How to grow crayfish at home all year round?

There are tons of business ideas out there. One of the most profitable and cost-effective is the breeding of crayfish. The product always enjoys tremendous popularity and great demand. Therefore, there should be no problems with its sale. The main thing here is to find sales channels, register as an individual entrepreneur, organize the growing process, and, of course, have initial capital. Let's take a closer look at the crayfish breeding business plan.

Peculiarities

The main directions of this business can be identified as follows:

• growing arthropods in rented pools or reservoirs with their further sale;
• organization of your own farm (create an artificial reservoir);
• breeding at home in aquarium tanks.

Undoubtedly, the most expensive project is the improvement of your own reservoir. It is within the power of financially secure people. And for all the rest, we offer breeding crayfish at home with minimal costs.

Introductory part

So, you seriously and for a long time decided to grow this delicate delicacy and make a good profit. Before starting to translate the idea into reality, you should open an LLC or individual entrepreneur, while choosing the OKVED code 01.21 (for growing pets).

If you plan to engage in retail trade (selling to wholesale resellers), then you must select 52.23.

Next, clearly write out a business plan for breeding crayfish, in which every detail should be included and an estimate should be calculated. Growing arthropods at home is carried out through a large aquarium. You will also need a compressor and a pump for water purification. Be sure to purchase rocks and sand as crayfish love to equip minks.

Make sure the aquarium is in a well-heated area. Consider pet food as well. They feed on a variety of porridge, worms and fish, more on that later. Before breeding crayfish at home, we recommend that you read the information about these inhabitants. Pay attention to the fact that arthropods periodically shed their shells and seem "dead", refuse food. Don't worry about that. Finally, think about marketing your product.

Which crayfish should you choose?

In captivity, crayfish and crayfish are grown. Let's make a reservation right away that arthropods of the river species love a warm climate - this should be taken into account. If your region is not Sochi, then we advise you to breed a lake "pet". It is also called "blue", it quickly reaches market size and has good taste.

When growing them, you need to prepare females on legs with live caviar. For example, to breed a ton of crayfish, you will need at least 500 females, which are caught in ordinary water bodies. Males live in separate containers and only in autumn are they placed with females (there is 1 male for 2 females). As a result, you can get up to 100-150 larvae from one female.

How to organize a reservoir?

When drawing up a business plan for breeding crayfish, be sure to include housing conditions that mimic natural bodies of water. To do this, it is not necessary to dig deep holes and fill them with water; you can also grow in large containers. If you have a piece of land, then you can easily organize a reservoir on it, only with a roof and heating, so that the crayfish do not die in cold weather. Of course, this is very time consuming, so let's focus on the aquarium.

We acquire a miracle crayfish farm - three volumetric containers. Harmless containers made of plastic or plexiglass are quite suitable for these purposes. And the larger the volume of your artificial reservoirs, the better. So, in a 250-liter aquarium, you can plant 50 pieces of crayfish at a time.

We must say right away that it will not be possible to install them for decades, since they deteriorate every four years. At first glance, it will seem that no problems will arise, but this is only a deceptive impression. Get ready for anything. At least for the first few years, try to install the reservoir permanently.

Why do you need three containers?

Adults quickly adapt to new conditions, unlike newly born ones, which is why they need to be removed. Immediately after the appearance of a new batch of arthropods, transplant the adult from the young. Within two days, you should not change the water, since there are favorable conditions for development and growth in an artificial reservoir. A crayfish farm at home can be very profitable, and at a minimal cost.

Maintenance and care

This business at first will require remarkable patience from you. You yourself will have to create optimal conditions for their growth: clean, feed and monitor the temperature of the water. As mentioned above, crayfish are unpretentious to conditions, multiply quickly and feed on everything. Know that your pets should always be full, it is better to overfeed them than underfeed.

Carefully monitor the cleanliness of the reservoir, special filters will help with this. Do not forget to purchase tools for catching them. Now let's talk about how to feed cancer at home. For your "expensive" pets, you can buy bloodworms, earthworms, shrimp, scallops, beef heart, bread and seaweed (you can replace it with lettuce and spinach). In this case, food can be dried, fresh and frozen. Feed should be given three times a day.

We sell the goods

A home breeding business plan is not as complicated as it sounds. We all perfectly understand that in order for a product to bring real income, it must be sold.

But how to do it without dating? To get started, recommend the delicacy to your friends, family and acquaintances, and they will tell their friends. This will help you find your first customers. Place an advertisement for the sale of crayfish in the newspaper, on Internet portals.

Go shopping, cafes, restaurants along with the goods. The strategy is simple - bid below market prices. To keep your customers with you for a long time, keep an eye on the quality of the delicacy you sell. Learn the ins and outs of selling - praise more, make compromises and offer discounts. By the way, you can deliver by region. This will be a huge step forward!

The financial side

Now let's decide on the financial side. How much will breeding crayfish bring you in the end? In each of the three artificially created reservoirs, we will launch 100 individuals (300 arthropods in total). For this we will pay about 15,000 rubles. Separately, we will calculate the costs of improving the aquariums - this is another 20,000 rubles. Total costs - 35,000 rubles.

Let's calculate what we get at the output. Today's purchase price per kilogram of crayfish ranges around 200 rubles. One individual weighs about three hundred grams. With a full sale, your income will be at least 100,000 rubles per month. Financial calculations show that this is a real and profitable business with minimal investment.

Final part

The prospects for the cultivation of crayfish look very bright, since the animals are bred quickly and does not require special care and huge investments. The only snag is finding a clientele, but with a strong desire and minimal competition, difficulties are unlikely to arise. You can quickly expand and acquire a real reservoir. The most important thing is to increase demand and find regular customers, then the profit will increase and the incentive will not dry out.

It is difficult to give accurate universal calculations of the first investment for creating a cancer economy, because much depends on the time of the beginning of cultivation, the method, conditions, the number of arthropods, the cost of the product sold, and much more. But judging by the feedback from entrepreneurs who have been in this business for a long time, it can be clearly stated that payback with maximum efforts will not keep you waiting long. If you comply with all the requirements and rules, you can get over 200% of net income per year.

In this technology, it is important to take into account the moment of molting and hibernation of crayfish. Naturally, during this period, weight gain and growth slows down significantly, and with frequent molting, on the contrary, it accelerates.

In home production, you can easily increase the number of molts up to three times a year, which is a very good indicator. Crayfish can be sold live, boiled-frozen and boiled.

But for their preparation, equipment is needed, because with large quantities, ordinary refrigerators and gas stoves cannot be dispensed with.

You will also need a car for transportation - we advise you to conclude an agreement with some shipping company. Onerous difficulties will arise with certification, labeling, packaging and veterinary certification.

But all these moments can be solved if positive dynamics are observed and grandiose prospects are visible. Remember - everyone has difficulties, especially at first. In fact, any activity requires maximum effort and patience, and the result directly depends on you. If you strive to become the owner of your own profitable business, then do not relax and be confident in your abilities.

