Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone had a contact with stock of Euastacus spinifer, giant spiny crayfish. Native to eastern NSW?

See here:
http://www.aabio.com.au/afcp-17.html
http://www.crayfishworld.com/spinya8.htm

I'm going to contact the people that run the above websites for more info. Slower growout, but tolerant of a wide range of temps and conditions by the look of it. Maybe too much of a niche thing for some though.

So if anyone has broodstock at all or juvies, or even knowledge of where to trap some I'd love to hear from you.

Cheers,
Kri.

Slower growout is right.... think years..... lots of them...

I'm thinking so... have you grown these before Rupert?

Nope, never been able to source them, and frankly didn't consider it worthwhile given the timespan to growout...

Another couple of points...

(1) I believe that they've been declared protected in most states/areas where they occur naturally... and aren't supposed to be taken or relocated...

(2) What limited research has been done (that I've read) suggests that they don't survive in captive tanks very well...

Thanks Rupe,

Yeh I've heard that the spiny's from mountain areas need that icy cold crystal clear fast flowing shallow water, otherwise they cark it pretty quick. I've read though that the ones from lower areas (50M ASL) are pretty hardy, it's just chasing them down that's the problem, I've also read that there are breeding programs (like with redclaw) to get the best growout etc and they were reccomended in a dpi pamphlet about possible new aquaculture crops... Other than those blurbs in documents and a quick lazy post on this forum haven't and haven't really chased it up too hard. (Was hoping to jag someone here that did)

Theres quite a few of the Euastacus species from different locales, I know the Gippsland cray is protected, but thats the only one I've heard of, hopefully these aren't 'cos I'd love a chance to grow some out even if it's for the aquarium.

Thanks for your replies hey, catch up with you sometime.

Kri.

There was a forum subject about these guys on the ANGFA forum, I cant get to it from work computer but if i remember correctly they do very poorly in captivity and are protected in the wild.

I'll try to remember to find the link tonight and post it.