Production of Crawfish in Earthen Ponds of Different Depths

Abstract

Abstract Production of red swamp crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) was evaluated in deep (mean, 66 cm) and shallow (mean, 39 cm) earthen ponds over one production cycle. The first phase of production was based upon a rice (Oryza sativa) forage system; in the second phase a formulated feed served as a nutritional supplement. Dissolved oxygen (DO) levels did not vary significantly with depth treatments; a decrease in DO levels was observed as the harvest season continued and water temperatures increased. The most noticeable decline in DO occurred when water temperatures reached 13°C. Production and total length (TL) of red swamp crawfish from all ponds averaged 662 kg/hectare and 88.7 mm, respectively. Crawfish production was significantly greater in deep ponds (16.28 kg/hectare per trap-day) than in shallow ponds (12.56 kg/hectare per trap-day). No difference was observed in the production of crawfish during rice forage and supplemental feeding phases of the study. Through supplemental feeding, the harvest se...