The article is a unique material based on the author's method of intensive cultivation of crayfish in the conditions of central and northern Russia. This extensive business manual includes a complete list of equipment, a detailed plan for the establishment of a crustacean farm, a list of approvals, an intensive breeding method for crayfish, as well as information on investment and estimated profit.

The implementation of a business plan for breeding crayfish consists of 3 main stages:

1. The first is creation of artificial reservoirs, with a total area of ​​920m². One part of the ponds (320m²) will be completely covered, with non-freezing water all year round, the other part of the ponds (600m²) will be open for growing crayfish in natural conditions.
2. The second is mastering the intensive method of growing crayfish, which includes: choice of species and breeding, composition of feed and feeding, control of parameters of the aquatic environment and maintenance of the farm.
3. The third is creation of a sales network, which includes all possible distribution channels, the correct capture and transportation of live crayfish.

As a result, taking as a basis the business plan for growing crayfish presented below, the owner of the farm receives up to 30 centners of finished products per year, with an average cost of 500 rubles. for 1 kg.

What is the essence of the intensive method of growing crayfish and the relevance of the business idea?

According to the latest research of the Russian crustaceans and shellfish market from 2012, the main suppliers of this beloved delicacy are Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Altai and Krasnodar Territories. Moreover, the share of imported crayfish from Altai and Kuban is very small, since crustaceans are harvested naturally, and the quality of the supplied consignments is at a low level.

And it would seem that the situation is completely favorable to the cultivation of crayfish in an industrial way, where the total volume of production can be maximized and sold at the most favorable prices. For example, as is done in the state of Louisiana (USA) 2,000 farms, receiving up to 50 thousand tons of crayfish a year and earning about $ 100 million. Or partially in Ukraine, where the number of crayfish grown in artificial reservoirs is approaching 10 tons.

However, the problem lies in the biological characteristics of the breeding of crayfish, which in natural conditions grow for a very long time, gaining marketable weight by 4-5 years of age. That is, in the middle zone and in the north of Russia, they do not grow at all for 5-7 months and partially hibernate. Moreover, industrial equipment that is used in Europe and the United States to obtain marketable crayfish in a short period of time is ineffective in Russia, since huge amounts of money will have to be spent to heat the crustacean hangars.

Therefore, to the question: "What to do?" we get a simple and effective solution: use a method based on growing crayfish in covered ponds and reservoirs, which gives the entrepreneur a number of advantages:

• Getting the first batch of marketable crayfish in just 1.5 years, where each individual individual can reach a weight of 300 grams, with a wholesale cost of 500 rubles. for 1 kg!
• The problem of implementation has been completely resolved, since this type of product is in constant and increased demand from bars, restaurants and similar establishments, including high demand in retail trade.
• Lack of competition and the ability to influence pricing in the local market through the supply of really high-quality products.

Organizational and legal forms of management

Registration of an individual as an individual entrepreneur is a prerequisite for creating a crustacean farm. For breeding crayfish as a type of business, the status of a private farm owner is not suitable here, since in the future it will be necessary to issue a certificate of conformity for these products. And obtaining this document within the IP framework greatly facilitates this task.

OKVED and the form of taxation

According to the All-Russian Classifier of Economic Activity (OKVED), the cultivation of crayfish in artificial ponds falls under the economic activity with the following wording: "Reproduction of fish and aquatic biological resources by agricultural producers", with the code number: 05.02.01. Accordingly, an entrepreneur engaged in this type of business is automatically ranked among agricultural producers, and can choose the Unified Agricultural Tax (UAT) as a form of taxation.

List of documents for opening a crustacean farm

In order to open a crustacean farm on your plot of land, you do not need to obtain any licenses and go through a number of approvals in all kinds of authorities. For this purpose, it is enough to comply with a few simple conditions, which we will consider in more detail.

Normative documents regulating the work of the crustacean farm:

1. So, based on paragraph 1 of Article 40 of the Land Code of the Russian Federation, the owner of the land plot has the full right to build a pond, as well as to use it for his own purposes, subject to compliance with urban planning, environmental and sanitary norms and rules.

   And here the phrase “owner of the land plot” is of key importance. That is, the future owner of the farm should own this piece of land, and not use it on a lease basis. Otherwise, for the construction of a reservoir, you will have to go through a long process of obtaining various permits from all kinds of authorities.

2. Based on paragraph 2 of Article 8 of the Water Code of the Russian Federation, a pond or other watered body of water located on the territory of the owner's land plot is his full property.

   The main thing is that the pond or ponds are not connected with natural water bodies, which, in accordance with the same Water Code of the Russian Federation, belong to federal property.

3. In accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Fishing and Conservation of Aquatic Biological Resources", any aquatic biological resources inhabiting such a pond are the property of its owner.

   It should be added to this that according to the federal law "On Subsoil", the depth of the pond should be no more than 5m. Therefore, this moment should be taken into account when building reservoirs.

List of documents for the sale of live crayfish

In the future, for the sale of live crayfish to both legal entities and individuals (shops, restaurants, etc.), 4 types of documents will be required:

• Sanitary passport for a car for transporting crayfish.
• Veterinary certificate form No. 2.
• Declaration of Conformity.
• Mandatory certification in accordance with GOST R 50380-2005.

The first two documents, a sanitary passport and a veterinary certificate, are obtained at the local veterinary station. The procedure for obtaining documents and the terms of their validity must be clarified on the spot. As for the declaration of conformity and certification of goods, they are issued by accredited bodies, for example, the local branch of Rosselkhoznadzor or commercial organizations.

Organization of a crustacean farm Land plot

From the above, it becomes clear that for the construction of a crustacean farm, a piece of land is required. The very same site for the farm must meet certain requirements:

• Land area - from 2000m² (20 acres).
• Convenient access for heavy equipment (excavator).
• The most flat surface.
• The plot of land must not fall into the flooded area.

Layout of ponds on a farm

To understand how to properly use a plot of land for a crustacean farm and how to arrange ponds, you need to consider this point on a separate example.

Let's say there is a ground area 25m wide and 100m long, that is, 25 acres. On one side of the site, for example, on the left, 10 covered ponds will be erected. 4X8m in size, ranging in length from east to west, with a distance of 3m between them. On the other side of the site, already open ponds will be erected, also in a quantity of 10, located from east to west, measuring 6x10m, with a distance of 3m between them.

A natural question arises: "What is the purpose of indoor and outdoor ponds?"

These are the covered ponds and are intended for intensive cultivation of crayfish. Due to special equipment and polycarbonate coating, the water in such reservoirs will not freeze even in the most severe frosts. Accordingly, cancers will not go into hibernation, they will constantly eat, shed every 2 months and gain weight very quickly.

