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Interested in venturing into the realm of commercial fish farming? Crayfish present a lucrative opportunity. Although setting up the farm may demand some time, once the crayfish are settled, they require minimal care. This comprehensive guide will navigate you through the process of constructing the ponds, introducing the crayfish, and ensuring their well-being, enabling you to transform your business aspirations into reality.
Essential Steps
Constructing the Pond
Excavate a Rectangular Pond. Begin by selecting a spacious area with access to your primary water source. Given that starting a farm necessitates a sizable pond, enlist the help of friends or hire a professional company for land excavation. Aim for a pond that is at least 5 to 7 meters long and 1 to 1.2 meters deep.
- Consider enlarging the pond if you can incorporate systems for proper aeration and drainage.
- Many commercial farms manage multiple large ponds. Expansion may be an option once you become adept at farm management.
Ensure Proper Drainage. Slope the floor of the pond towards the drainage area. Begin by determining the side where the drainage system will be installed. Dig this side approximately 0.10 meters deeper than the rest of the pond. Smooth out the dirt between the deep and shallow ends to create a gradual slope.
Connect the Drainage System. Dig a trench from the water supply to one side of the pond to accommodate the drainage system. Ensure the trench is sufficiently large to contain and cover the drainage pipe, which should emerge at the base of the pond's wall.
Establish a Water Supply System. Lay the supply pipe adjacent to the drainage pipe to minimize excavation. Professional assistance may be sought to handle complex aspects such as adhering to building codes and installing functional valves. Once completed, you'll have a reliable source of fresh water for your pond.
Angle the Pond Walls. Create a V-shaped pond by adding an additional 0.5 meters of dirt to the walls on the drain side. Utilize your shovel to shape and smooth the walls, ensuring they slope towards the pond floor. This prevents the formation of water puddles during crayfish harvesting.
Compact the Soil with Water. Reduce soil compaction by moistening it with water, resulting in a less muddy pond during harvesting. Use a hose to evenly spray the entire pond floor until puddles begin to form. Allow the water to settle for an hour before repeating the process. Once drainage slows, smooth the soil with a lawn roller.
- Applying gravel over the soil can aid in maintaining compaction.
- Contractors experienced in concrete laying can assist in soil settlement.
Construct a Concrete Harvesting Base around the Drain. Excavate a circular area a few inches or centimeters around the opening of the drainage pipe. Utilize a flow trap as a guide to determine the required spread of concrete. Proceed to mix and pour concrete around the drain pipe opening, ensuring a smooth finish with a trowel or hoe.
- Ensure the drainage pipe remains uncovered, with the concrete rising slightly above it to facilitate water flow.
Position the Flow Trap over the Drainage Pipe. The flow trap, resembling a mesh cylinder, is placed securely around the concrete base. Acquire one from a farming supply store and firmly install it around the concrete. During pond drainage, it will remain in place, preventing crayfish from escaping along with the water.
Promoting Pond Health
Integrate Aeration Systems into the Pond. Paddlewheels offer a convenient method for maintaining pond aeration, essential for crayfish well-being. Purchase them from home improvement outlets and follow assembly instructions. Position the paddlewheel in the pond's center and activate the motor. While most operate on gas or electricity, alternatives include wind or solar power.
- For larger ponds, consider deploying multiple paddlewheels to ensure adequate aeration, providing redundancy in case of failure.
- Although aspirators are an option, paddlewheels are more suitable for crayfish farm pond sizes.
Regularly Aerate the Pond. Activate the paddlewheels for 30-60 minutes daily to supply crayfish with sufficient oxygen, particularly crucial during warmer months when water holds less oxygen. This routine can be repeated up to three times daily to maintain optimal pond oxygenation.
Create hiding spots using netting. Provide hiding spots for crayfish by cutting nylon sock bags and anchoring them with stones to sink them to the pond bottom. Alternatively, wrap nylon around rocks, sticks, or plants, and position them in the pond center for young crayfish to find.
