Australian lobster breeding methods and conditions

Australian lobster is a precious freshwater economic shrimp species introduced and developed in recent years. It is easy to breed artificially, has a wide range of feed sources, is less susceptible to diseases, has strong adaptability, and has significant breeding benefits. So what are the breeding methods and conditions of Australian lobsters? Let’s learn more about it below.

1. Pond conditions

Australian lobsters prefer water environments with fresh water and rich dissolved oxygen. They should choose places with sufficient water sources, no pollution sources, and convenient injection and drainage. The area should be between 2000 and 3300 square meters, and the bottom should be sandy or hard soil without too much silt. In addition, the pond should be equipped with good water inlet and outlet facilities, and nets should be installed at the inlet and outlet to prevent escape and enemy damage. In addition, aquatic plants such as water grass, water hyacinth , water lily, etc. should be raised around the pond. If conditions permit, sufficient hiding places can be arranged at the bottom of the pond, such as artificial nests, stones, tiles, etc. for shrimps to live in.

2. Stocking method

(1) Seedling selection: Select seedlings with smooth and bright surface, complete and sound limbs, and healthy physique.

(2) Stocking time: Generally from April to early June, when the water temperature rises above 16°C in spring, stocking can be carried out.

(3) Stocking density: depends on factors such as shrimp fry specifications, growth requirements, shrimp pond conditions and feeding management level. Generally, lobster seedlings with a body length of more than 1.5-2cm are released in a quantity of 5,000-6,000 per 1/15 hectare, and the survival rate is usually above 70%-80%.

3. Feeding

In the first three days of seedling rearing, you can feed the shrimp fry by sprinkling steamed egg + fish paste on all sides, and gradually replace it with shrimp starter bait with a crude protein content of 44%-46% and brine shrimp. The daily feeding rate for shrimp fry is 3-5 times/day. When the shrimp fry grow to more than 2 cm, they can be fed granular bait. The amount of bait should be 15% of the body weight of the shrimp in the pond, and should be increased or decreased appropriately according to water temperature, feeding and growth conditions.

4. Daily management

The pond water quality must be kept fresh at all times. Generally, 15-20cm deep water needs to be replaced every week and there must be enough dissolved oxygen. Regular inspections should be conducted at ordinary times, and pond patrols should be carried out frequently to remove moss from the pond in a timely manner; filters at the inlet and outlet should be checked regularly, and attention should be paid to observing the shrimp's various activities, feeding conditions, etc., and attention should be paid to preventing and eliminating pests.

5. Shrimp disease prevention and control

Australian lobster is highly disease-resistant, but it is susceptible to a shrimp disease called "crawfish plague", which is caused by a fungal infection. The suitable growth temperature for this fungus is no higher than 18. When the water temperature is higher than 21℃, the growth of the fungus will be inhibited. Therefore, as long as the water temperature is controlled above 21℃ when releasing and catching the shrimp fry, a good preventive effect can be achieved.

In general, Australian lobster is favored by aquaculture farmers because of its strong disease resistance, fast growth rate, diverse diet, and easy availability of feed. However, it is not an easy task to raise Australian lobsters. It is recommended to understand the relevant breeding methods and conditions before breeding.