The Growth of the Freshwater Crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz, 1823) Juveniles Until the First Sexual Maturity Age in Concrete Fish Ponds

In this study, freshwater crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus, Eschscholtz,1823) juveniles reared until the first sexual maturity age in the concrete fish ponds and growth and survival rates were investigated. The juvenile crayfish with initial weights of 67 +/- 3.48 mg and total lengths 10.1 +/- 0.4 mm (2130 pieces) was put into two concrete ponds, 400x140x75 cm in sizes and fed with trout food and fresh trout meat 3 times a week. The juvenile crayfish hatched until the 1st week of June, reached 1.038 +/- 0.23 g weight and 4.82 +/- 0.02 cm total length in the 1st year, 6.320 +/- 0.43 g weight and 6.34 +/- 0.80 cm total length in the 2nd year and 21.97 +/- 4.21 g weight and 9.81 +/- 1.93 cm total length in the 3rd year. At the end of the third year it was observed that 62 crayfish out of 97 laid eggs and the rate of survivals were 10.44% (97 female, 137 male).