Increasing density in artificial incubation of crayfish eggs

An experiment on artificial incubation of crayfish eggs (Pacifastacus

leniusculus) was conducted for 65 days at three densities: 6.6, 20 and 60 eggs

cm-2. Water flow rate through the incubator was 12.5 mL cm-2 min-1 and

formaldehyde was used to control fungal growth at 3000 ppm for 15 minutes

every other day until hatching. Final survival rates (stage 2 juveniles) were

around 67% with no significant differences among densities. Results

demonstrate that both the flow rate and formaldehyde dose effective for 6.6

eggs cm-2 are also effective for 60 eggs cm-2 (three layers of eggs).