Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello all

I have a CHOP2 system setup with 22 SP fingerlings, 4 25-30cm Silver perch and I have 10 Yabbies in my sump. I got the yabbies and the fingerlings 3 days ago and they are only small and i realised 1 had eggs today. I have no clue what I should do.

I NEED HELP, I have done very little on yabbie breeding as i thought that would be coming a lot later so i need help urgently.

The eggs are about 2mm in size and are blue, just to clarify is that what the eggs look like?

I set up a small aquarium as a brood tank, the hen will look after the babies for a while but unless they have a a good hiding spot the other yabbies will eat them.

I fed the babies crushed sinking pellets.

Seems early for breeding what is your water temp?

If there has been a rise of temp in your area it can trigger breeding. Usually in Aus it's months ending in 'er' or in other words the warmer months of the year. You can use bunched up shade cloth or alike to give them a fighting chance but you will loose most of them if they are not removed. Unfortunately yabbies don't do real well in AP but they are a fun addition

Im not to sure what the water temperature is I will be getting a thermometer soon so i can see but by feel it does seem the water has risen in temperature.

If i take the female out and put in another tank until it gives birth then put the mother back in the sump is that a good idea?

G'Day Bunno.

Mate, we had two females give birth at the start of this year,
We separated the mummy's from the rest until they gave birth, then left them with the babies for a week before returning the mummys to the main tanks, leaving the babies to fend for themselves.

Of the millions we first had, i reckon we still have 100-150 or so left and they are growing pretty well,
they are alot more active now it is warming up.
Canabilism is rife, other than that, they are pretty easy going.

We just feed them tiny diced carrot, then with the warmer weather, they are feasting on the natural algae on the tank walls.

I can post some photos if you like,

Regards

Yeah some photos would be great thanks.

And question what did you have the babies in by them selves? did you run it separately or joined in with the normal system?

And does anyone know the temperatures yabbies can withstand?

Here you go Mate,

Nothing flash, but then again they caught us by surprise too,

2 x 3ft glass fish tanks taking up way to much room in my little workshop.

The only maintenance is a top up of water from the AP FT and a 10w/840L/hr air pump for aeration.

A mix of scoria and blue metal as substrate, it worked in their favor when they were smaller because they got down into the substrate for protection.

This lot will all move into my new system in a a week or two, i want by bench back!

If we get another lot this season, i will be better prepared.

Sorry about the reflections.

At the moment, the temps in that tank are 10degC.

A coupe more, the top photo is the mummies tank, males live in the trout tanks.
This tub is just plumbed into the grow beds.

What would you say the size of the babies are when the mother releases them?

absolutely bloody tiny, say, 3mm? they are tiny little critters. My wife had to pick them up in the curve of her little fingernail.

This year we will have sand bottom tanks to hose them better, plenty of pipes and hidy holes and be a little more prepared.

the Ag dept over here recommends putting Barley Straw into the dams for yabbies to shelter in, I wonder how it would go in a shallow Tank?

I have some bird netting as an in tank Bio-filter and there are always yabbies crawling around in it and no they don't get caught in it.

I'm thinking of converting the shallow end of my FT (pool) into a yabbie habitat, it will be about 4m x 3.5m x 150mm deep.

I'd rather not put sand in there, but interested in other nesting ideas.

I've got 70% shade cover in the tank scrunched up to provide shelter for them as long as bits of pipe.

Do you have a photo Bunno?

I would be a bit worried about the shade cloth getting manky with the waste?

I guess its ok if there is enough water flow through it.

There is a lots of flow I have three grow beds siphoning into it doest have any signs of clogging up

Cool