Breeding depressions in culture ponds for Malaysian prawns

Breeding depressions constructed by male Malaysian prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, were observed in earthen culture ponds in South Carolina. Depressions ranged from circular to elliptical in shape and the maximum size recorded was 94 × 53 cm and 15 cm deep. Number and size of depressions appeared to be closely related to the size and density of the adult male prawns in the ponds. Night-time observations indicated that sexually ripe females oriented in and around the depressions. Although construction of breeding depressions appears to be common under pond culture conditions, such depressions are not necessary for successful reproduction.     

Culture of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man 1879) in experimental cages in a freshwater eutrophic lake at different stocking densities

Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man 1879) juveniles (0.4 g) were cultured in experimental cages (L × W × H: 2.5 × 1 × 1 m) in Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines. The following stocking densities at four replicates each were used: 15, 30, 60 and 90 prawns m⁻² of cage bottom. The mean sizes at harvest after 5 months of culture ranged from 14.3 g for the highest stocking density to 26.3 g for the lowest. The mean size at harvest, daily growth rate and size class distribution were significantly influenced by stocking density, with those at the lowest stocking density showing significantly better growth and overall proportion of larger prawns. Heterogeneous individual growth (HIG) was fairly evident in all treatments. The percentage of blue‐clawed males was not influenced by treatment but the mean weight was significantly higher in the lower stocking densities. Both the percentage and mean weight of berried females were significantly higher in the lowest stocking density. Survival was the highest in the lower stocking densities (55.3%, 54.0%, 52.7% and 36.9% for 15, 30, 60 and 90 prawns m⁻² respectively). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved with decreasing stocking density, ranging from 2.1 to 3. As expected, yield per cropping increased with stocking density and ranged from 450 to 1089 g m⁻² yr⁻¹ of actual cage area. Production values obtained in the cage cultured M. rosenbergii were comparable to or even higher than those reported from pond culture, given that the stocking densities used in this study were generally higher than in ponds. The results show that the farming of M. rosenbergii in cages in lakes is a viable alternative to pond culture and has the potential of improve aquaculture production in lakeshore fish farming communities.     

POLYCULTURE OF THE FRESHWATER PRAWN (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) WITH TWO COMBINATIONS OF CARPS IN MANURED PONDS

A study was conducted to 1) evaluate the compatibility of prawns (Macrobrachiurn rosenbergii) with carps, especially the effect of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio); and 2) measure the ability of prawns to utilize the foods available in manured systems. Carps used were the silver (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), bighead (Aristichthys nobilis), grass (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Four ponds (0.09 to 0.17 ha) were stocked with silver, bighead and grass carps while common carp were stocked in only two ponds. Total fish densities were 8,600/ha where four carps were stocked, but only 6,200/ha when common carp were omitted. Post-larval prawns (wt 0.116 g) were stocked at densities of 17/m². Swine (approximately 60/ha of pond surface area) were housed on pond dikes so that fresh manure continuously entered each pond. Two lots of swine were fattened during the experimental period and loadings of swine manure were calculated based on hog size and feed consumption. Growth periods were 163 days for fish and 107 and 121 days for separate stockings of prawns. Gains in biomass by prawns averaged 714 kg/ha in ponds without common carp and 364 kg/ha in ponds containing common carp. Gains in biomass for both fish and prawns were 3,619 kg/ha (19.8 kg/ha/day) in ponds with common carp and 2,924 kg/ha (18.0 kg/ha/day) in those without common carp. Prawn survival was higher (X = 84.5% vs X = 72.5%), but final average weight of prawns was lower (2.64 vs 5.86 g) in the presence of common carp due to competition for food between common carp and prawns. Competition from carp is believed to have exerted less influence on prawn survival than predation on small prawns by larger, faster-growing prawns.     

