Effect of protein level in the diet on the development of juveniles of the Australian red claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (Decapoda: Parastacidae).

An experimental study was conducted from October to December, 1999, in the aquaculture facilities of CIBNOR SC, at La Paz, BCS. To evaluate the effect of diet protein level on the productive response, in juveniles of the australian lobster, Cherax quadricarinatus, diets with four levels of crude protein (20.45, 28.25, 37.33 y 45.44%), were formulated and probed. Growth, grow rate, survival, biomass and food conversion rate were greater in juveniles fed with diets of 37.33 and 45.44% of crude protein. It is concluded that diet protein level affects the productive response of redclaw and a level of 37% of crude protein in the diet is enough to obtain acceptable results.