Growth of the prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in asbestos asphalt ponds in hard water and on a low protein diet

Freshwater prawns Macrobrachium rosenbergii were grown for 158 days in four 25 m² ponds, two with earth bottoms and two with asbestos asphalt bottoms, in water with a total hardness of 1000 ppm and on a diet with a 14% protein content. Production was in the range of 660–1270 kg/ha with 97% of final biomass in marketable size prawns of 17–70 g. The results were comparable with other temperate region studies and suggested that water high in calcium but low in carbonates may not inhibit growth in M. rosenbergii.