The effect of density of Macrobrachium rosenbergii raised in earthen ponds on their population structure and weight distribution

The population structure and weight distribution of Macrobrachium rosenbergii raised in earthen ponds in polyculture with fish were studied. Over 10 000 prawns were grown in 12 ponds stocked with 1, 2, 3 or 4 prawns per m². Females were more abundant than males in all of the treatments. The proportions of three different male morphotypes, blue claw, orange claw and small males, changed with density but those of the female morphotypes did not. A detailed analysis of prawn weight distribution (mean, coefficient of variation and skewness) was carried out separately for each sex and for the morphotypes within each sex. Prawn survival was approximately 85%, independent of prawn density. Yield increased and mean prawn size decreased with prawn density. The most profitable density was 2 prawns per m². The biological mechanisms controlling variation in sex ratio and morphotype frequency and the social control of growth are discussed.     

Cost comparisons of rearing larvae of freshwater shrimp,Macrobrachium acanthurus and M. rosenbergii,to juveniles

Costs were determined for rearing larval Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) and M. acanthurus (Wiegmann). Rearing was conducted in two phases. First-phase rearing (first 10 days) was conducted in conical fiberglass tanks with recirculated, filtered, brackish water; second-phase rearing (final 30 days) was done in aerated 1 000-l concrete tanks. To minimize water quality problems and debris accumulation in second-phase rearing, larvae were transferred every 4 to 5 days to a new tank of clean water. Larval food consisted of newly hatched Artemia and either freshly ground fish or freeze-fried fish.Mean survival in five M. rosenbergii rearing trials was 43% in 40 days at a final density of 12 juveniles per liter. Mean survival of four M. acanthurus trials was 25% in 44 days at a final density of 3 juveniles per liter. Average total cost of labor, operation (electricity), food and water per thousand juveniles produced was $3.56 for M. rosenbergii and $13.42 for M. acanthurus.Extrapolation of results to larger (3 000-l) second-phase rearing tanks showed M. rosenbergii rearing cost could be reduced to $\text{\$1.87}\text{1 000}$.     

Effects of Two Densities of Caged Monosex Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, on Water Quality, Phytoplankton Populations, and Production When Polycultured with Macrobrachium rosenbergii in Temperate Ponds

The effects of different densities of caged Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, on water quality, phytoplankton populations, prawn, and total pond production were evaluated in freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, production ponds. The experiment consisted of three treatments with three 0.04‐ha replicates each. All ponds were stocked with graded, nursed juvenile prawn (0.9 ± 0.6 g) at 69,000/ha. Control (CTL) ponds contained only prawns. Low‐density polyculture (LDP) ponds also contained two cages (1 m³; 100 fish/cage) of monosex male tilapia (115.6 ± 22 g), and high‐density polyculture (HDP) ponds had four cages. Total culture period was 106 d for tilapia and 114 d for prawn. Overall mean afternoon pH level was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) in polyculture ponds than in CTL ponds but did not differ (P > 0.05) between LDP and HDP. Phytoplankton biovolume was reduced in polyculture treatments. Tilapia in the LDP treatment had significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) harvest weights than in the HDP treatment. Prawn weights were higher (P ≤ 0.05) in polyculture than prawn monoculture. These data indicate that a caged tilapia/freshwater prawn polyculture system may provide pH control while maximizing pond resources in temperate areas.     

The case for all‐female freshwater prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man), culture

The prevailing notion in the prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) culture industry is that the large male prawns that dominate the product value in research and commercial populations should, alone, be the target of commercial mono‐sex (all‐male) culture. However, studies have shown that the male prawn's response to increasing density (intensification) is controlled by a strong hierarchical dominance‐based social structure resulting in a large, disproportionate, increase in low value small animals in the ‘lower’ modal class of the male prawn size distribution. In contrast, prawn females and other aquatics, such as marine shrimp, display a moderate and uniform response to intensification in all size classes. Indeed, the densities in which prawn male superiority has been demonstrated are well below those used in intensive marine shrimp culture. This article: (1) discusses the background to the issue, (2) discusses the notion that because female prawns appear to be ‘marine shrimp‐like’ – with a normal size distribution indicating a lack of a strong social dominance – this will render them superior to all‐males under intensive growing conditions, (3) presents a ‘rate‐of‐response‐to‐density’ model projecting a female‐superior response to high previously untested densities, (4) summarizes results of a pond field test conducted at Auburn University (Auburn, AL, USA) to test the model's results whereby hand‐sexed prawns in treatment‐replicated in‐pond cages at densities of 10, 25, 40 and 55/m² showed that all‐female prawns give higher production and product value than males under intensive conditions, (5) discusses the use of biotechnological methods to sex‐reverse brood‐stock to produce all‐females and (6) discusses the notion that the potential of genetic selection to increase prawn production is only possible using females.     

