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 Aquafarming Species | Methods

Todayaqua > Aquafarming species & methods > Crocodile farming

 
   Crocodile Farming

Crocodiles are among the oldest creatures on earth, having survived for more than 200 million years. It is the last remaining member of the dinosaur family, and has not changed the  biologically though the years. Crocodiles have a long breeding life, which ranges from 25-30 years and a life span of almost 100 years.

The crocodile's nature  has  always inspired  reverence  and fear in man. Crocodiles can attack at any time of the year, they are  more  active  in  the  warmer  months and  when  in search of mates. Large males will  assert  their dominance by the jealously patrolling their stretch of territory battles rage, often leaving the  vanquished  dead or seriously injured.

The female  crocodile  is  ready  to  breed  when it  about 7 years old. After a long and often noisy courtship, the female  builds a large, deep  nest of layered  soil and  vegetation, which is  heated by decomposing plants. There, she  lays her. Saltwater  crocodile lays about 50-70 eggs  while the  freshwater crocodile  lays about 30-40 eggs within a year. Although feared in nearly every place they live, crocodiles are among the best of parents. The female crocodile tends the eggs carefully for 18 hours daily for the  next three months, adding, removing, and shifting soil and vegetation to maintain just the right amount of temperature for her offspring. As hatching time approaches, she becomes  increasingly aggressive, chasing  away other  crocodiles and any potential predators. The mother stands guard until the sound peeping rouses her dig out the 1 foot-long hatchlings and carry then gently in a pouch of skin stretched over  her lower jaw  to a  crèche at a water's edge. Unfortunately, only about 1% of all baby crocodiles make it to adulthood. Thousands drown during flooding or are picked off by fishes and even by larger crocs. 

 
Economic Potentials

The economics of farming crocodiles actually depends on

  The ability to raise a large percentage of stock to harvest size in no
    more than three years.
  Availability of a cheap food source.
  High leather prices.
  Maximizing tourist (gate toll)
  The sale of by-products
  Continued research to refine husbandry techniques.

Crocodile's skin is prominently rare and expensive then converted to shoes, handbags, belts, wallets, jackets and other leather crafts. A bag made from crocodile skin is worth US$5,000 in a boutique in New York. Skin prices are variable and range from US$10-12 per inch belly width in the producing country.

 
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