Comparative analysis of growth of Australian red-claw crayfish (Cherax quadicarinatus) on domestic fodder in RAS conditions

Presents comparative data on the growth rate of the Australian red-claw crayfish (Cherax uadricarinatus) in the conditions of the “Lobster Chernozemya” RAS in the Voronezh Region on two types of feed: the enterprise’s diet and the formula of the “Novosibirsk HP” compound feed. The experiment was conducted for 29 days. For the work, 6 crayfish with an average weight of 30 g were selected for each type of feed to evaluate, which were placed in 2 aquariums (100.5×26×40 cm) connected to the main system of the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). In the recirculating system, the temperature regime and the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water were determined by instrumental methods, recorded by specialized electronic sensors, in the aquariums — by a thermooxymeter (“Samara-2”). Feeding throughout the experiment was carried out once a day at the rate of 1% of the total biomass in the aquarium. For the first control group, the traditional diet prepared at the “Lobster Chernozemya” enterprise was used. Crayfish of the second experimental group received the compound feed of the “Novosibirsk HP” recipe. In the control group, the absolute gain contained in the main diet was 0.87 g/pc.; absolute growth rate — 0.03 g/pc.; relative gain — 0.098%; relative growth rate — 0.098%; mass accumulation coefficient — 0.0031. Feed costs were 14.7 kg/kg of gain. Absolute and relative, average daily gains and mass accumulation coefficient in the experimental group receiving the “Novosibirsk HP” compound feed were higher, so the absolute gain was 2.35 g/pc.; absolute growth rate — 0.81 g/pc.; relative gain — 0.256%; relative growth rate — 0.256%; mass accumulation coefficient — 0.0081. Feed costs in this group were 5.7 kg/kg.