tried crayfish meat at least once knows how tasty and tender it is. Currently, the breeding of these representatives of the fauna in Russia is practically not developed. However, demand for the product is high. Some villagers manage to make good money by fishing for crayfish in their natural habitat, but in this way they negatively impact the natural population of these animals. Such fishing is essentially poaching. Even before the revolution, breeding was successfully carried out on Russian territory. 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? To begin with, if it is silted or swampy. The proximity of crayfish to crucian carp, carp and other non-predatory fish is allowed. However, keep in mind that such businesses will suffer when winter comes. This is explained by the fact that crayfish tend to hibernate if the air temperature drops below fifteen degrees Celsius. In a state of suspended animation, they stop consuming food and, accordingly, do not gain weight. If the pond completely freezes to the bottom, your pets will die.

However, many businessmen are wondering how to breed crayfish in ponds, because such reservoirs are the most sustainable aquatic systems, capable of self-purification and self-renewal. At the same time, there is an opportunity 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 these animals do not grow fast enough. The commercial mass is gained approximately in the fifth year of life. Thus, the business will begin to generate income only after six years. The attractive thing is that there is virtually no initial investment required.

Aquarium

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

How to breed crayfish at home so that they do not hibernate? To do this, it is important to ensure that the water temperature fluctuates insignificantly and does not fall 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 to three hundred and fifty individuals per square meter.

The only drawback of the described business is its small volumes. It is difficult to achieve industrial scale due to limited area breeding. However, some entrepreneurs have figured out how to breed crayfish in an aquarium in order to get maximum profit. At home, they raise the larvae to “fingerlings,” and only then release them into a natural or artificial reservoir. Thanks to this solution, it is possible to organize successful business. But how to breed crayfish at home to minimize losses? Control over water quality should come first. 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, but for you it will become a way to get money. If necessary, you will need to insulate the basement to prevent the crayfish from hibernating at low water temperatures. To organize lighting, purchase a lamp with a power of two hundred watts and hang it in the center of the ceiling. Equip your basement with multi-tiered shelving to accommodate aquariums. After finishing preparatory work the time will come to ask the question of how to breed crayfish.

Where to buy

Buying larvae is not easy. Most likely, you will have to raise the young animals yourself. You can even buy crayfish at the supermarket. For every male there should be two females. In autumn, mating time begins. At the end of 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 organize high-quality good nutrition. Crayfish prefer earthworms, insect larvae and small snails. In an artificial habitat, they will not refuse steamed and crushed grains, boiled potatoes and grated carrots. These products should be most animal 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.

Features of reproduction

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

Initially, the eggs are located under the animal’s shell. Once laid, it is secured 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 female’s tail to avoid many dangers. After this time, completely independent crustaceans leave their cozy shelter forever. In their natural habitat, each female is capable of raising up to twelve larvae. She cannot have more than twenty descendants a year. As for home conditions, this number can actually be tripled.

Shedding

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

How to breed crayfish correctly? We need to give them Special attention 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 farming into a highly profitable business, we recommend organizing a farm. Only in this case will it be possible to establish the production of a tasty product on an industrial scale. To do this you will need the following:

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

- Pools where crayfish are bred and have become independent individuals. There they need to be raised to the fingerling stage.

- Indoor ponds. There should be at least two, but it’s better to try to organize even more. This way 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 they have running water. That is why it is so important to have a river flowing nearby. If this is not possible on your farm, drill several water wells.

Be sure to place shelters for crayfish at the bottom of reservoirs. They can be fragments of plastic or ceramic pipes, stones, driftwood, etc.

Important point

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

Lake and river crayfish are also distinguished. The former are most suitable for home businesses because they do not hibernate and can reach impressive sizes. However, there is one drawback: lake crayfish are very capricious. To breed and successfully maintain them, you will need a warm room with an area of at least twenty square meters. Crayfish are not so demanding, but they are smaller in size, and accordingly, 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 body of water.

A dacha is not only for garden beds

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

How to breed crayfish in the country? If the area is large enough, it is better to organize three or four reservoirs. Of course, you can do it yourself, but an excavator can handle such work much easier. Spare no expense and order necessary equipment. After completing this stage of work, think about landscaping the 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 organizing drainage. To do this, you can use a regular pipe, which is closed on top 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 renew 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 over several years, you will need to purchase about six hundred individuals. The main costs occur during the start-up period. They amount to approximately 120 thousand rubles. for equipment of reservoirs and 50 thousand rubles. for the purchase of young animals. If you invest 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 sales prices. In addition, keep in mind that the larger the crayfish, the more expensive they are.

How to sell?

No problems with sales points is one of the main advantages of this business. The fact is that currently competition in this area is low, and this is despite a constant shortage of crayfish. Numerous restaurants, cafes and 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 taste and nutritional quality? This can also be emphasized in the process of searching for buyers. Besides, in various types In production, the chitinous shells of the animals considered, amazing in their properties, are widely used.

Conclusion

We examined 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.

Don’t know how to make money, what business is most profitable to develop? Open a crayfish farming and breeding business! This type of business is suitable for you, especially if you yourself love to feast on the meat of these animals.

Relevance of this business

People have long used crayfish as food, adding them to various recipes or consumed as an independent dish with a foamy drink. Anyone who has tried crayfish meat at least once knows how pleasant and tender it tastes. It is at the expense of their taste qualities this type of product will always be in demand.

