Making a crawfish pond in your backyard is a fun opportunity to raise these delicious crustaceans yourself.
Crawfish are very hardy and they will survive in a wide range of weather conditions and temperatures. Still, you need to create the right living conditions for your crawfish.
Making a homemade crawfish pond can be an easy task, depending on the size that you are going for. Here are some possibilities you can try.
Start with a smaller pond and move to something bigger, in case you find the possibility exciting and easy to execute.
Use an Aquarium
For a start, you can place crawfish in an aquarium to observe their behavior and understand more about their needs. This solution is suitable solely for the short term and if you plan to take care of a limited number of crawfish.
Crayfish are inactive during the day, so the aquarium should have hiding places. Pebbles and rocks are great for the purpose. Hollow rock decorations for your aquarium will also be a good idea.
Use a Plastic Swimming Pool
If you want to test something a little bit bigger, you can use a plastic swimming pool. The variety that your children enjoy will be perfect for a crawfish experiment. Choose the right spot for the swimming pool – it should be warm enough, yet shady.
Add some gravel and sand to the bottom of the pool.
It will provide the crawfish with hiding places that they will get to use during the day.
Choose the Right Container Size
All other kinds of containers that can hold water will be suitable for crawfish farming in your backyard. The possibility will be exceptionally suitable for people that are reluctant about digging a hole in the garden.
Choose the size of the container carefully. Crawfish are a territorial species. They will vigorously protect their space. The more crawfish you plan to raise, the bigger the space should be. A small aquarium will be unsuitable for raising large numbers of crayfish.
Use Your Artificial Backyard Pond
Do you already have a backyard pond that was created for decorative purposes? This one can turn into great habitat for crawfish. You simply have to provide the right kind of living conditions.
Sand and gravel will once again be needed. There should be a shallow and a deeper end in the pond. Adding some aquatic plants to the backyard pond will also be essential for creating the right kind of environment.
Make Sure Crawfish are Not Overheating
Placing the container, aquarium or pond directly underneath the sun is going to overheat the crawfish during the day. This is why you have to choose the right spot, whether you plan to dig in the backyard or you are interested in using a container.
Pick the Right Spot
- You will need a flat area in your backyard, especially if you plan to dig a pond.
- Choose a spot that is free from overhanging branches or nearby bushes.
- Believe it or not, crawfish can escape from a container and from a pond in the ground. This is why you should make sure the area provides no such opportunities.
Use Ground Water
- It is possible for you to discover shallow underground water while creating the crawfish pond.
- You can use this water to create the right habitat for your crawfish.
- To use the ground water, you will need both a filter and an oxygen pump.
- Still, you will be saving a lot of money on water, which makes the opportunity great.
Lining the Pond with Synthetic Materials
- Dig a hole in the ground an fill it with water.
Does the water get absorbed too fast?
- If so, you will have to line the pond with synthetic or other materials that will prevent the quick loss of water.
Gravel and bentonite are often used to line the bottom of the pond and to prevent the water from getting absorbed too fast.
Testing the Water
You should consider testing the water before putting the crawfish in the pond. Warmer water cannot hold as much oxygen as cold water, which is one of the factors to understand. The pH of the water needs to be seven or higher. An acidic medium may interfere with the growth of the crawfish.
Add Aquatic Plants to the Pond
Whether you choose an aquarium or an actual pond, you should have some aquatic plants available. These create a better habitat and they provide the crawfish with hiding opportunities.
Look for a Possible Crawfish “Escape Route”
After placing crawfish in the pond, you will need to observe their behavior. As already mentioned, crawfish can easily get out of the pond. Crawfish are mainly active during the night. Observe their behavior and pay attention to the pond’s design – some shortcomings could be simplifying the task of crawfish escape.
Add Other Aquatic Species to the Pond
Crawfish and other aquatic species can coexist in your pond. When choosing the species, avoid bottom dwellers. Crawfish are the ones that filter out dirt and clean the bottom of the container, so the delicate balance of the habitat will be disturbed.
Keep in mind that crawfish could get aggressive with other species. They are known to attack small and sick fish that tend to sink towards the bottom of the pond. Alternatively, you should avoid adding large fish to the pond because these could potentially start feeding on your crustaceans.