Two out of ten covered ponds are intended for the constant maintenance of adult females and males. Two more ponds will serve as a kind of incubators, the rest of the covered reservoirs will be used for rearing underyearlings.

But 10 open ponds of a larger volume will be used for growing crayfish in natural conditions.

- What is it for?

• First, it is very expensive to cover all 20 ponds with polycarbonate.
• Secondly, the presence of open reservoirs allows more rational use of the land.
• Thirdly, these open ponds will give the entrepreneur the opportunity to obtain a rich assortment of products. That is, crayfish of different sizes and weights, corresponding to the cost.

Well, in the future, as production develops, all ponds can be switched to an indoor mode and completely switched to an intensive method of crayfish breeding.

Pond requirements

The pond must meet the following requirements:

• The shape of the pond is strictly rectangular.
• The side walls of the pond are even, with respect to the bottom they are at an angle of 90 °.
• The bottom of the pond is even, with a given bearing capacity.
• The depth of the pond is at least 2 m.
• Pond sheathing polypropylene sheets with a thickness of 8mm.

- Why is it better to use polypropylene sheets for covering the pond?

For example, if the lining of the pond pit is performed in the classical ways, i.e. using reinforced concrete or wood, the likelihood of water pollution increases dramatically. This is especially true for reinforced concrete structures, which tend to enter into a chemical reaction with water. Wood is also not recommended for pond wall sheathing. Firstly, it quickly decays, and secondly, the construction of walls from wood and their subsequent replacement is too expensive.

After the frame of the pond is mounted, a layer of large stones or broken ceramic bricks 20 cm thick is poured onto the bottom. The top is covered with a layer of coarse sand 10 cm thick and then the pond is filled with clean water. Such a bottom layer will serve as a kind of shelter for crayfish and at the same time will become the basis for aquatic vegetation.

Equipment for a crustacean farm

Equipped ponds are the backbone of the crayfish breeding business, through which the production phase of the plan is realized. It is known that freshwater crustaceans are very demanding on keeping conditions, especially on water quality. In this connection, the presence of ponds alone for the successful breeding of crayfish is not enough and they must be equipped with the appropriate equipment.

Pond cover

An ordinary polycarbonate-based greenhouse serves as a heat-insulating structure that will maintain the temperature of the water in the ponds within the specified parameters. And here you can use two options:

• The first is to convert an ordinary greenhouse into a thermos greenhouse, where a huge solar collector can easily warm up all the water in the pond. Such a greenhouse is perfect for breeding crayfish in the northern regions of Russia.
• The second is to use the industrial greenhouses "Farmer", which, due to their large dimensions, capture and transmit a lot of sunlight and heat.

Pond frame

As mentioned above, it is better to make the pond frame from polypropylene sheets. This material is absolutely neutral to the aquatic environment, and using polyfusion welding, polypropylene sheets are easily and quickly joined together, forming a strong, waterproof structure.

Aerator

If an aerator of a given power is not installed in the pond, it is also an air compressor, then after a couple of months the pond water will stagnate, turn green, and no one will survive in it, except for mosquito larvae and other living insects.

Oxidizer

An oxidizer is required to oxygenate the pond water. This device is of particular importance in the winter season, when open ponds are covered with ice, and crayfish may lack oxygen. The oxidizer is installed at the bottom of the pond in late autumn and, due to the cassette with dry hydrogen peroxide, gradually enriches the ice water with oxygen.

Flow filter

To maintain a high vital activity of crayfish, it is necessary to install a filtration system. Over time, the bottom of the reservoir, like the water, becomes polluted with food residues and waste products of crustaceans and other organisms that release toxic substances into the water. And if such a system is not established in advance, then production volumes will go down sharply.

Measuring instruments

Since the quality of the water, as well as its temperature, plays a decisive role in the breeding of crayfish, the following devices must be used to control its parameters:

• Oximeter - measures the concentration of oxygen dissolved in water.
• Salt meter - determines the level of salts in water and similar substances, and also gives an estimate of the total hardness of the water.
• Conductivity meter - measures the electrical conductivity of water, on the basis of which the effectiveness of purification systems is checked.

Table 1. A complete list of equipment for a crustacean farm with an area of ​​1100m².

Note. This figure is 3 million.rubles required for equipment should not be taken as a mandatory component of the initial investment. After all, the general infrastructure of the crustacean industry does not have a rigid relationship. For example, it is possible to equip 2-3 covered ponds and in the future, for the profit made, gradually develop the enterprise.

Breeding and feeding crayfish

- What kind of crayfish is suitable for artificial breeding?

For breeding in artificial ponds, Long-Toed Cancer is best suited.

This type of crustacean is ubiquitous in the reservoirs of central Russia. It is the least demanding of the conditions of detention and, with good care, quickly gains marketable weight. Cases have been recorded when the captured record-breaking crayfish reached a length of 35 cm and weighed up to 700 grams!

But the problem is different: where to get the required number of Long-clawed crayfish? It is pointless to buy live crayfish from Kazakhstani or Altai suppliers, since the crayfish they import belong to different species, and their very condition upon arrival at the place of transportation leaves much to be desired. There are no specialized crustaceans in Russia. Therefore, there is only one way out - to engage in self-trapping of viable and healthy individuals.

But how many crayfish need to be caught and what time of year it is best to do it directly depends on the density of adult crayfish stocking per 1m² and the characteristics of their reproduction.

Stocking density of adult female and male cancers

The recommended stocking density of adult crayfish in an artificial pond is 6 pcs / 1m², provided that the aquatic environment meets all the requirements given in Table 2.

Table 2. Chemical indicators of water for keeping adult crayfish and juveniles.

Oxygen in mg / l	6-8
Active reaction of water in pH	7-9
Alkalinity in mg eq / l	1-1,3
Total water hardness in mg eq / l	5-8
Oxidizability of water in mgO / l	6-10
Ammonium nitrogen presence in mg / l
The presence of nitrites in mg / l
The presence of nitrates in mg / l
Ammonia presence in mg / l
Phosphate content in mg P2O2 / l	0,2-0,5
Total potassium in mg Ca ++ / l	35-70
The presence of magnesium in mgMg ++ / l	10-21
Salinity in g / l	Fresh
Transparency	Slightly cloudy

If initially it is not possible to determine the water parameters, then the crayfish are placed at the bottom of the pond at the rate of 3pcs / 1m².

Reproduction of crayfish

In its natural habitat, Long-toed crayfish mates in October-November, when the water temperature is 4-6 degrees, and only in late spring, when the water warms up to 15 ° C, female crayfish begin to spawn. Based on this, we draw a simple conclusion: crayfish for divorce must be caught in August-September, before the mating period, and according to the scheme of the crustacean farm, their number will be 384 pcs., Where 256 pcs. there will be females and 128 pcs. males. That is, for the correct placement of all caught crayfish, you will need 2 indoor reservoirs.

