Abstract

The influence of temperature, crayfish size and food quality on food consumption and growth was quantified for individually reared Astacus astacus under laboratory conditions. When temperatures increased from 5°C to 24°C, daily food consumption increased ten fold in adult crayfish. At 20°C daily food consumption decreased from >4% of body weight in juveniles (1-2g) to <2% in adults. Although crayfish wet-weight was constant during the experiments (2-3 weeks) a slight, non-significant increase in dry-weight was observed when temperatures were above about 8°C. Crayfish fed animal food showed higher food consumption rates, growth rates, and food conversion efficiency than those fed detritus. It is supposed that the high proportion of detritus in the gut contents of crayfish in most natural environments indicates a relative food shortage under natural conditions.

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