Effect of Different Levels of Dietary Lipids on Reproductive Performance of Captive Broodstock of <i>Macrobrachium rosenbergii</i>

Abstract

The present paper reports the results of a laboratory experiment to study the effect of different levels of dietary lipids on reproductive performance of captive broodstock of giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Three formulated pellet diets were prepared containing 2% (D1), 4% (D2) and 6% (D3) lipid and fed to adult females of M. rosenbergii (Av. body weight - 28 g) at 5% of the biomass per day for 60 days. Prawns fed D3 showed significantly higher (P<0.05) weight gain (221.16±6.48 mg/day) compared to those fed D1 and D2. Similarly, significantly higher (P<0.05) reproductive parameters like fecundity (eggs/ g body weight) (1153.6±174.25), egg clutch weight (g) (4.9±0.25) and gonado-somatic index (6.82±0.27) were also found in prawns fed D3. Reproductive effort (g eggs/ female x100), post–hatch fecundity (nos. of larvae/ g female) and mid gut gland somatic index (%) also showed a similar trend. The present results clearly indicated that dietary lipid level of 6% significantly enhances reproductive performance of captive stock of M. rosenbergii compared to 2% and 4% lipid levels.