Abstract

The separate and combined effects of relatedness among individuals and shelter availability on survival and growth of juvenile redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) were tested in the first experiment over 4 weeks. Kinship had no effect on survival and growth while shelters had a significant effect on growth rate but not on survival. The effects of three different types of shelters (i.e. PVC pipes, pumice gravel and plastic egg trays) on the growth and survival of juvenile crayfish were tested in the second experiment with 14 different full-sib groups. Containers without shelters served as control. Shelters had no effect on survival. The four treatments differed with regard to growth rate over the 12-week testing period. The egg tray and pipe treatments ranked significantly higher than the control, while the gravel treatment occupied an intermediate position. In all experimental groups the coefficient of variation (C.V.) of weight increased during the study. Three possible mechanisms inhibiting cannibalism (i.e. size uniformity, food quality and aggressiveness of the tested population) were discussed as well as the possible social mechanisms regulating growth rate in this species.

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