Fresh Water Prawn Aquaculture

The fresh water Macrobrachium rosenbergii, commonly called, as ‘scampi’ is an ideal species for fresh water aquaculture. The suitable site for the establishment of fresh water prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii hatchery is along the seacoast. However, inland hatcheries also offer immense scope to produce post larvae (PL) through complete or partial recirculatory model types. The inland hatcheries depend on transported brine or sea water or synthetic sea water which necessitates a circulatory system of operation.

The design and dimension of the hatchery are based on the intended production and availability of reasonable financial resource. However the supply of freshwater and salt water to prepare the required brackish water of 12 ppm salinity, electrical power supply, diesel generator set, oil-free air blowers, pumps, water filters, translucent sheet-roofed housing larval rearing fiber tanks and brood-stock ponds are highly essential for the operation of the hatchery.

The female prawn carries the fertilized eggs under the abdomen in the brood chamber. Prawns that are carrying eggs are referred as ‘berried’. Large pigmented and active females with orange to grey colour eggs are selected. Approximately 500-1000 larvae could be expected for each gram weight of the berried prawn. They should be fed with 5% of the body weight twice or thrice everyday.

Chopped fish, musse, adult artemia, bivalve meat and moina are good sources of food for moina are good sources of food for brood stock. The brood stock after transportation should be treated with 10-15 ppm formalin for about 20-30 minutes as a quarantines measure. The tank should be cleaned everyday and 50 % of the water should be exchanged, depending upon the quality of water in the tanks. The pH should be maintained between 7-8.5, temperature at 28-30.20C and the aeration should be maintained continuous. The hatched spent females are removed from the larval thanks.