A comparative study on larviculture techniques for the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man)

Comparative studies of larviculture of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) were made for three systems: (1) the static water system with partial changes of water, (2) the closed recirculating water system with a separate subsand filter unit, and (3) the closed recirculating water system with a subsand filter inside the rearing tank. The mean production of juveniles per unit volume of water of these three systems was comparable (3.2, 1.9, and 2.9, respectively). Production fluctuated more in the static system than in the closed recirculating system. A significant asymptotic relationship between the stocking density and the survival of prawn larvae was observed in the first type of the closed recirculating system; higher stocking density resulted in lower survival. A stocking density of 20 larvae/l in the closed recirculating system was considered to be good for growth and survival. The intermittent high nitrite level was a problem encountered in the static system but not in the closed recirculating system. The operational costs of these three systems were discussed.