After the required number of crayfish is caught, the most important process begins - reproduction. And here, thanks to the non-freezing pond water, mating of females occurs not in late autumn, but in early spring, sometimes in February. Accordingly, this process must be monitored and controlled.

- How to do it?

The first sign that crayfish are ready to mate, or have already begun to do so, is the water temperature - 4-6 ° C. The second sign by which the fertilization of eggs is determined is the presence of a white hardened mass of spermotophores in the lower part of the female cephalothorax. When, during control catches, the number of such females increases, they are caught and transferred to a separate incubator pond, while controlling all phases of spawning, egg maturation and the stage of fry development.

In a more concise form, the entire breeding process looks like this:

• Mating time of females is February-March.
• Spawning occurs at a water temperature of 14-15 degrees Celsius.
• Ripening of eggs from spawning to the ocellus stage is 7-10 days at an optimum temperature of 21-24 degrees.
• First stage of fry after hatching 1-7 days.
• The second stage of fry after hatching is 5-8, then the first molt occurs, and the crustaceans switch to active feeding.
• Third stage of fry after hatching 14-20 days. The juveniles are completely similar to adults and can feed on their own and do without the care of their mother.

Advice. To quickly reduce or raise the temperature of the water in the reservoir, it is enough to increase or decrease its volume.

As a result, it takes about a month from the spawning period to obtaining viable juveniles. During this time, a female crayfish is capable of carrying 40-50 fry on her underbelly. After that, the females are again caught and transferred to the old place. And crustaceans, as they grow, are gradually distributed over free ponds in accordance with the planting rate.

Feeding and feeding crayfish

For intensive cultivation of crayfish, it is recommended to use specially prepared feed, the recipes for which are given in table 3.

Table 3. Compound feed recipes for the entire age category of crayfish in% ratio.

Wheat bran	No
Wheat	No
Barley	No		No
Sunflower meal
Soybean meal
Fish flour
Hydrolytic yeast
Herbal flour	No		No
Meat and bone meal	No	No
Powdered milk		No
Vegetable oil		No
Premix PF-1

Note. Some expensive components of compound feed, for example, fish or meat and bone meal, can be completely replaced with fish or meat waste. Here are just the percentage of meat and fish waste needs to be doubled in relation to their dry counterparts.

Crayfish are fed in the morning or evening at the same time. The daily feed rate is 0.2% of the total wet weight of the crayfish. For females during the spawning period, this rate increases by 0.7% and by the end of the month decreases to 0.3%. Aquatic flora and fauna, which include algae, river plankton, and insect larvae, play an important role in the diet of crayfish. Therefore, the ponds must be "populated" and "planted" in advance with such animals and plants.

For more accurate calculations of the norms for giving feed, we give practical example.

So, we have an indoor pond with an area of ​​32m², in which there are 192 yearlings. (6pcs / m²). Their total weight will be about 30 kg (150 g. One individual). One percent of 30kg will be 0.3kg, and 0.2% of 0.3kg will be only 60g of compound feed. Here is such a scanty daily feed rate. At the same time, a batch of live crayfish weighing 30 kg, according to the most conservative estimates, will cost 8-9 thousand rubles. And in a year, such a number of crayfish will eat no more than 25 kg of compound feed.

How to quickly establish distribution channels for live crayfish?

Another of the advantages of the intensive crayfish breeding method is manifested in the process of their implementation. The owner of such a farm does not need to puzzle over how to sell huge, multi-ton lots of live crayfish, which large fishing companies constantly face.

It is enough to find several restaurants, bars or just a group of people who want to purchase such a valuable food product in advance. And subsequently, at any convenient time of the year, even in summer, even in winter, catch the necessary batch of crayfish, for example, 100-150 kg, issue a vet for them. help form 2 and calmly dilute them at catering points that are unlikely to refuse to diversify their menu with freshly brewed crayfish.

Feasibility studies for starting a business Capital investments *

• Expenses for the construction of ponds: 300,000 rubles.
• Equipment and components for ponds: 2,913,000 thousand rubles.
• Purchase of a land plot: 60,000 rubles.
• Purchase of feed: 100,000 rubles.
• Other expenses: 200,000 rubles.
• Total: 3,573,000 rubles.

* Capital expenditures, in this example, are conditional and are given for the understanding of the reader about the approximate order of investments required to open a crayfish farm (approx. Moneymaker factories).

How much can you earn?

Revenue calculation:

• Crayfish production per year: 12 thousand 500 pcs.
• The total weight of crayfish is 2500 kg.
• The average cost for 1 kg is 500 rubles.
• Revenue for the year: 1,250,000 rubles.

Annual expenses:

• Electricity: 9 thousand rubles.
• Compound feed: 12 thousand rubles
• Other expenses (transport, veterinary): 100 thousand rubles.
• Total: 121,000 rubles.

Profit calculation = 1,250,000 rubles. - 121,000 rubles. = 1,129,000 rubles. **

Return on investment: 2.5 -3 years

** The size of the profitability of the activity according to the expert opinion of the author of the article is conditional, it is presented for the reader's understanding of how profitability is calculated (note from the Moneymaker Factory).

Experience video from the USA

Breeding crayfish is a relatively new business for Russia, but has already proven its effectiveness.

How profitable it is, what costs will be required to maintain it and how much profit can be obtained, we will tell in our article.

Pros and cons of this business

Advantages:

• material costs are required only for the start (organization of a crayfish breeding site, purchase of special equipment and purchase of crayfish themselves);
• business expansion prospects are possible;
• low competition and high demand;
• minimum labor costs are required in the care process.

Flaws:

• seasonality of business (from May to October);
• delayed start: due to the peculiarities of the growth of crayfish, the period when your company begins to receive the maximum profit will be approximately 3-4 years;
• significant financial costs for starting a business.

As practice shows, even with the aforementioned disadvantages, breeding crayfish can become very profitable. You just need to do everything competently, without repeating other people's mistakes. Therefore, before starting to implement a project, you need to study its features in detail.

Where do you start?

There is a very clear algorithm that has proven its effectiveness. Let's name the points, each of which we will then decipher. So, you need to do the following:

1. Choose the best way to breed crayfish. Each of them needs to be compared in terms of cost and, if possible, implementation in your conditions.
2. Think over the process of creating a farm. Develop a phased plan that will lead you step by step to build your business.
3. Think carefully about what items of expenditure are present here. It should be remembered that it is always worth having a small supply of spare funds for unforeseen expenses.
4. Define distribution channels. This is one of the key points: to determine how much this type of product is in demand in your area, city, region, etc.

Having carefully worked out each point, you will receive a guarantee that the business will be competently built and successful.

