ABSTRACT
In this study, a range of commercially available animal and fish feeds were tested in the production of juveniles of the crayfish Procambarus llamasi, an endemic species of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. A randomized block design was implemented to observe the effect of commercial shrimp (Crude Protein, CP = 38%), trout (CP = 43.2%), tilapia (CP = 31.8%), rabbit (CP = 16.1%), turkey (CP = 18%), and pig (CP = 15.2%) diets in a recirculating aquaculture system. Shrimp food showed the best results in terms of growth performance, while lowest growth values (P<0.05) were obtained with farm animal diets. Trout and tilapia diets were intermediate. Pig feed was the most cost-effective at US$ 0.44 per kg of crayfish growth. Where no feeds specifically for crayfish are available, terrestrial animal feeds have the advantage of low price, ready availability in the market, and acceptable performance.
