How to Raise & Market Crayfish

Market demand for crayfish in the United States originated in southwest Louisiana with the arrival of the French Acadian settlers. As demand increased, farming these freshwater crustaceans became more effective than trapping them. Farm-raised crayfish dominate the market and, according to Louisiana State University's Agricultural Center, over 90 percent of crayfish from Louisiana during the 2004-2005 season were farm-bred.

Things You'll Need

  • Clay-lined, shallow ponds
  • Access to spring or bore hole water
  • Water pump and associated piping
  • Venturi nozzles
  • Dip-and-read pH test kits
  • Commercial crayfish pellets
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a site where ambient temperatures ideally do not drop below 45 degrees F or rise above 85 degrees F. Crayfish thrive in water with a temperature of between 65 and 85 degrees F. These crustaceans go dormant at temperatures below 45 degrees F and burrow into the substrate when temperatures climb above 85 degrees F.

    • 2

      Dig a number of shallow dams, about 8 inches deep, in soil with high clay content. Clay ponds hold water far better than dams dug in clay-poor soil.

    • 3

      Fill the dams with bore hole or spring water. Avoid water sources that contain pesticides or industrial pollution.

    • 4

      Install a pump as close as possible to the ponds. Attach a venturi nozzle onto the inflow pipe in each pond. These devices produce a stream of micro-fine bubbles that help to oxygenate the pond water. Crayfish survive and breed better in water with an oxygen level of at least 3.0 parts per million (ppm).

    • 5

      Use a dip-and-read pH test kit to determine the pH of the pond water. Crayfish tolerate a wide pH range, but keep the pH of your water between 5.8 and 8.2

    • 6

      Purchase adult crayfish from an existing breeding farm and place these mature crustaceans into your ponds during spring. Crayfish reproduce readily in natural ponds.

    • 7

      Drain the pond water during June and July. The crayfish will burrow into the earth, where they reproduce once the ponds are dry.

    • 8

      Re-fill the ponds in October, at which time the crayfish will emerge from their burrows.

    • 9

      Supplement the diet of your crayfish with a commercial crayfish pellet, but most of their food should come from the vegetation that grows while the pond is dry. Your crayfish will also feed on the natural insect life in the pond.

    • 10

      Begin selective harvesting of the largest individuals during November.

    • 11

      Make your small crayfish available to the domestic market, as the processing infrastructure for these smaller crawfish and live markets are not readily available. You can also make the smaller individuals available for their abdominal meat. Alternatively, do not harvest the small crawfish until they have reached a larger size.

    • 12

      Supply specialty restaurants with your largest crayfish.