Nursery rearing of the Asian catfish, Clarias macrocephalus (Günther), at different stocking densities in cages suspended in tanks and ponds

Growth and survival of hatchery‐bred Asian catfish, Clarias macrocephalus (Günther), fry reared at different stocking densities in net cages suspended in tanks and ponds were measured. The stocking densities used were 285, 571 and 1143 fry m^?3 in tanks and 114, 228 and 457 fry m^?3 in ponds. Fish were fed a formulated diet throughout the 28‐day rearing period. Generally, fish reared in cages in ponds grew faster, with a specific growth rate (SGR) range of 10.3–14.6% day^?1, than those in cages suspended in tanks (SGR range 9–11.3% day^?1). This could be attributed to the presence of natural zooplankton (copepods and cladocerans) in the pond throughout the culture period, which served as additional food sources for catfish juveniles. In both scenarios, the fish reared at lower densities had significantly higher SGR than fish reared at higher densities. In the pond, the SGR of fish held at 228 and 457 m^?3 were similar to each other but were significantly lower than those of fish held at 114 m^?3. The zooplankton in ponds consisted mostly of copepods and cladocerans, in contrast to tanks, in which rotifers were more predominant. Per cent survival ranged from 85% to 89% in tanks and from 78% to 87% in ponds and did not differ significantly among stocking densities and between rearing systems. In conclusion, catfish nursery in cages suspended in tanks and ponds is density dependent. Catfish fry reared at 285 m^?3 in tanks and at 114 m^?3 in ponds had significantly faster growth rates than fish reared at higher densities. However, the desired fingerling size of 3–4 cm total length for stocking in grow‐out culture can still be attained at stocking densities of 457 m^?3 in nursery pond and 571 m^?3 in tanks.     

Observations on the breeding and growth of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) in the laboratory

Three male and 20 female prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man), were observed for 390 days. They were maintained in brackish water (5%. salinity) at 28°C which was recycled continuously through a percolating biological filter. Illumination was artificial and did not exceed 10 lm/ft² (approx. 0.1 m²) at the water surface. Mating readily occurred in the experimental tanks (48 × 28 × 25 cm deep). Eggs were incubated for 20 days; the mean number of larvae per brood was 24 000 (range 50–98 100). Over 750 000 larvae were hatched during the experiment. Larger females had proportionately larger broods and larvae from seven broods were cultured to the post-larval stage at intervals throughout the experimental period, which demonstrated their viability.The increase in length of the adults at each moult was constant (arithmetic growth) and did not alter when ova were maturing in the ovary.Prawns achieved larger mean length increments after the environmental conditions were improved. The moulting frequency was very variable and, with one exception, did not change proportionately with length or age of the prawns.Females grew from 115 to 205 mm and males from 145 to 230 mm total length.Three females spawned more than four times in successive intermoult periods, and one produced viable larvae five times in succession.Two of the males sired viable larvae four and seven times respectively during one intermoult period.     

Opto-electronic counters for juveniles of macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man): Supporting equipment and use of counter B under commercial hatchery conditions

To count postlarvae or juveniles of M. rosenbergii with the high speed opto-electronic Counter B, a clean water supply, a system for delivery of juveniles into the counting device, the collection of counted juveniles and partition of these into containers for delivery to ponds, are required. Juveniles are collected from rearing tanks without contamination by particles of detritus, which would otherwise be counted. The infrastructure, counter performance, juvenile handling procedures and survival tests done on machine-counted juveniles are described. Counting speed (juveniles per hour), counting errors and labour needs (men) are: 200 000, <1% and two for machine counting; 10 000, >2% and six for hand counting; a supervisor is required in both cases. Survival of machine-counted juveniles is the same as that of hand counted ones, indicating that the electronic counter and methods of using it have no adverse effects on juvenile prawns of this species. It is believed that this counter is unique, and that it has wide applicability to counting various aquatic organisms.     

