Abstract

The growth of the Australian freshwater crayfish Cherax tenuimanus (marron) fed with different diets in a battery system with recirculating water was investigated. Test animals held in the system obtained nutrients from both the added rations and from natural food organisms growing within the system. In experiment 1 two types of rations were trialled. The first one (RD) contained wheat and the second one (SC) contained lupin, barley, maize and oats as the main carbohydrate source. Each type of ration contained 15, 20 or 30% protein. In addition, 1% beta-carotene was added to the 15% protein SC-ration to give a further test ration. No significant effects of different plant components on weight gain were revealed. The maximum growth rate was obtained with marron fed diets containing 20 and 30% protein. Beta-carotene premix did not improve growth rate although a lack of this premix resulted in abnormal pale, or blue, colour of claws. In experiment 2 with diets containing 0, 20, 30, 40 and 50% protein the differences in the growth rates of marron fed the 30% and higher protein content diets were insignificant. Marron fed the diets with 20% and more protein had similar hepatosomatic ratios, serum protein concentrations and tail muscle moisture.

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