Example

business plan for growing crayfish

Breeding methods for crayfish

Now there are four main methods:

• Factory breeding of crayfish, that is, in special large aquariums and indoors. This is the so-called closed method. Its advantage is that crayfish are provided with conditions under which they can reproduce and grow around the clock, without falling into hibernation. That is, the growing efficiency increases significantly. At the same time, it is not difficult to ensure these optimal conditions.
  The downside is the high costs both at the stage of starting a business and during its further development.
• Breeding crayfish in a natural pond... This breeding method is the least expensive and easiest. Crayfish will have enough natural food (they are omnivores and therefore eat silt, algae and even garbage). But at the same time, difficulties may arise with the control of the composition of the water, and crayfish are especially demanding for clean water. In addition, regular bottom cleaning will be required - at least two meters deep.
  A natural pond may have an oxygen deficiency in the deep layers, as well as the presence of a large amount of hydrogen sulfide, which negatively affects the well-being of the animal. In this case, the business will be practically unprofitable.The only way to realize it is if the pond has a natural inflow of water, that is, a river or stream flows into it. However, in this case, it is better to support the business at first by additional fish breeding.
• ­Breeding crayfish in artificial reservoirs, basements, special cancer pits etc. This is the so-called home method. It is considered a compromise between the above. In this case, you can completely control the quality of the water, its circulation and the conditions for keeping animals. At the same time, it is possible to control the crayfish populations, dividing them according to the age principle. Due to this, you can increase the amount of goods at the exit.
  The only drawback of this method is the significant cost of installing a special water circulation system and its further maintenance.
• Breeding crayfish in an aquarium (optimal volume 250 liters). Such an aquarium should be equipped with oxygen purification and supply systems. You also need to lay out the bottom with driftwood, stones, river sand or gravel. Maintaining the water temperature at 18-20 degrees all year round is not difficult. This means that the growth and reproduction of crayfish will not slow down, which is guaranteed to give a high rate of finished products at the output.

Whichever way of breeding you would not choose, the main thing is to provide the crayfish with the most natural and comfortable living conditions.

Farm creation and development

Consider the option of creating a cancer business on your own site. With this approach, you will be able to control all stages of breeding. First you need to dig a pit a depth of no more than two meters, an area of ​​no more than 60 sq. m... 3-4 of such ponds can be made, depending on the scale of the proposed business. The bottom of the pit should be laid out with stones, clay and river sand.

Vegetation can be planted near water bodies to make them as natural as possible. The optimum water temperature is 18-20 degrees. These conditions are considered ideal for cancer.

At lower temperatures, animals hibernate until spring. Accordingly, during this period they practically do not grow and do not reproduce. This means that the cancer business stops.

Next, using a pipe, you need to make a drainage system. A strong fine mesh should be put on the pipe (it will not allow the crayfish to leave the pond). So, the base for the pond is ready and you can fill in the water. Crayfish can be launched into this reservoir 10-20 days after flooding, when the necessary microflora is formed in the water. Water renewal should be done every 3 weeks, but at the same time no more than 30% of the total water volume must be renewed, so as not to greatly change the microclimate, thereby causing discomfort in the animals.

To organize a reservoir, you need to purchase a number of devices:

• two aerators (necessary so that the water in the pond does not stagnate and thus the crayfish do not experience the negative effects of toxic waste);
• oxidizer (it will provide creatures with a sufficient amount of oxygen);
• oximer (measurement of oxygen concentration);
• salt meter (determination of the amount of salt in the pond);
• conductometer (device for checking the operation of sewage treatment plants).

Breeding crayfish can be purchased from suppliers. As a rule, females and males are needed approximately equally. It should be borne in mind that during the season the female manages to lay up to 100 eggs, but only half survive. That is, one cancer manages to acquire offspring of 40-50 individuals. Thus, during the season, the number of animals in your pond will increase by an average of 40-50 times. A self-reproducing herd can be achieved on average in 5-6 years. The average maturation of cancer is 2 years. During this time, it reaches a mass of 100-200 g and a length of 10-12 cm.

Despite the omnivorousness of animals, they need regular feeding... Once every 2-3 days, they should be fed with meat, fish, bread, mixed feed, vegetables, earthworms, etc. They do not require any other care, and this is the beauty of the cancer business.

After the herd becomes self-reproducing, you can think about expanding the business and organizing new reservoirs. Indeed, despite the high demand, competition in this area is quite low.

Sale of products

Wholesale channels for the sale of crayfish should be carefully considered. First of all, this product will be interesting restaurants, cafes, eateries and supermarkets... And here regularity is important: only in this case it will be possible to talk about stable earnings. You should also pay attention to the establishments where it is customary to consume alcoholic beverages. Crayfish will be in great demand there. This, for example, beer halls, saunas and baths... You can also arrange retail sales to individuals. At first, these may be acquaintances or neighbors, and then word of mouth will work - one of the most effective advertising strategies in our country.

However, finding clients is half the battle, the main thing is to keep them. And in this you will be helped by the high quality of products and prices - lower than in large retail outlets. It is possible to gain a quite stable client base within a year.

In order to find out how much animals are in demand in your area, just take the phone and call the above establishments. Cancers can be realized in three main states:

• alive;
• boiled;
• boiled and frozen.

If everything is clear with the living, then special equipment should be purchased for the other two, with the help of which they will be processed (boiled and frozen). And this is another one of the cost items that refers to one-time.

When selling crayfish, you will definitely need veterinary certificate... To obtain it, you will need to bypass a number of instances and fulfill all their requirements.

The delivered goods must be packaged and marked.

To do this, you need to buy a filling and packaging machine. Most often, crayfish are packed in hard plastic containers filled with brine. Packing in the form of a stretch film is also possible - it all depends on the final form of your product.

It should be understood that the main competitors in this business are Armenia and Kazakhstan, which carry out supplies throughout Russia all year round. Accordingly, it is necessary to study the prices at which certain organizations buy Armenian and Kazakh crayfish, and offer a lower one.

Total costs and profitability of the company

Consider business income using the example of three artificial reservoirs that were built in an open area. To create and equip them, on average, you will need about 30 thousand rubles. In each of the three reservoirs, we will launch 200 individuals (total 600). The cost of their purchase will be on average about 20 thousand rubles. Thus, the initial investment will amount to approximately 50 thousand rubles.

The purchase price of crayfish is approximately 180-200 rubles per kg. One cancer weighs on average 200 g. Thus, out of 600 individuals (400 females will hatch 40 individuals), about 16 thousand individuals can be obtained. This is approximately 3200 kilos of product. With the full sale of all goods, this will bring about 760 thousand rubles. per season or 126 thousand per month... However, it should be borne in mind that this is a total profit. To calculate the net profit, you need to subtract all the costs that were invested in the implementation of the project. Further profit growth largely depends on the effort you are willing to put in. Calculations show that breeding crayfish is a rather profitable and low-cost business. Of course, profitability can only be obtained from the second year of keeping these animals, but it's worth it. Go for it and you will succeed!

