EFFECT OF PROTEIN SOURCE AND LEVEL ON GROWTH AND PERFORMANCE OF CAPTIVE FRESHWATER PRAWN, MACROBRACHIUM-ROSENBERGII

Growth, feed conversion and survival were determined for juvenile M. rosenbergii held in tanks under semi-controlled environmental conditions. Feeding trials incorporated water-stable diets at 3 levels of protein (15, 25 and 35%). The principal protein source combinations consisted either of soybean and tuna meal, or of soybean, tuna and shrimp meal. In a 244 day comparison of these diets, higher protein content produced larger prawns (P < 0.01), but differences between sources were not significant. No significant differences existed between feed conversion ratios (range 1.36-1.72) or percentage survival (range 90.3-93.6%). Trials of several other diets were also conducted, including soybean and Tilapia meal, and copra and Tilapia meal (25% protein level) as principal, protein source combinations. After 167 days on these diets, growth was inferior to that obtained with soybean and tuna meal or soybean, tuna and shrimp meal combinations. No significant differences existed between feed conversion ratios or percentages of survival. For the 244 days, a control group of prawns received no formulated diet. Growth and survival in this group during the 1st 110 days suggested that naturally occurring algae contributed substantially to the prawns'' nutrition. Mean prawn length after 244 days on the best diet (35% protein from soybean and tuna meal) was 73 mm, and growth rate was equivalent to that achieved under pilot pond conditions.