Pond Culture Of The Malaysian Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man), In South Carolina, 1974–19751

The feasibility of growing Macrobrachium rosenbergii commercially in ponds is under investigation in South Carolina, USA. Laboratory‐reared prawns (mean size, 0.006 to 2.66 g) were stocked into earthen ponds (0.02 to 0.25 ha) at densities ranging from 29,400 to 166,600 prawns/ha surface area. Mortality was generally low, with survival rates to 81.2% even when new postlarvae were stocked. Excellent growth was observed among some male prawns which grew from a mean size of 0.7 g to 100.6 g in five months in a brackish water (mean salinity 7.2 ppt) pond. Maximum gross production (equivalent to 1,660 kg/ha surface area) was achieved in 1974 when larger juveniles were reared for 146 days. Gross production in 1975 ranged from an equivalent of 572–1,499 kg/ha (mean, 904 kg/ha) during the 131 to 160‐day grow‐out studies. Feed conversions of 2.1–7.5 (mean, 4.4) in 1974 and 2.6–4.9 (mean, 3.6) in 1975 were obtained with an extruded ration, Ralston Purina Marine Ration 20. Duration of grow‐out season and the possibility of rearing prawns in brackish water were also examined. Outdoor culture season in South Carolina varies from about 5 to 6.5 months depending on site selection. Results from a brackish water study indicate that many coastal areas can be considered for farming M. rosenbergii.