Crayfish Breeding Video

The video shows a story about a business built on the cultivation of these animals:

The industrial cultivation of crayfish is not popular among domestic businessmen.Large aquaculture enterprises tend to avoid this trend because the long payback period does not justify a significant investment in a crayfish farm. As a result, the high demand for products is partially met by the capture of crustaceans in natural reservoirs, however, the size and quality of these individuals leave much to be desired.

In such a situation, one can consider the breeding of crayfish at home as a business that brings, albeit small, but stable profits. In addition, a farm of this size does not require intensive maintenance: the daily tasks of the entrepreneur are limited to feeding the pets once and checking the water quality. Finally, modern equipment makes it possible to grow not only the usual crayfish, but also larger thermophilic species, the high market value of which serves as an additional incentive for beginners.

Business features

The simplest way to organize a business is to breed crayfish in a pond: in order to equip a farm, an entrepreneur only needs to rent or purchase a land plot with a natural reservoir. The pond basin is cleared of debris, populated with young animals, and after 5–6 years a self-reproducing population is obtained.

Of course, there is no need to expect any significant income in this case: the simplified methodology completely excludes the possibility of controlling the parameters that are most important for herd growth, which include the chemical composition and water temperature, feeding ration and stocking density. Therefore, experienced farmers prefer intensive crayfish breeding technologies, which involve the construction of artificial reservoirs with a partially or completely controlled environment. The advantages of this method are obvious:

• An entrepreneur can receive the first profit in 12-18 months;
• Individuals grow much faster, and within a year they reach a weight of 100–150 g;
• When placing aquariums or pools in heated rooms, you can buy thermophilic crayfish species that are highly productive for breeding at home;
• Thanks to the control over reproduction and incubation, the survival rate of young animals is increased to 85–90%.

The business of growing crayfish is characterized by certain advantages and disadvantages: in order to draw a conclusion about the feasibility of implementing this idea, an entrepreneur must consider them in a complex, taking into account, first of all, factors that can turn into an insurmountable obstacle for him. While listing the positive aspects, it should be mentioned that:

• There are several methods of breeding crayfish at home for sale, and some of them are quite loyal to the volume of investments;
• In the process of work, the entrepreneur's expenses are limited to payment for utilities and the purchase of feed at the rate of 0.5 kg per one individual per year;
• Cancer care takes almost no time and physical effort;
• An entrepreneur may not be afraid of competition, since few farmers in Russia are engaged in the implementation of the business idea of ​​crayfish breeding;
• The demand for products remains high regardless of the season.

The main disadvantage of this type of activity is the slow growth of crayfish: representatives of common river species reach marketable sizes within several years. Besides:

• Setting up a crayfish farm using intensive technologies requires significant investments;
• In open water bodies at water temperatures below 17 ° C, crustaceans stop growing and hibernate, so the business is seasonal;
• Regardless of the cultivation method and type of crayfish, a return on investment should not be expected earlier than 3-4 years.

Breeding species

An entrepreneur who wants to buy live crayfish for breeding needs to take into account factors such as the growth rate and marketable size of individuals, consumer demand and climatic characteristics of the region - some quite edible crustaceans are perceived by the domestic buyer exclusively as decoration for the aquarium, and the content of heat-loving species in the conditions of the Middle Belt possible only in closed heated tanks. In general, the following are suitable for growing by intensive methods:

• Broad-fingered cancer. It features a fleshy body up to 20 cm long and large claws. Prefers reservoirs with a rocky bottom, heated to a temperature of 16-22 ° C, and therefore feels good in artificial pools. Currently, this species is endangered: you can buy crayfish for breeding only in nurseries of the Leningrad region, the Baltic states or Belarus;
• Narrow-clawed cancer. The most common species on the territory of Russia, characterized by high fertility: every year the female lays at least 300 eggs. The body length of a 5-year-old male reaches 16–18 cm with a mass of 120–150 g. Crayfish prefer sandy and clayey soils suitable for burrowing, which helps them adapt to the conditions of open artificial ponds;
• Blue Cuban Cancer. It has a calm peaceful character, as a result of which it rarely attacks relatives and fish. With quality nutrition, this species grows to 8–12 cm in less than a year. Prefers moderately warm water bodies with a temperature of 23-25 ​​° C, therefore it takes root well in aquariums and swimming pools, where each pair needs about 20 liters of water. To buy blue crayfish for breeding, you need to contact a large pet store;
• Marble cancer. It lives in well-warmed water bodies with a temperature of 20-28 ° C, where it grows up to 15 cm in two to three years. This species does not have sexual separation - each cancer can simultaneously deposit and fertilize up to 300 eggs. It calmly tolerates a stocking density of up to 20 individuals per 100 liters of water, since it has a peaceful character. You can buy for breeding crayfish fry and adults in online stores or from private breeders;
• Australian red claw cancer. It is a thermophilic species that prefers water bodies with a temperature of 21–28 ° С. Differs in fleshiness up to 30% of body weight, fertility and growth rate - within a year young animals reach a weight of 120–150 g with a body length of 12–15 cm. Due to their calm nature, they feel good at a stocking density of up to 25 pcs / m². You can buy Australian crayfish for breeding in nurseries in Astrakhan and Krasnodar Territory.

Breeding methods

Popular methods of keeping crustaceans can be divided into two groups: the first involves the creation of identical natural conditions for breeding crayfish, while the second focuses solely on achieving maximum productivity due to the formation of an artificial environment with optimal parameters for the development of livestock.

Open ponds

Breeding crayfish in a pond is characterized by high labor intensity at the initial stage: it is necessary to dig out and equip several reservoirs with gentle walls with water circulation systems on the site. The area of ​​each can be 0.01–0.1 hectares with a depth of up to two meters. The bottom should be laid out with clay, covered with sheets of polypropylene or plastic wrap, and then a layer of sand and stones should be poured on top, under which the crayfish can equip their shelters.

In the future, the tasks of the entrepreneur are reduced to periodic monitoring of water quality, its timely aeration and purification of algae. It is also recommended to regularly feed the pets, since at a high stocking density, the amount of natural food supply may be insufficient. When listing other requirements for artificial ponds, it should be mentioned that:

• In order to avoid the death of the livestock, water bodies should not freeze through completely, therefore, in cold climates, it is advisable to deepen them to 3.5–4 m;
• To prevent flowering and growth of microalgae, it is necessary to replace up to 30% of the total water volume every two weeks;
• Drainage ditches should be dug around the perimeter of the ponds, and the shoreline should be strengthened and shaded by planting grass and trees.

The advantages of the method:

• Maintenance costs of the reservoir are minimal;
• The water in the ponds is partially aerated and purified by natural processes;
• The development of a natural food base allows you to save on keeping crayfish.

Flaws:

• In an open reservoir, crayfish grow rather slowly;
• Permissible planting density - no more than 5–6 pcs / m²;
• It is impossible to control the temperature and chemical composition of the water;
• A constant source of water supply is needed to fill the ponds;
• It is necessary to think over the ways of draining the ponds - you cannot just pour hundreds of tons of water into the garden or yard;
• It is difficult to shed the young after breeding broodstock;
• In winter, crayfish do not gain weight.

