EVALUATION OF RATIONS FOR FRESHWATER PRAWN MACROBRACHIUM ROSENBERGII CULTURE IN NURSERIES

Abstract

The experiments were conducted in the laboratories of the Estação Experimental de Ipojuca of IPA, Porto de Galinhas, Pernambuco State, being evaluated the nutritional effects of three isonitrogenous diets (30% of crude protein) by two elaborated (T1 and T2) and one commercial diets (T3), on the growth of prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in nurseries. The aim of this work was to develop appropriated rations for the initial phase culture in ponds, as well to enable diets preparations in artisanal plants. Fiber glass round tanks of 500 liters were stocked with 100 fifteen days post-larvae each one, during 10 and 12 weeks, respectively in the experiments I and II. The experimental rations were put up twice a day at 5% of body weight, accurate at each two weeks. Daily the tanks were siphoned and the water was partially changed. The water physical and chemical parameters remained adequate to the culture conditions. The average gains of weight were 1.73, 1.51 and 1.34 g at Experiment II and 2.26, 2.60 and 2.69 g at Experiment II, respectively to two prepared and commercial rations. The statistical analysis shows that there is no significant difference (Pâ"°¥0.05) among the treatments. The average of survival rates were 21.83, 31.00 and 15.40% at Experiment I and 48.67, 51.33 and 38.00 at Experiment II, for treatments T1, T2 and T3, respectively, without significant difference (Pâ"°¥0.05). It was verified that it is possible to produce diets in artisanal plants, with very simple equipment, permitting the farmers produce the rations at the farm, and that it is possible to obtain a standard product with stable quality, permitting a cost reduction if the agriculture products and by-products available are used.