- Approximately 150 hiding spots are required per 1,000 square meters of pond space.
- When filling netting with degradable material, ensure it does not release toxins into the water. Replace decaying plant matter as necessary.
Protect the pond with bird netting. Prevent birds and other animals from preying on crayfish by covering the pond with bird netting. Purchase a pond net from a home improvement store or have a custom one installed by a professional company. Secure the net with metal stakes atop the pond walls and ensure it reaches the ground to prevent animals from slipping underneath.
Managing Crayfish Stock and Harvest
Introduce mature crayfish into the pond. Acquire healthy stock from another farm in early spring, aiming for approximately 1500 crayfish per hectare. Request a ratio of at least four males for every female crayfish.
- Ensure compliance with local regulations if catching crayfish for stocking purposes.
Provide juvenile crayfish with plankton feed. Supplement the diet of young crayfish with plankton, readily available nitrogen, and diammonium phosphate from home and garden stores. Begin with approximately 50 kilograms per hectare and replenish after pond draining.
Provide grown crayfish with pellets daily. Opt for commercial crayfish pellets for optimal growth. Alternatively, use fish or greens-based pellets, such as shrimp pellets or Lucerne. Distribute pellets over the water surface in the evening when crayfish become active.
- Supplementing pellets with meaty food can enhance crayfish health.
Allow four months for crayfish growth. After this period, crayfish are ready for harvesting. Ensure the safety of young crayfish by providing ample mesh netting hiding spots made from nylon sock bags wrapped around sticks to protect them from predators.
Harvest crayfish by draining the pond. Activate the drainage system to gather crayfish near the flow trap. Proper pond preparation facilitates easy harvesting. Collect crayfish manually wearing boots and transfer them to a water-filled tank.
- Ensure thorough inspection of nets to retrieve any remaining crayfish.
Segregate young crayfish from mature stock. Young crayfish appear small and gray. Separate them from older crayfish by hand, as they need to be reintroduced to the pond for restocking while older ones can be consumed or sold.
Avoid prolonged storage of crayfish in tanks. Crayfish are unsuitable for extended tank confinement, risking injury due to inadequate water conditions. Swiftly transport them from the pond to tanks equipped with oxygenation systems, minimizing time spent in transit.
- Transport crayfish in water tanks, ensuring sufficient oxygenation and avoiding overcrowding to prevent oxygen depletion.
Managing Pond Health
Regularly Monitor Water Oxygen Levels. Use water testing strips or a handheld oxygen meter to ensure oxygen levels are adequate for crayfish health. If levels fall below 5 milligrams per liter or 5 ppm, consider installing additional aeration systems, such as paddlewheels.
Supplement with Calcium for Crayfish Health. Maintain calcium levels between 20-30 milligrams per liter to support crayfish shell formation. Use lime from garden stores, gradually adding it to the pond. Be cautious as it can affect pH levels.
- A calcium level above 5 milligrams per liter is sufficient for crayfish survival.
Regularly Test Pond Water pH. Use a kit from a home improvement store to monitor pH levels annually. Maintain pH between 7 and 8.5 to ensure crayfish health. Abnormal pH levels may indicate the presence of decaying organic matter requiring removal.
Cleanse the Pond During Drainage. Utilize a strong hose to wash away debris revealed during pond drainage. Remove accumulated sludge with a pond net to prevent oxygen depletion and reclaim pond space.
- Perform a thorough pond cleaning at least once a year.
Helpful Tips
- Many commercial farms maintain multiple ponds to enhance profitability.
- Consider constructing separate ponds for egg-laying females as you become more experienced in farming. Although not mandatory, it minimizes potential losses of young crayfish.
Essential Equipment
- Shovel and other excavation tools
- PVC pipes
- Concrete mixture
- Trowel or hoe
- Mesh netting
- Bird netting
- Hose
- Crayfish food
- Water testing kit
- Crayfish
