What about crayfish in aquaponics?

There are a lot of different ways to go about an aquaponics project. One is to use the most popular species of fish to produce animal products in the context of a hydroponics garden. But there are also other sea creatures that can add a lot to your sustainable garden setup.

Crayfish

One strategy that a lot of growers are using is to integrate crayfish into an aquaponics environment. That means making sure that these creatures can get what they need from a hydroponic reservoir and complement hydroponic crops in a good way.

It might seem like an obscure type of gardening process, but right now, established growers including ag extensions at state colleges around the country are looking at issues like including crayfish in a hydroponics project. This resource from Iowa State University goes into detail about using Red Claw Crayfish, which grow up to 1 pound and have quite a lot of meat.

Crayfish pros and cons

One of the big challenges with specific varieties of crayfish is that they are very mobile, and they can easily escape a given environment. For example, some growers recommend using a reservoir with slick sides or other obstacles, so that the crayfish don't actually get out of the tank or enclosure. Making mistakes can require a lot of damage control if a large number of these critters escape.

One of the positives of using crayfish is that they can thrive well in a small reservoir. Growers talk about including elements of their natural habitat and trying to keep reservoirs correctly clean and sanitary for cultivating crayfish or other aquaponics products.

As growers experiment with new ways to use marine animals, you might see a corresponding change in the average menu at your local upscale restaurant or gastropub. The crayfish, which was largely seen as a regional dish, is now working its way into a greater collection of menus as people realize the potential of introducing crayfish in hydroponics.

For more on how to manage a hydroponics project, look at everything that today's manufacturers and dealers offer for enhancing your grow project and improving your result. In this emerging industry, technology is advancing fast, and getting the best equipment can help you to make your crop cycles less labor-intensive, more productive and overall, more lucrative and successful.