The effect of dietary cholesterol level on growth and survival of juvenile redclaw crayfish Cherax
quadricarinatus was evaluated over a 10-week culture period. Five isoenergetic (430 kcal/100 g) and
isonitrogenous (30% protein) diets, supplemented with 0%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75% and 1.00%
cholesterol were evaluated. Juvenile redclaw crayfish (0.06 F 0.02 g) were individually housed in
plastic cages in 15-l, low case tanks in a climate-controlled laboratory, using a semiclosed
recirculation system. Water temperature was maintained at 28 F 0.5 jC. Redclaw crayfish fed with
0.50% cholesterol diet had significantly higher weight gain than those from the other four treatments.
Redclaw crayfish fed with diets without cholesterol supplementation had the lowest growth. Survival
ranged from 90% to 100% and was not significantly different among treatments. The recommended
dietary cholesterol level for optimum growth under these environmental conditions was 0.50%.
D 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.