EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON FEEDING-ACTIVITY OF THE WHITE RIVER CRAYFISH PROCAMBARUS-ACUTUS ACUTUS

Feed consumption by white river crayfish Procambarus acutus acutus in a 56-d laboratory study increased at a linear rate with water temperat ure over a range of 5 to 25 C. Feed consumption changed as water tempe ratures were cycled from 20-8-20 C (0.5 C/d) over a 68-d period and wa s the highest at the initial 20 C level and the lowest at 8 C, As wate r temperature increased, feed consumption rate increased; how-ever, co nsumption never reached the initial rate at 20 C, Crayfish fed 3% and 6% of body weight were significantly larger than animals fed at 1% of body weight after 8 wk, Feed conversion ratios increased significantly with feeding rate, Based on this laboratory study, white river crayfi sh feed most effectively when water temperature is greater than or equ al to 15 C and the feeding rate is 3% of body weight/d.