Effects of different bronopol treatments on final survival rates in the artificial incubation of crayfish eggs (Pacifastacus leniusculus, Astacidae)

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted on the effects of bronopol in the artificial incubation of crayfish eggs (Pacifastacus leniusculus) with the aim to search an alternative to formaldehyde. In the first experiment, 50, 250, 500 and 1000 ppm bronopol and 3000 ppm formaldehyde (control) in periodical administrations were tested on a density of 6.6 eggs cm−2. After 44 days of incubation, the highest survival was obtained with 1000 ppm bronopol (81.9% to stage 2 juvenile, with no significant difference from formaldehyde), whereas lower bronopol concentrations resulted in significantly lower survival. In the second experiment, 1000, 3000 and 5000 ppm bronopol and 3000 ppm formaldehyde (control) administered for 15 min every second day were tested on eggs at a density of 20 eggs cm−2. After 78 days of incubation, bronopol at 3000 ppm allowed for a stage 2 juvenile survival rate of 65.0% (with no significant difference from formaldehyde), whereas significantly lower survival was obtained with 1000 ppm or 5000 ppm. This study shows that bronopol may constitute an alternative to formaldehyde in the artificial incubation of crayfish eggs. A concentration of 3000 ppm administered for 15 min every second day may be adequate even on long incubations at high densities (at least 20 eggs cm−2, one complete layer).