Comparison among pre-gelatinized starches of different botanical origins used in noble crayfish Astacus astacus diets

The objective of the present experiment was to compare the biological value and the binding functionality of four pre-gelatinized starches (wheat, diet 1; waxy maize, diet 2; maize, diet 3 and potato, diet 4) used in crayfish diets. 360 juvenile of A. astacus (initial b.w.: 0.70. +/- 0.15 g) were cultured in 12 tanks for 43d. Growth performance were significantly higher in crayfish fed diets containing wheat and waxy maize compared to those containing maize and potato pre-gelatinized starches. Disintegration in water and shear force tests of diets confirmed the superior binding capability of pre-gelatinized starches obtained from wheat and waxy maize. These results suggest that the pre-gelatinized wheat and waxy maize starches are the best choice for the production of diets for the noble crayfish.