Evaluation of the production potential of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) in monoculture and in polyculture with Nile tilapia and common carp in Saudi Arabia

The feasibility of polyculture of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) with two fish species, Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), and common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., was examined and compared with monoculture of M. rosenbergii in 100-m² ponds. Overall percentage of females (56.8%) was higher than that of males (43.2%). The proportions of females, males and their morphotypes did not differ significantly between monoculture and polyculture. After 196 days of culture, the mean harvest weight of prawns in monoculture (30.2 g) was significantly greater than that in polyculture (21.3 g). Yield in monoculture (1152 kg ha^-1) was significantly greater than (1.62 times) that of polyculture (711 kg ha^-1). Total yield from polyculture including yield of tilapia (2544 kg ha^-1) and common carp (2999 kg ha^-1) was almost five times as great as that of prawn monoculture. Survival and food conversion rate of M. rosenbergii did not differ significantly between monoculture and polyculture.     

Production Characteristics of All‐male and Mixed‐sex Giant River Prawns,Macrobrachium rosenbergii,Grown in Earthen Ponds in Kentucky and Mississippi USA

Production and population characteristics of monosex male (all‐male) giant river prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, were compared with a normal (mixed‐sex) population in separate studies in Mississippi and Kentucky (USA) under low and high density stocking conditions, respectively. In Study 1 (Mississippi), juvenile prawns were stocked into eight 0.05–0.06 ha ponds at 24,700/ha. The mean stocking weight of all‐male was 0.34 g and mixed‐sex was 0.39 g. Prawns were fed 23% crude protein “range cubes” and harvested after 120 d for the all‐male prawns and 112 d for mixed‐sex prawns. In Study 2 (Kentucky), juvenile prawns from each group were stocked into six 0.04 ha ponds at 60,000 juveniles per hectare. The mean stocking weight for all‐male was 0.38 g and for mixed‐sex juveniles was 0.34 g. Prawns were fed a commercial sinking pellet (33% protein) once daily at a standardized rate and harvested after 105 d. In both locations survival of mixed‐sex prawns and all‐male prawns was not significantly different and the final average weight of all‐male prawns was significantly greater than the average weight of mixed‐sex prawns. For the study in Kentucky, total production was not significantly different between treatments, whereas in Mississippi total production in the all‐male ponds was significantly higher than in the mixed‐sex ponds. For both studies, the production size index of all‐male prawns was significantly greater than that of mixed‐sex prawns. In terms of population structure, in all‐male ponds there was a significant increase in orange claw (OC) males compared with the mixed‐sex ponds both as a percent of sex and a percent of total population. The increase in OC numbers in all‐male populations may be due to a lack of females to stimulate the transition of males to the final, sexually mature, blue claw stage. As target weights increase from 20, 30, and 40 g, the all‐male populations were increasingly superior in terms of production (kg/ha) of those target sizes. The economic benefit of all‐male over mixed‐sex populations will be principally based on an examination of tradeoffs that primarily consider the cost difference of juveniles relative to the price differences for different final harvest weights.     

Effects of Stocking Density and Feed on Pond Production Characteristics and Revenue of Harvested Freshwater Prawns Macrobrachiurn rosenbergii Stocked as Size-Graded Juveniles1

A nursery-reared population of juvenile freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) averaging 0.11 ± 0.058 g was size graded through a 4-mm bar grader producing a numerically 53% upper size population (0.25 ± 0.086 g). These were stocked into triplicate earthen ponds (0.04–0.07 ha each) at densities of 39,540, 59,300 and 79,100/ha, grown for 131 to 134 d, and fed a specially formulated diet. An additional three ponds were stocked at 39,540/ha and fed a commercial sinking catfish feed. Density had a significant effect on average whole body wet weight at harvest but no significant effect on either total yield, survival, or feed conversion. Mean wet weight was significantly higher for prawns stocked at 39,540/ha (34.3 g) than that for those stocked at either 59,300/ha (26.7 g) or 79,100/ha (263 g). The direct relationship between the percentage of small males and increasing density usually seen with ungraded populations was not evidenced in the size-graded populations. Average total yield ranged from 1,041 to 1,662 kg/ha for stocking densities from 39,540 to 79,100/ha. Differences in overall mean wet weight resulted from differences in mean wet weights for orange claw and no claw males and berried and open females, not from differences in morphotype distributions. These differences resulted in significantly higher percentages of tails within the larger count categories and higher revenues for prawns stocked at 39,540/ha. Feed type had no significant effect. Projected net revenues suggest that prawns need to be marketed and sold as a whole product.     

