Effect of Different Types of Shelters on Survival and Growth of Giant Freshwater Prawn, Macrobrachium Rosenbergii

Shelters play an important role in growth and survival of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, since it is aggressive and has territorial and agonistic behavior. The effect of three types of shelters, namely, Eichhornea plant, used tires and PVC pipes on survival and growth of M. rosenbergii was investigated in soil based and fertilized cement tanks in triplicate. Tanks without shelters were used as control. Growth of prawns in shelter based tanks was significantly (p ＜ 0.05) higher than that of the control. Relatively best growth and survival were achieved in tanks supplied with PVC pipes, which was followed by used tires and Eichhornea plants. Increased growth for the treatments of PVC pipes, tires, Eichhornea and control was 34.2, 29.8, 24.5 and 13.3 g, respectively. Survival, net production and specific growth rate of prawn were superior in the PVC pipe treatment.