Abstract

A 53 day feeding-stocking density experiment was conducted with stunted red swamp crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) in metal pools. Foods evaluated were an aquatic vegetation mixture (Polygonum sp. and Ludvigia sp.) and coastal bermudagrass hay (Cynodon dactylon). Stunted crawfish averaging 65.8 mm (total length) were stocked at densities of 6 and 12 crawfish/m². Significantly greater growth was exhibited by crawfish fed aquatic vegetation as opposed to those crawfish fed hay at both stocking densities (P < 0.01). Likewise, crawfish stocked at 6/m² grew faster than those stocked at 12/m² (P < 0.01). Survival of crawfish did not significantly differ with respect to feeding regime (P > 0.05) nor to stocking density (P > 0.10). Findings from this study indicate that a program of supplemental feeding and/or density reduction may stimulate growth in stunted crawfish populations sufficiently for the populations to attain marketable size(? 76 mm) within the same growing season.

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