Genetic (co)variation in harvest body weight and survival in Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei under standard commercial conditions

In 1997, CENIACUA (Centro de Investigaciones para la Acuicultura en Colombia) in collaboration with AKVAFORSK (Institute of Aquaculture Research, Norway) initiated a family-based selection scheme in Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei to improve growth rate and survival in ponds and tanks. This paper reports results from a series of tests in which a total of 430 full-sib families (representing 204 paternal half-sib families) were tested for harvest weight and survival in standard commercial and intensive growing environments. The families originated from two selected lines. The estimates of heritability (h²±S.E.) for harvest weight for the two lines were 0.24±0.05 and 0.17±0.04, and the corresponding estimates for survival in pond/tanks were 0.04±0.02 and 0.10±0.02. Results showed a favorable correlation between the estimated mean full-sib family breeding values for harvest weight and pond/tank survival (0.42 in line 1 and 0.40 in line 2) indicating that selecting for growth will cause a positive correlated response in overall survival. The genetic correlations between body weights and pond/tank survival in different grow-out environments were high, demonstrating low genotype by farm interaction (GXE) for both traits.     

Culture of mullet species in ponds receiving iron crush effluents at El-Baharia Oasis,Egypt

An experiment was conducted at El-Baharia Oasis to investigate the culture of mullet species reared in two earthen ponds, both 0.25 ha in area, using the effluent from an iron crusher factory, which maintained a level of 0.07±0.25 mg Fe/l and a pH of 7.8±0.60 throughout the experimental rearing period. Similar stocking rates and organic fertilizers were used for both ponds. In the two ponds, similar growth rates were obtained over 8 months, from March to November 1984. These rates were 0.70, 0.15 and 0.20 g/day for Mugil cephalus, Liza ramada and Liza seheli respectively, which were similar to Egyptian fish farm growth rates. The difference between the total yields of the two ponds (226 and 400 kg for pond Nos. 1 and 2 respectively) was mainly due to the harvesting one month earlier of pond No. 1. This was due to the appearance of a blue-green algal bloom of Lyngbya limnetica at a level of 775,000 organisms/l which caused a massive mortality of about 100 kg of fish.     

Limnology of Macrobrachium amazonicum grow‐out ponds subject to high inflow of nutrient‐rich water and different stocking and harvest management

We evaluated the water characteristics and particle sedimentation in Macrobrachium amazonicum (Heller 1862) grow‐out ponds supplied with a high inflow of nutrient‐rich water. Prawns were subject to different stocking and harvesting strategies: upper‐graded juveniles, lower‐graded juveniles, non‐graded juveniles+selective harvesting and traditional farming (non‐grading juveniles and total harvest only). Dissolved oxygen, afternoon N‐ammonia and N‐nitrate and soluble orthophosphate were lower in the ponds in comparison with inflow water through the rearing cycle. Ponds stocked with the upper population fraction of graded prawns showed higher turbidity, total suspended solids and total Kjeldahl nitrogen than the remaining treatments. An increase in the chemical oxygen demand:biochemical oxygen demand ratio from inlet (4.9) to pond (7.1–8.0) waters indicated a non‐readily biodegradable fraction enhancement in ponds. The sedimentation mean rate ranged from 0.08 to 0.16 mm day^?1 and sediment contained >80% of organic matter. The major factors affecting pond ecosystem dynamic were the organic load (due to primary production and feed addition) and bioturbation caused by stocking larger animals. Data suggest that M. amazonicum grow‐out in ponds subjected to a high inflow of nutrient‐rich water produce changes in the water properties, huge accumulation of organic sediment at the pond bottom and non‐readily biodegradable material in the water column. However, the water quality remains suitable for aquaculture purposes. Therefore, nutrient‐rich waters, when available, may represent a source of unpaid nutrients, which may be incorporated into economically valued biomass if managed properly.     