Aquariums

It is possible to breed crayfish in an aquarium not only in a village, but also in urban conditions - it is enough to choose a room where the temperature does not drop below 19-21 ° C. Several wide aquariums with a capacity of about 250 liters each are installed here, filled with soil and plants, and then equipped with microclimate and water quality control systems.

As a business, breeding crayfish for sale in an aquarium is associated with large-scale investments - the cost of a tank equipped with everything you need is commensurate with the cost of arranging a pond with an area of ​​90–100 m². Therefore, this method is mainly used for keeping ornamental species, or for growing fry before planting in open ponds.

The advantages of the method:

• Availability of an automated control system;
• The ability to maintain any given temperature;
• Thanks to the heating of the water, the crayfish do not hibernate;
• The permissible planting density is up to 30 pcs / m².

Flaws:

• The high cost of equipment per unit of production;
• Aquariums need to be cleaned regularly, water and plants should be changed.

RAS installations

Special equipment for breeding crayfish is more cost-effective and practical than ponds: for example, in natural conditions, individuals reach marketable weight in 3-4 years, while in closed water installations this period is halved. Moreover, the ability to regulate the parameters of the aquatic environment in the RAS allows the breeding of Australian crayfish and other productive species that grow to the required size in just 12-18 months.

The commercially available units are equipped with equipment that allows you to purify water from impurities and residues of vital activity, subject it to disinfection, heat it up and saturate it with oxygen. They are placed in any insulated rooms where the temperature does not drop below 10 ° C: in a home farm, basements or sheds can be used as such.

The advantages of the method:

• Water consumption is limited by the initial filling of the crayfish breeding ponds and minor level adjustments after evaporation;
• The growth rate of pets does not depend on the season and the temperature outside;
• The installation is fully automated;
• The livelihoods of the herd are perfectly controlled - you can transfer females for the spawning period, sort the fry and keep crayfish separately for sale;
• Stocking density of adults - up to 25 pieces / m2, fry - up to 250 pieces / m2.

Flaws:

• High cost of equipment;
• The air humidity rises significantly in the room;
• The operation of the installation is accompanied by the consumption of electricity.

Basement farm

The advantages of intensive crayfish breeding technologies fully compensate for the costs associated with setting up the farm: the productivity of the recirculation unit with a capacity of 2 m³ is equivalent to the productivity of an open pond with an area of ​​80 m². In a small insulated basement of 5x10 m, five such installations can be placed and, by breeding Australian red claw crayfish, annually receive at least 120-130 kg of products. In the process of preparing the premises, the following must be taken into account:

• The basement must be dry, free of mold and mildew, with concrete floors and walls. If pests are found, sulfur bombs and aerosol insecticides must be used. It should be noted that it is possible to populate crayfish into the pools only 12–14 days after treatment;
• For active life, crayfish practically do not need light. In the basement, it is enough to install several lamps at the rate of 5 W / m² and organize the duration of daylight hours within 10-11 hours;
• The room must be equipped with an exhaust ventilation system, since the evaporation of water from the pools increases the level of humidity.

Farm equipment

A farmer who is going to buy equipment for breeding crayfish should know that fish tanks with a capacity of 2-3 m³ with high walls are not suitable for these purposes: their filling is accompanied by excessive consumption of water, and operation is inconvenient due to the great depth. Therefore, for the cultivation of crayfish, special RAS is used, which is a frame with six polypropylene pools installed on it in three tiers. At the same time, five containers with dimensions of 2000x830x250 are used for keeping the herd, and in the sixth they have:

• Circulation pump;
• Biological filter;
• Ultraviolet sterilizer lamp;
• Heating elements;
• Compressor for aeration.

An entrepreneur who has at his disposal five such three-tier recirculating water installations can organize the work of the farm as follows:

• One pool is intended for keeping a broodstock of 30 heads (20 females and 10 males) with a stocking density of 18–20 pcs / m²;
• Four basins are used for settling females for the period of incubation and subsequent rearing of fry with a stocking density of 200–250 pcs / m²;
• Four installations with five tanks in each are used for keeping a commercial herd of 830 heads with a stocking density of 25 pcs./m².

Farm arrangement

Name	price, rub.	Qty	Amount, rub.
Three-tiered RAS	116000	5	580000
Oximeter	12800	1	12800
Universal measuring instrument	1400	1	1400
Shelters for fry	2,9	900	2610
Shelters for young animals	7,7	900	6930
Broodstock shelters	12,5	50	625
Feeders	150	50	7500
Lamp	1200	5	6000
Exhaust fan	3200	1	3200
electronic scales	2000	1	2000
Total:			623065

Considering the functional purpose of the equipment, it should be mentioned that:

• With the help of an oximeter, the degree of oxygen saturation of the water is measured;
• The universal measuring device is a conductometer, a salinometer and a thermometer combined in one housing;
• Shelters for adult crayfish and fry can be made from propylene pipes cut into pieces 15–20 cm long;
• Electronic scales are used to weigh feed and control the weight of livestock.

Breeding conditions and technology

Studying the species characteristics of crustaceans, it can be noted that breeding Australian crayfish at home seems to be more profitable: firstly, they grow much faster than the well-known narrow-clawed ones, and secondly, their cost on the market is three times higher than the price of crayfish. The step-by-step technology for growing the red claw species is as follows:

• Purchased fry or adults are planted in the basins of the RAS;
• Cancers are raised to reproductive age;
• Females with caviar are placed in free pools;
• A month later, the fry are left in incubators, and the females are returned to the herd;
• After two months, the grown young growth is distributed among the pools.

A year later, crayfish reach a weight of 130–150 g. Some of them are taken to the tribe, and the rest are sold wholesale or retail.

To create comfortable conditions for crayfish, it is necessary to adhere to the recommended values ​​of the most important parameters of the aquatic environment at all stages:

Chemical composition of water

Index	Meaning	Index	Meaning
Oxygen saturation	6-8 mg / l	Concentration of nitrates	0.02 mg / l
Acidity pH	6,5–8,5	Phosphate concentration	0.2-0.5 mg / l
Alkalinity	1.1-1.3 mg / l	Potassium ions	35–70 mg / l
Rigidity	8-15 mg / l	Magnesium ions	10-21 mg / l
Nitrite concentration	0.01 mg / l	Temperature	21-28 ° C

Buying young animals

Choosing where to buy crayfish for breeding, aspiring entrepreneurs often go to the supermarket or the nearest market, or collect fishing tackle and try to catch specimens for the breeding herd in the nearest reservoir. Meanwhile, these methods can hardly be considered effective:

• Crayfish caught in the wild grow very slowly;
• The natural environment is not sterile, as a result of which there is a danger of catching infected individuals;
• When delivered to retail outlets, carriers are not puzzled by the creation of ideal conditions for crayfish, which leads to drying out of the gills and oxygen starvation;
• Stores often receive rejected specimens that are not suitable for breeding.

