Stick-Fins Red Claw Farm, Elkton, Fla.

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Featured Red Claw Farm

Stick-Fins Fish Farm
Elkton, Fla.
Stick-Fins Fish Farm has Juveniles, Breeders and Iced Food Redclaws

Home Hydraulic Ram Pumps Crayfish Farming Red Claw Crayfish Farming

Stick-Fins Fish Farm
Raising Red Claw freshwater crayfish for about 2 years now, Michael Robinson says this is an excellent aquacuture species. His production facility near Elkton, in north Florida, started with only 50 juvenile red claws, is now the largest commercial producer of red claw freshwater lobsters in Florida ...almost doubling in size every year. He's putting up another greenhouse (photo below) this spring. "About the only problem with these critters is that every once in awhile one will get the urge to go walkabout." As most Red Claw farmers will agree, tank culture is the most efficient way to raise red claw, and walkabout is easily solved by having the water inlets above the water line and having nothing going over the side of the tank. The water level stays six inches below the edge of the tank, and the overflow drain has a good screen on it.

Berried Female Red Claw

Here is a young red claw breeder, full of eggs (berried). Stick-Fins produces breeders with around 700-800 eggs per breeder, and gets about an 85% survival rate with these eggs.
The eggs can be left on the female until they detach naturally, or the eggs can be removed and put in an incubator tank.
This process is covered in the book:
Red Claw! Raising the giant Australian Crayfish .
The berried females are usually put in a separate tank. After the eggs hatch and detach, the young crayfish want to hang on to something, and eat. Steady, 2-3 times daily feeding will produce much larger and healthier juveniles than those born in the wild or even in a relatively uncontrolled pond environment. This is the really important growth time, and just keeping the environment warm and clean during this time will make a huge positive difference in the final adult weight of the Red Claw.

Juvenile Red Claw ready for grow-out

Here is an example of the juveniles available from this farm. A little extra care at the stage from hatchling to 1"-3" in length, pays huge dividends. This involves having about 750 juveniles per tank, and having some kind of mesh for them to hang on to, thereby suspending them all through the water column. Some farms use plastic mesh such as onion bags for this; Michael will try water hyacinth this year; that will provide a natural mesh and food as well. The young red claw are territorial at this stage and only want to hang on to their little space and eat and grow. Feed needs to be spread evenly throughout this tank so the little ones don't have to go far for food. A unique method used by some red claw farmers is brine shrimp eggs, hatched, harvested, and frozen into ice cubes. These will float around in the juvenile tank, melt, and spread this perfect food throughout the tank.

Stick-Fins Red Claw facility

As you can see above, Michael used an inexpensive but very efficient method for his Red Claw production. 8 foot diameter by 18 inch wading pools (from Wal-Mart, appx. $10.00 ea., off season), reinforced with 18" sections of aluminum soffit, for the tanks. A simple screened overflow drain and overhead water inlets comprise the plumbing. The water is sprayed into the tank, which gives more than enough aeration. Solar heating and occasional water heating keeps the water temperature at the ideal 80 degrees F. Each tank holds 750 juveniles or 500 adults. At 4 to 6 adults per pound, and selling for $8.50 to $10.00 per pound, it is easy to see an excellent return on each tank employed. A greenhouse may not be necessary, something better insulated that can be heated may be needed in a colder climate for the winter months.
Stick-Fins will be offering a 'Starter Kit' for those interested in utilizing Michael Robinsons many great innovations in Red Claw Farming. The kit will include 2 tanks, fittings, greenhouse construction info and various other items and info, soon to be detailed here.

AUSTRALIAN RED CLAW PRICES from Stick-Fins

1 TO 3 INCH (JUVENILES) (shipped 50 to the box) $2.00 each
4 TO 7 INCH - APPROX. 2.5 OZ. each (shipped 12 to the box) $8.00 each
8 TO 10 INCH - APPROX 4.25 OZ. each (shipped 10 to the box) $10.00 each
11 TO 14 INCH - APPROX 6.65 OZ each (shipped 8 to the box) $12.00 each

SHIPPING POLICY:
Shipping charges will be determined from customers zip code. This shipping charge is determined from FedEx web site. Live shipments are shipped priority express overnight. We ship on Tuesday of each week for delivery on Wednesday, unless prior arrangements have been made. There is a $6.00 insulated box charge, per box, on all shipments. Payment for shipment must be received prior to shipment. We do not ship to Post Office Boxes.
Starter Kits: Starter kits are available when pools are available. Kit consists of expandable greenhouse plans. Easy PVC pipe and pressure treated wood construction. Plans only no building material. Minimum of one 8 ft. X 18 in. pool. Water capacity 565 gallons at 100% of wall height. This kit costs $30.00. Additional pools cost $20.00 each. A filtration system is recommended. This can be obtained from Aquatic Eco Systems, www.aquaticeco.com. Depending on your particular situation, different filtration systems can be obtained to fit your set up. Any reputable aquaculture products provider can suggest filtration systems for your needs. Shipping costs of these kits is determined by customers zip code and method of shipping. They can be shipped UPS ground, FedEx or other carrier.

Business Hours of Operation and Contact Information: We are open from 8:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST Monday through Friday. Contact via phone between 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM Monday through Friday. Closed on weekends. Email contact sfins1248@aol.com. Email usually checked daily between 3:30 AM and 6:00 AM EST. Due to overwhelming demand, "Farm Tours" are no longer available.

Order from:
STICK-FINS FISH FARM
C/O: MICHAEL ROBINSON
3800 CR-13 SOUTH
ELKTON, FL. 32033

PHONE: 904-692-1252
FAX: 904-692-4744
E-MAIL: Stick-Fins Fish Farm

Home Hydraulic Ram Pumps Crayfish Farming Red Claw Crayfish Farming

Stick Fins and Michael Robinson do not sell these books!

'Small Scale Crayfish Farming for Food and Profit'-- $10.95.

Red Claw! raising the Giant Australian Freshwater Crayfish'-- $10.95.

To place an order for either of these books to get started in Crayfish Farming,
send check or MO for $10.95 per book to: (please indicate which book)

Atlas Publications
P.O. Box 265
Murphy, N.C. 28906

OR use this handy PRINTABLE ORDER FORM
Overseas and online orders direct from Amazon:

©2001 Atlas Publications
E-mail author / publisher.