Economic feasibility of prawn Macrobrachium production in South Carolina,USA

Cost and returns were estimated for freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii farming as a supplemental enterprise in South Carolina in relation to the following factors: (1) existing versus new investment for ponds and water supply; (2) three stocking strategies (postlarvae alone, a 50:50 mixture of postlarvae and nursed juveniles and nursed juveniles alone) at various densities (2·15–8·61 prawns m^?2); (3) a range of prices for seed stock ($0–50 per thousand); and (4) two marketing alternatives (sale of product as shrimp tails only or with the large animals marketed heads-on and the rest as tails). Net revenue estimates indicate that prawn aquaculture has potential to become a source of supplemental income to farmers in the coastal plain area of South Carolina and throughout much of the southeastern United States. This is especially likely if the enterprise can utilize existing pond facilities that are already discounted into the value of the land or were constructed during a period of lower investment costs. A prawn farm is unlikely to be profitable if postlarvae alone are stocked, even in existing facilities, but if a mixture of postlarvae and juveniles or juveniles alone are stocked in existing facilities, profitability is likely at seed costs up to about $40 per thousand.     

Shelter colour preference of the postlarvae of the giant freshwater prawn <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macrobrachium rosenbergii</Emphasis>

The addition of artificial shelters of various materials has been used in Macrobrachium rosenbergii tanks and ponds as a means of increasing productivity. The present study investigated the shelter colour preference of M. rosenbergii postlarvae (age 15–18 days after metamorphosis) in the laboratory. Shelter occupancy tests were performed on four groups of 200 postlarvae in four 57-l aquaria, into which were placed shelters made of rigid coloured netting sewn into four-layered cubes open on two sides. The shelters were presented in six colour pairs: black vs dark green, black vs light green, black vs blue, dark green vs light green, dark green vs blue, and light green vs blue. Colour preference was tested six times for each colour pair. The data obtained were analyzed using Thurstone’s law of comparative judgment. The mean z-score was significantly highest (i.e., highest preference) for the black shelter. Vision was involved in the detection of and approach to the shelter. When released in aquaria, intact-eyed individual postlarvae directly approached the shelter straight away, whereas blind postlarvae (paint over the eyes) swam around randomly and occupied the shelter only after accidental contact much later. Postlarvae in open water out of the shelter exhibited frequent aggressive contact, while those in the shelter were quiescent. The use of black shelters in rearing tanks is thus recommended for reducing stress and aggression among M. rosenbergii postlarvae in the hatchery.     

Taste panel evaluation of pond-fattened school prawns Metapenaeus macleayi (Haswell)

Juvenile school prawns (Metapenaeus macleayi) were collected from the Clarence River, N.S.W., Australia and fattened in artificial ponds. After harvest these prawns were assessed by taste panels along with other samples of the same species collected from estuarine fisheries in N.S.W. Taste panels could not detect any significant differences between pond-fattened and wild prawns and both were found to be highly acceptable.     

Effects of Diet and Organic Fertilization on Water Quality and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Populations in Ponds Used to Culture Freshwater Prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii

ABSTRACT

Effects of three diets: (1) complete diet; (2) supplemental diet (vitamin and mineral supplements not added); and (3) the supplemental diet with an adjunct organic fertilization regimen (using distiller's dried grains with solubles [DDGS]) on benthic macroinvertebrate populations and water quality in experimental ponds used to culture freshwater prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii were investigated. Benthic samples were taken from deep (1.5 m) and shallow (1.0 m) areas of each of nine 0.02-ha ponds every three weeks, using a 0.09-m² Ekman dredge. The abundance of gastro-pods, oligochaetes, total non-insects, chironomids, total dipterans, total insects, and total macroinvertebrates was significantly higher (P <0.05) in ponds receiving the complete diet, possibly due to lower predatory pressure by prawns or direct benefits of micronutri-ents. Total macroinvertebrate abundance was significantly decreased (P <0.05) in ponds receiving supplemental diet (with and without organic fertilization), possibly due to increased predation by prawns to supplement the nutrition not provided by the lower quality diet. Organic fertilization significantly increased (P <0.05) the abundance of oligochaetes and total macroinvertebrates. These data suggest that M. rosenbergii can adjust to reduced feed quality by increasing consumption of benthic fauna.