Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I am in Sydney NSW, currently have no system to speak of. I am doing research.

I want to know which species is the best out of Yabbys, Redclaw and Marron.. and also if anyone knows how to get these (especially the Marron) in Sydney or anyone who will post to Sydney.

On a separate note: Was thinking of doing an IBC system, possibly get 2 IBC's cut one in half to make two growbeds and just open the other one to use as Fish Tank.. any advice or info would be welcome.

Im here to learn.

Yabbies are easy to get... Redclaw from QLD... Marron from WA... both the latter mean air freight... and in the case of Marron... they aint cheap...

Yea, yabbies are fairly common and cant match the other two on flavour. Redclaw are probably your best option in your area. True Blue Marron will deliver Marron to your door but as Rupe mentioned... they are a bit pricey.

are they easy to breed?

Not sure if they do "to the door"... last lot I got... and same applies for most inter-state fish orders... is pickup from airport...

Same often applies for road freighted stuff... pickup from depot... unless direct to door courier...

If conditions are right.. yeah...

Problem isn't breeding them so much... as to growing them before the other stupid bastards eat them...

Haha.. they're cannibals.. okay.

Can that be controlled by keeping them well fed or is it just their nature. Provide hidey holes??

Also how quick do they grow?

Yea, true, interstate will prob be pick up. Ive only ordered within the state and they were local courier to door.



Low stock densities and complex habitats help.



Very slow.

Damn.. maybe I should think of using something else.. I've also been looking at the fresh water prawns (Macrobrachium autraliensis).. anyone had any experience with these or even eaten them??

Maybe mixed stock like some crusteaceans and some fishies.. (I like the trout but think its too hot here)

I dont know

Thank you everyone, for your excellent advice

This is what's available in the US. http://farmingcrawfish.com/index.html
Yep 1-3" are $3.5us each So I better be able to breed'em.

I'm going with raising them in cages. Since they need lateral space not vertical space that should help.
Also I'll keep an empty cage on the bottom for the fry to fall down into for protection from being eaten by Mom/Dad/the guy next door.
jim

How are you going to feed them in cages? By hand?

Just throw in a bunch of pipe off cuts and some scrunched up shadcloth. But most importantly, stock correctly and remove juveniles into grow out tanks.

What are your temps?
What is your PH?
How big is your FT?

Dont be mistaken that you can just throw a heap of these in cages and all will be well. It doesnt work like that.

From my prior research...

Yabbies are smaller w less meat. Very aggresive towards each other.

Redclaws are naturally somewhat tolerant of each other as they naturally live in areas that go to drought and they are foced to live in closer quarters as water dwindls. Very tolerant of poor water conditions. Fairly rapid growth and some decent breeding programs led to some inproved strains.

Marron are the largest but take a longer time to get there. Some say the best tasting. They are persnickety about water temps and quality.

I have been raising reclaws (Walkamin strain) for some time now. Imported directly from AU gosh,must be close to 10 years ago now. My two largest issues are cannibalism and they like their walkabouts.I also like the idea of cage raising, and that's ultimately my direction, and yes, one has to get creative to address charlies feeding concerns.
They make rabbits look like nuns as far as their breeding habits go. Will breed several times a year as long as conditions permit. Growth rate is decent and i believe they will reach harvestable sze in 6 months if one is attentive. I am not.

Poppa