Observations on Growth, Survival, Maturation and Breeding of <i>Macrobrachium dayanum</i> (Henderson, 1893) under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

Macrobrachium dayanum is a small freshwater prawn species that completes its lifecycle in freshwater. It shows abbreviated larval development. The egg bearing females were reared individually till egg hatching in 10 l glass jars. The hatchlings were collected and reared in freshwater for 190 days under laboratory conditions. Hatchlings were fed initially (up to seven days after hatching) with mixed zooplankton collected from ponds and subsequently with formulated pellet diet. The hatchlings grew from an initial weight of 1.11 mg to 1029 mg in 190 days. The survival rate was 65.3%. Sexual maturation was observed after 120 days of rearing when the female was 37 mm total length and 670 mg weight. Breeding occurred in the rearing tanks and the embryonic period was found to be 29 days at 28-31°C. A new generation of hatchlings was found after 150 days of rearing.