Growth of Juvenile Crayfish Procambarus llamasi (Villalobos 1955) Fed Different Farm and Aquaculture Commercial Foods

Abstract

In this study, a range of commercially available animal and fish feeds were tested in the production of juveniles of the crayfish Procambarus llamasi, an endemic species of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. A randomized block design was implemented to observe the effect of commercial shrimp (Crude Protein, CP = 38%), trout (CP = 43.2%), tilapia (CP = 31.8%), rabbit (CP = 16.1%), turkey (CP = 18%), and pig (CP = 15.2%) diets in a recirculating aquaculture system. Shrimp food showed the best results in terms of growth performance, while lowest growth values (P<0.05) were obtained with farm animal diets. Trout and tilapia diets were intermediate. Pig feed was the most cost-effective at US$ 0.44 per kg of crayfish growth. Where no feeds specifically for crayfish are available, terrestrial animal feeds have the advantage of low price, ready availability in the market, and acceptable performance.

KeyWords:

• Crayfish
• procambarus llamasi
• growth
• commercial food

The investigators wish to thank the Conacyt-Gobierno del estado de Quintana Roo for its financial support of the project as well as the Provi-Purina Co. of Yucatan for the donation of the foods. This experiment supports the technological transfer of the Procambarus (A.) llamasi in the State of Quintana Roo.