Effect of dietary protein and lipid levels on gonadal development of female redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus Hervey Rodrı ´guez-Gonza ´lez 1,* , Alfredo Herna ´ ndez-Llamas 1 , Manuel Garcı ´a-Ulloa 2 & Humberto Villarreal 1 1 Centro de Investigaciones Biolo ´gicas del Noroeste, La Paz, Me ´xico 2 Laboratorio de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Auto ´noma de Guadalajara, Jalisco, Me ´xico Correspondence: H Villarreal, Centro de Investigaciones Biolo ´gicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Mar Bermejo 195, Col. Playa Palo Santa Rita, La Paz, B.C.S. 23090, Me ´xico. E-mail: humberto04@cibnor.mx * Present address: Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigacio ´n para el Desarrollo Integral Regional Unidad Sinaloa, Instituto Polite ´cnico Nacional, Guasave, Me ´xico Abstract The effect of two crude dietary protein (26% and 32% P) and two lipid levels (4.7% and 12% L) on gonadal development of female redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus was determined. The gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI), biochemical composition of gonad and hepa- topancreas, oocyte diameter and frequency of the developmental stage of oocytes were analysed. The GSI was significantly less using 26% P to 4.7% L. A significant interaction between P and L con- tent was found for GSI. A significantly higher HSI value was obtained when L was 12%. P content in the hepatopancreas was significantly higher using 32% P and 4.7% L. The maximum L con- tent in the hepatopancreas was obtained from the 32% P and 12% L diet. A significant interaction between P and L content was found for L content in the hepatopancreas. A higher frequency of post- vitellogenic oocytes was obtained with diets con- taining 32% P. There was an interaction between dietary P and L level causing lipid accumulation in the hepatopancreas and changes in GSI. For an optimum 32% P, excess dietary lipid is bioaccumu- lated in the hepatopancreas, indicating that there is excess available energy. When the P and L lev- els are restricted, there is a limited gonad develop- ment, thus affecting overall reproduction in female C. quadricarinatus. Keywords: Cherax quadricarinatus, gonad devel- opment, protein, lipid Introduction The redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus is native to northeastern Australia (Curtis & Jones 1995), with attractive attributes for aquaculture (Naranjo-Pa ´ramo, Hernandez-Llamas & Villarreal 2004). This species reaches sexual maturity after 7–9 months (Rouse, Austinand & Medley 1991), weighting ~20–25 g (Naranjo-Pa ´ramo et al. 2004) and spawns 2–5 times per year (Sagi, Shokrum, Isam & Rise 1996). Information on the protein and lipid require- ments for gonad maturation in crustacean species is scarce, and progress on formulation of matura- tion diets has been limited (Garcı ´a-Ulloa 2000; Holdich 2002). Nutritional studies on broodstock generally consider protein and lipid requirements based on the composition of mature female gonads (Mohamed & Diwan 1992; Millamena, Pudadera & Catacutan 1993). It is known that storage of pro- teins and lipids plays a crucial role in the repro- ductive biology of crustacean species (Castille & Lawrence 1989; Millamena & Pascual 1990). Har- rison (1990) mentions that the dietary protein level necessary for maturation of the crustacean gonad is likely to be higher than what is required for growth, as maturation is a process of intense protein metabolism. On the other hand, a transfer of lipids from the hepatopancreas to the ovary occurs during gonad maturation (Castille & Law- rence 1989; Millamena & Pascual 1990). It has been shown that diet plays an important role in crayfish broodstock condition (Garcı ´a-Ulloa 2000; © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 1 Aquaculture Research, 2012, 1–7 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2109.2012.03206.x