Effect of density and shelter on growth, physiology, and biochemical composition of the crayfish Cambarellus montezumae

ABSTRACT

We analyzed the combined effects of population density and presence or absence of shelters on growth and physiological performance of the crayfish Cambarellus montezumae. Three different densities—64, 144, and 208 crayfish per m²—with and without shelters were used. Growth; survival; metabolic rate; tissue glucose; and total lipid, triglyceride, nitrogen, and energy content were measured. Animals stocked at 64 and 144 per m² with shelter reached the highest body weight; those in groups without shelter had elevated levels of glucose (p < .05). Animals stocked at 144 per m² retained the most nitrogen and energy (p < .05). Overall, the combination of medium density with shelters produced the best performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Crayfish
• density
• growth
• physiological indices
• shelters

Acknowledgments

This is contribution No. 163 of the Aquaculture Laboratory, Department of Comparative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, UNAM. The authors thank Aldi Oyarzabal Salcedo (Scientific Illustration), Faculty of Sciences, (UNAM) for his drawing.

Funding

The first author wishes to thank the PASPA program (UNAM) for the scholarship given during his sabbatical stay at CIBAC facilities (UAM) in order to do this research.

Additional information

Funding

The first author wishes to thank the PASPA program (UNAM) for the scholarship given during his sabbatical stay at CIBAC facilities (UAM) in order to do this research.