On an experimental seed collection and field culture of king prawn, Penaeus latisulcatus

Abstract

Early juveniles of the King prawn, Penaeiis latisulcatus Kishinouye, were caught from the sandy barmouth area of Kovalam backwater, near Madras, during May-July 1986. These were successfully cultivated in an earthern pond at the Muttukadu Maricuiture Centre of the Institute for a period of 80 days supplementing backwater clam (Meretrix casta) for feed. Over this time the females were found grown up and with developing ovary. The size-frequency analysis of the juveniles obtained from the wild and those reared showed a grovrth of 29-30 mm per month. The hatchery-raised postlarvae of the species were reared on a diet of zooplankton (copepods, rotifers and freshwater cladocerans) and moUuscan meat (boiled flesh of clam and mussel). Those reared on copepod diet exhibited faster growth and those reared on a combination of zooplankton and molluscan meat exhibited higher survival.