Cultures of fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus sirindhornae) for feeding giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenberbii)

Abstract

The adult fairy shrimps (Streptocephalus sirindhornae) of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 cm in length are designed as food for different age groups of giant freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium rosenberbii). The study was done to evaluate the size and amount of fairy shrimps and suitable ratio of fairy shrimp as substitute pellet for feeding giant freshwater prawn; and determined the growth rate and survival rates of giant freshwater prawn fed with Fairy shrimp. Four age groups of giant freshwater prawn: a group beginning reared in earthen pond (0 month old), age groups reared in earthen pond for 1, 2 and 4 months old were reared in aquarium tanks for 7 days. Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 replications of 3 sizes of fairy shrimps: 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 cm in length were tested. Three age groups of giant freshwater prawns of 1, 2 and 4 months old were reared in aquarium tanks for 45 days. Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 replications of 5 food rations of fairy shrimps to pellet feeds: 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 were tested. The results showed that fairy shrimp of 0.5 cm in length can be used as food for giant freshwater prawns of age 1 month and older. The optimal size of fairy shrimps for feeding giant freshwater prawns of age 1, 2 and 4 months were 0.5, 0.5-1.5 and 0.5-1.5 centimeters in length, respectively. The number of fairy shrimps fed by giant prawns of age 1, 2 and 4 months were 32.09, 32.86-43.57 and 24.3-33.27 individuals per day, respectively. Moreover, fairy shrimps could be used to substitute pellet up to the ratio of 100%.