Crayfish culture in Italy: a trial with Procambarus clarkii
Bianchini, M.L.; Lombardi, F. (1989). Crayfish culture in Italy: a trial with Procambarus clarkii , in: De Pauw, N. et al. (Ed.) Aquaculture: a biotechnology in progress: volume 1. pp. 374-376 In: De Pauw, N. et al. (1989). Aquaculture: a biotechnology in progress: volume 1. European Aquaculture Society: Bredene. ISBN 90-71625-03-6. 1-592 pp., more |
| Available in | Authors | | Document type: Conference paper
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| Authors | | Top | - Bianchini, M.L.
- Lombardi, F.
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| Abstract | An account is given on the possibilities of crayfish aquaculture in Italy, examining the different species already stocked, or having an exploitation potential. Same preliminary results on the growth and survival of a batch of American red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, recently imported for experimental purposes in central Italy from Kenya, are reported. The animals weighed 29-57g (average 41.69) with a single female reaching 76.6g. The crayfish withstood the shipment well. In outdoor basins, the survival was good until the temperature dropped below 10°C. A planned trial in earthen ponds was interrupted after a few days, to avoid the risk of escape but the growth experiment is still in progress. Of a smaller lot kept indoors, three females became gravid a few weeks after arrival. After being for 35 days in berry, one crayfish hatched about 120 larvae. After 4 months, the postlarvae were about 5cm long (carapace length 18mm), weighing 2.8-3.0g. Presently, 6 months after importation the other three animals are in berry. A strategy to develop and implement this kind of crayfish aquaculture is suggested, taking the risks of accidental releases into consideration. |
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