Simple Technology for the Hatchery Seed Production of Giant Palaemonid Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man)

The optimum salinity requirement of Macrobrachium rosenbergii brooders for better hatching and survival of hatchlings is studied. The berried females of M. rosenbergii were kept in different salinities (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 ppt) during incubation period. Maximum hatching rate (98 % and 97 %) was recorded when the berried females were kept in 0 ppt and 5 ppt salinities respectively. The post larvae appeared at very short periods of 22 and 24 days where brooders kept in 0 and 5 ppt salinities. The larval cycle completed within 35 and 37 days when the brooders acclimatized in 0 and 5 ppt respectively. Survival percentages of 82 and 79 were also high from the brooders kept in 0 and 5 ppt. Inferior hatching rate, extended larval batch and lower survival rate is observed from brooders kept in 10, 15 and 20 ppt salinities. The hatchery technology proposed is quite simple and can be applied to small-scale operations.