GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN RED-CLAW CRAYFISH CHERAX-QUADRICARINATUS AT 3 DENSITIES IN EARTHEN PONDS

Australian red claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus were cultured in n ine 0.02-ha earthen ponds at densities of 1/m(2), 3/m(2) and 5/m(2) fo r 158 d. Average weight at stocking was 3.2 g. All ponds were provided with a combination of hay and corn silage at a rate of 500 kg/ha per month and a commercial crayfish ration fed at 5%, decreasing to 2% of estimated biomass/d during the growing season. Overall survival rate w as 72%, and did not differ among treatments. Final yields and average weights varied significantly with stocking density. Red claw averaged 67 g with an average pond yield of 475 kg/ha at 1/m(2). At 3/m(2) and 5/m(2), red claw averaged 48 g and 38 g, respectively, and yielded 1,0 20 kg/ha and 1,422 kg/ha, respectively.