Therefore, when looking for suitable suppliers, it is better to contact private breeders and specialized nurseries: here it is advisable not only to make sure that cancers are free of diseases, but also to get advice on their breeding.

You can buy Australian crayfish and representatives of other thermophilic species for breeding at a price of 120 rubles per adult, while the cost of an ordinary narrow-fingered crayfish is 400-500 rubles per kilogram. In the process of forming a herd, a 2: 1 ratio should be adhered to - in other words, the number of females should be twice the number of males.

Feeding

When using intensive technologies, there is usually no natural food supply in the pools, and therefore, in the business plan for breeding crayfish, it is necessary to provide for the costs associated with the purchase of feed. To form the diet of animals in an artificial environment, use:

• Shredded corn, wheat, barley;
• Fish and minced meat, bone meal;
• Boiled mashed potatoes or carrots;
• Steamed hay;
• Oak or beech leaves as a natural antiseptic;
• Larvae, insects, worms.

However, with a large population, it is more expedient to use ready-made feeds - as practice shows, crayfish willingly eat mixtures intended for salmon and carp fish. The daily feeding rate is 2% of body weight for a commercial herd and 5–6% for spawning females: thus, the annual food supply for growing crayfish is determined at the rate of 530–550 g for each individual.

Composition of compound feed for crayfish

Ingredient	For young animals	For adults
Wheat bran	–	25 g
Crushed wheat	–	15 g
Sunflower meal	15 g	20 g
Soybean meal	15 g	20 g
Fish flour	35 g	5 g
Fodder yeast	10 g	5 g
Bone flour	–	5 g
Powdered milk	20 g	5 g
Sunflower oil	5 g	2 g
Premix for fish	1 g	1 g

Reproduction and growth

In nature, mating of crayfish occurs in the fall, after which the female sticks eggs under the tail and bears it during the winter. In heated reservoirs, this pause is absent, so the breeding cycle lasts two months instead of six.

Depending on the species, the clutch volume is 100–500 eggs, most of which die. As a result, 40-60 larvae are born, which quickly gain weight, and after a month they acquire the ability to feed on their own. Under natural conditions, the survival rate of fry usually does not exceed 15–20%, while in recirculating water basins, with abundant nutrition, up to 90% of the brood can be preserved.

During growth and development, crustaceans periodically molt - up to six times in the first year of life, and then two to three times annually.Due to the fact that this process does not occur simultaneously for the entire livestock, at different stages of growth, both small and larger individuals appear in the basin at the same time. The latter, in order to avoid cannibalism, is recommended to be deposited in other tanks.

The molting stage itself is very dangerous for cancer: remaining without a shell, covering the gills and teeth, it becomes completely defenseless against aggressive congeners. Therefore, moulting individuals seek to equip themselves a burrow or find another shelter: the owner of the farm must provide them with this opportunity by placing scraps of pipes, clay shards and stones at the bottom of the aquarium.

Paperwork

Unlike other types of agricultural business, the activities of a crayfish farm within the framework of private household plots can only be carried out when the products are sold to friends, since the sale of crayfish on the market or to other entrepreneurs requires the issuance of appropriate certificates. Therefore, the work of the enterprise should be legalized in the form of individual entrepreneurs or peasant farms; in order to avoid paying insurance premiums and filing unnecessary reporting, it is better to submit documents to the IFTS after receiving the catch.

From a legal point of view, the cultivation of crayfish can be presented as one of the branches of agriculture in the field of aquaculture. This means that the owner of the crayfish farm is allowed to choose the unified agricultural tax as the taxation system at a rate of 6% of the total profit.

In addition, in accordance with legislation and sanitary requirements, retail stores and catering establishments purchasing products from a farmer may require such accompanying documentation as:

• Sanitary passport of the car used for the transportation of crayfish (can be obtained by contacting the veterinary station);
• Declaration of Conformity (issued by Rosselkhoznadzor);
• Form No. 2 (can be obtained after submitting samples of water and products to the veterinary service department);
• Certificate of conformity GOST 50380-2005 (issued by both Rosselkhoznadzor and private certification bodies).

Investments

The organization of the work of a large enterprise requires knowledge, which can be acquired as a result of practical activity and studying the experience of other entrepreneurs - for example, by watching the video "Breeding crayfish at home":

To organize the work of the farm, the entrepreneur must first of all prepare the premises and install the required number of recirculating water installations here. Then it is necessary to resolve the issue with the food supply and buy crayfish for breeding: prices for adult representatives of productive species are in the range of 90-120 rubles per head.

Article	Amount, rub.
Registration of individual entrepreneurs	800
Farm equipment	623065
Purchase of broodstock (30 heads)	3600
Administrative expenses	5000
Total:	632465

The main costs during the year will be associated with replenishing the stock of feed and paying for electricity: each unit consumes up to 700 W / h during the initial heating of water and 250-300 W / h during operation.

Annual expenses

Article	Amount, rub.
Purchase of feed for broodstock	1200
Purchase of feed for young animals	19900
Communal payments	24000
Registration of certificates	3000
Fare	5000
Total:	53100

Expected income

Breeding crayfish as a business - profitable or not? To determine the profitability of a crayfish farm, it is necessary to estimate the annual production volumes: for an enterprise using five recirculating systems of the type described above, after the annual feeding, the output will be at least 830 individuals with a marketable weight within 150 g. Accordingly, the total herd weight will reach 124.5 kg.

Australian crayfish of the indicated size on the market is estimated at 1500-1600 rubles per kilogram when sold in live weight: the total income of the farmer in this case will be 199200 rubles. Taking into account the amount of current costs, you can calculate the annual profitability and payback period of the enterprise:

Economic parameters of the crayfish farm

Index	Meaning
Total income, rub.	199200
Current expenses, rub.	53100
Profit, RUB	146100
Unified agricultural tax 6%, rub.	8700
Net profit, RUB	137400
Initial investment, rub.	632465
Profitability,%	275
Payback period, years	4,3

Conclusion

Obviously, the cultivation of a small number of crayfish is hardly advisable to be considered as a source of basic income: as calculations show, in order to receive a profit of more than 1 million rubles a year, an entrepreneur must have a whole complex of recirculating water installations with a total area of ​​200 m2 or a pond farm with an area of ​​up to 1600 m2 ...

The second task that a novice farmer must solve is marketing organization: despite the high level of demand, only large stores have equipment for selling crayfish, and only a few catering establishments include dishes from them in the menu. At the initial level, this problem is solved by selling products to acquaintances and private clients they have referred, however, an increase in production volumes requires a qualitatively different approach. The way out can be close cooperation with fish shops or opening your own retail outlet, supplemented by a full-fledged virtual representation.

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