Abstract

To promote the maximum expression of growth in the yabby, Cherax albidus, it is imperative that all the nutritional requirements of the animal are satisfied at each stage of its life cycle. Under intensive culture conditions highly specific dietary sources are required. In a series of three trials, the growth performance and survival of juveniles (15.7 mg, 18.4 mg, and 755.0 mg mean stocking weight by trial) were investigated using three pellet formulations consisting of 15, 30, and 52% protein, and a variety of natural diets. Animals in the first experiment grew faster when fed a diet of live Daphnia, mean weight (MW) after 35 days, 649.04 mg; mean % weight gain (PWG), 3,314.55%; specific growth rate (SGR), 10.11, than those fed pellets containing 15% protein (MW, 103.37 mg; PWG, 460.54%; SGR, 4.88), or 30% protein (MW, 184.38 mg; PWG, 902.21%; SGR, 6.51). Survival was high (>75%) on all three diets. In the second trial, growth of animals fed a combination of live Daphnia, Boeckella and Calamoecia (MW after 28 days, 353.0 mg; PWG, 2,208.75%; SGR, 11.16), or a frozen equivalent (MW, 304.1 mg; PWG, 1,842%; SGR, 10.58), was significantly greater than animals fed a 52% protein pellet diet (MW, 123.3 mg; PWG, 706.87%; SGR, 7.40), Artemia nauplii/larvae (MW, 117.4 mg; PWG, 675.74%; SGR, 7.03), or Coptotermes acinaciformis (MW, 93.7 mg; PWG, 519.55%; SGR, 6.41). In the third trial, designed to assess longer term growth, yabbies fed a diet of zooplankton were significantly larger, (MW, 19.35 g; PWG, 2,513.45%, SGR, 3.84), than those fed a 30% protein pelleted diet, (MW, 12.1 g ; PWG, 1,498.26%; SGR, 3.23). The results substantiate the nutritional value of selected species of zooplankton for the culture of juvenile C. albidus. The use of freshwater zooplankton as reference diet for early growth is discussed.

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