Experience of artificial reproduction of the freshwater Rosenberg shrimp (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

Abstract

Background and Aim. Currently, many shrimp species are cultivated worldwide. The most popular species in freshwater crustacean aquaculture is the Rosenberg's shrimp (Macrobrachium rosenbergii De Man, 1879). This species grows rapidly, is relatively hardy, and requires little effort for larval production. However, the larvae spend the first month of their life in saltwater, and in its absence, they die on the fifth day.

Materials and Methods. Artificial reproduction and rearing of freshwater shrimp larvae were carried out in recirculating aquaculture systems and in an aquarium complex. A V2 refractometer with a measurement range of 0-100‰ was used to determine salinity. The broodstock were kept in a recirculating aquaculture system in 2 m3 tanks at a stocking density of 25 to 70 shrimp per cubic-meter. Total harvesting was conducted every 14 days to select ovigerous females. A KERN ALJ 220-4NM analytical balance with an accuracy of up to 1 mg was used to weigh the larvae.

Results. The effect of water salinity on the incubation of Rosenberg shrimp larvae was studied. Survival in the first group was 2% higher than in the second group and 5% higher than in the third group. The feeding experiment showed that the second group, fed a diet of Artemia nauplii and frozen bloodworms, gained weight much faster than the other two groups. The second group's weight gain during the experiment was higher: 0.6 mg higher than in the first group and 2.1 mg higher than in the third. A similar trend was observed in relative weight gain: 29% higher than in the first group and 104% higher than in the third group.

Conclusion. Increasing salinity during shrimp larval incubation did not significantly affect shrimp survival. The best results in the feeding trial were obtained in the group fed a diet of Artemia nauplii and frozen bloodworms: where the relative weight increase reached 781%. In the groups fed only Artemia nauplii or a combined approach with starter feed, the increase was 752% and 677%, respectively.