The idea of crayfish farming is very profitable. This type of business does not require special capital investments and at the same time brings enormous income for a whole six months, and on an industrial scale - even year-round. In Russia, crayfish breeding is practically undeveloped, so you have a wide range to implement your business idea.

In pre-revolutionary times, Russia was already engaged in a business related to crayfish, but it consisted only of catching, and not growing. Later, artificial farms for breeding crayfish began to appear, which began to supply meat to European countries.

Types of crayfish for breeding

Far Eastern and European species of crayfish are widespread in Russia. If you are planning to put your business on stream, then the European type will suit you.

Europeans, in turn, are divided into long-toed and broad-toed. Broad-toed crayfish are a very valuable species. In cooking they are called “crayfish necks”. But this type of crayfish is listed in the Red Book, so for business it is better to take long-fingered individuals so that there are no problems with regulatory authorities.

There is also a division into lake and river crayfish. Lake crayfish are suitable for growing crayfish at home: they usually do not fall asleep and reach quite large sizes. Their only drawback is their capriciousness: to keep this type you will need a very warm room of at least 20 square meters.

Almost all types of crayfish are not large in size, but they are unpretentious to living conditions and are inexpensive.

Where to buy?

Finding crayfish larvae is not so easy. Most likely, you will have to raise the young animals yourself. You can purchase the first copies at the supermarket. Buy two females for each male. If you don’t want to spend money on a purchase, you can catch crayfish yourself in ponds.

Features of reproduction, molting and diseases of crayfish

Crayfish mate in the fall (September, October). At the end of spring, females can be distinguished from males by the presence of eggs under the tail.
A female cannot produce more than 20 crustaceans per year.
Young crayfish molt about eight times a year. Adults – 1-2 times a year. When molting, it is necessary to ensure the safety of animals, since without a shell they become vulnerable to predators.
The most dangerous diseases crayfish - burn and plague. Make sure that pathogenic fungi do not develop in the water, otherwise the entire brood of crayfish will die.

Breeding areas

On this moment There are two places for breeding crayfish - a pond and an aquarium.

Growing crayfish in a pond

A pond is a formed stable ecosystem with its own inhabitants and conditions. It is capable of updating.

The main disadvantages of this breeding site:

In the winter, the pond freezes, and the crayfish hibernate as the water temperature drops below 15 degrees. If the pond freezes to the bottom, then the living creatures will simply die;
crayfish grow slowly in natural conditions, gaining the necessary mass for sale only in the fifth year.

What can you do when breeding in a pond?

The first step is to clean the reservoir of contaminants, since crayfish prefer clean water.
You don’t have to destroy the non-predatory fish neighbors of the crayfish in the pond.

Video about breeding crayfish in a pond

Aquariums: keeping crayfish at home

The minimum size of the aquarium is 250 liters.
You should pour soil at the bottom, place pebbles and decorations so that the crayfish can hide there.
Fill with water, ensure its filtration and purification.

Hatchery ponds and aquariums

Equip aquariums with filters and heaters.
Organize elongated ponds measuring at least 25 square meters and 2 meters deep.
It is necessary that the water in the pond be running. It is very important that a river flows nearby. If this is not possible, water wells should be drilled.
Place shelters at the bottom of the pond so that the crayfish can hide.

Necessary equipment for breeding crayfish

Maintenance and care requirements

Requirements for living conditions

The water where crayfish live must be clean. Its temperature cannot be lower than 15 degrees, otherwise the animals will hibernate.
The number of individuals per 1 square meter should not exceed 350 pieces.
You cannot contain different types of crayfish in one body of water.

Feeding

In order for crayfish to correspond to their marketable appearance and weight, it is necessary to properly organize their nutrition. Daily norm food consumption for one individual should be 4-5% of its weight.

What is suitable as food?

Earthworms.
Insect larvae.
Snails.
Steamed and crushed grains.
Boiled potatoes.
Grated carrots.

Delivery of finished products

First you need to find potential clients who could purchase your products. Call the nearest restaurants and catering outlets, test the waters. If your services are not needed, you can always start supplying the product to the market by selling it to fishmongers.

You can also offer your friends the grown product. These same acquaintances can recommend you to someone else - this is how you will earn your first profit.

Profitability of a mini-farm for growing crayfish

Even if you have a large profit from this activity, you need to take into account that this type of business is seasonal.

There is practically no competition in this type of business, so you can quickly find a buyer for your products and get your treasured profit.

To get a ton of crayfish over several years, it would take about 600 individuals. All the main costs are incurred just when starting a business.

It will cost about 170 thousand rubles to equip the reservoir and purchase the first batch of individuals. (20 thousand rubles for crayfish, the rest for equipment for growing crayfish). Having invested 200 thousand rubles. into business, in two years you will earn your first million. These are all relative figures; when calculating expenses and income, take into account the selling price of crayfish.

It is cheaper to breed crayfish in a ready-made reservoir, but there is a risk of the business sinking due to weather conditions.
You can organize your own business by first raising fingerlings (crayfish larvae) in an aquarium and then transplanting them into a pond.
Avoid sudden changes in the temperature of the water in which crayfish live, as well as its hypothermia.
Choose one type of crayfish for business, as individuals different categories don't get along with each other.
Monitor the health of individuals. Crayfish are susceptible to fungal diseases.
Do not overfeed animals.
There should be half as many males as females.
Constantly monitor the quality of the water in which the crayfish live.

Don't think that raising crayfish is very easy. This business will be profitable only when all conditions for breeding and living animals are met. Don't expect a quick fix.