1. Base Selection: Choose a well-ventilated, sunny location with a quiet environment, abundant water sources, free from pollution, rich in bait sources, lush vegetation, sufficient oxygen levels, convenient drainage and irrigation, and easy transportation and power supply. Water source selection: River, lake, reservoir, and pond water can be used as water sources, and well water and spring water are also usable. The water pH value should be between 6 and 8.
2. Base Environment: The size of the shrimp pond can vary. For Tianhui Duofu crayfish farming, the water depth should be between 0.7m to 1.5m, ideally oriented east-west towards the sun. The pool's periphery should have a slight slope, with a flat bottom tilting slightly towards the drainage outlet for easy water drainage. The surrounding area must be soil embankments mainly for the crayfish to burrow and hibernate safely. The embankment should be 40-50cm higher than the water surface and 100cm wide to prevent water leakage from burrowing crayfish. If the pond exceeds 3 mu (Chinese acre), additional ridges can be built in the shape of fields, wells, or crosses evenly distributed across the pond, providing spaces for the Tianhui Duofu crayfish seedlings to burrow and reproduce.
3. Base Disinfection: Common methods include:
- Quicklime: Retain 5-10cm of water in the pond, crush the quicklime evenly into the water, with a general dosage of 20-40 catties per mu. On the second day after using quicklime, stir the bottom of the pond with an iron rake to mix the lime slurry with the mud.
- Bleaching powder: Drain the pond and use 0.5-1 kg of bleaching powder with over 30% efficiency per mu. For undrained ponds, use 1.5-2.5 kg per mu per meter of water depth. Dilute the bleaching powder in a wooden basin or iron bucket and sprinkle it into the pond. After disinfection, keep the water in the pond and start adding water on the second day until reaching the desired water level.
4. Base Fertilization: After reaching the desired water level, apply organic fertilizer such as fermented pig or cow dung at 150-250 kilograms per mu, maintaining a water depth of 80-120 cm. Three days later, if the water is not fertile enough, you can repeatedly sprinkle small amounts of fermented agricultural fertilizer water to gradually adjust the fertility to a suitable level. The water transparency should be between 25-35 cm, preferably clear green, and floating organisms will begin to grow in the pond. Five days after disinfection, breeding shrimp can be introduced.
5. Escape Prevention: Crayfish like to move at night and crawl along the ground. To prevent escape, build a 50cm high wall around the pond using asbestos tiles, silk fabric, plastic film, or steel mesh, supported by wooden stakes. Bury the bottom about 30cm into the soil to ensure no crayfish escapes.
6. Special Reminder: Appropriately cultivate more aquatic plants in the pond. Aquatic plants serve as auxiliary survival objects and natural bait for shrimp, purify the water, absorb feces to regulate water fertility, and their growth area should be controlled within one-fourth and dispersed. Before introducing aquatic plants into the pond, soak them in a solution of 1 pound of quicklime dissolved in 100 pounds of water for 10 minutes to kill harmful substances and pathogens. Additionally, set up auxiliary and hiding objects at the bottom of the pond for the crayfish to rest. When releasing breeding shrimp, do so when the water temperature stabilizes above 10°C, choosing a sunny morning or evening, and avoid excessive temperature differences in the pond water.
Relevant thematic articles: Tianhui Duofu Freshwater Shrimp, Tianhui Duofu Shen Nong No.9. From December 11-12, the Hubei Provincial Government held a provincial meeting on the development of the crayfish industry. Attending the meeting were Vice Governor Zhao Bin of Hubei Province, leaders from relevant departments such as the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Provincial Finance Department, the Provincial Agriculture Department, and the Provincial Fishery Bureau. The meeting was presided over by Deputy Secretary General Mei Zuen of the Hubei Provincial People's Government.
The meeting summarized the achievements and experiences gained in recent years in developing special industries such as crayfish, mobilizing all levels and relevant departments to take effective measures to promote the rapid and good development of characteristic advantageous industries such as crayfish. Typical exchange speeches were made by the Fisheries Bureau of Jingzhou City, the People's Government of Xishui County, and Huashan Company of Qianjiang, among others. Wang Yurui, Deputy Director of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, introduced the drafting situation and main content of the "Hubei Province Crayfish Industry Development Plan (2010-2015)". Zhu Jinshui, Director of the Provincial Agriculture Department, summarized and deployed the current situation, problems faced, and next steps for the development of the crayfish industry.