POLYCULTURE OF THE PRAWN, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, WITH FINGERLING AND ADULT CATFISH, Ictalurus punctatus, AND CHINESE CARPS, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix AND Ctenopharyngodon idella, IN EARTHEN PONDS IN SOUTH LOUISIANA

Abstract

ABSTRACTA study was conducted to determine the feasibility of growing the giant prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in polyculture with channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fingerlings and adults. Nursed juvenile prawns, 0.5‐1 g, were stocked in 18 0.04 ha ponds at 2,500/ha. Eight ponds were stocked with 0.05 g catfish fry at 100,000/ha or 200,000/ha; eight ponds received 13 g catfish fingerlings at 3,700 or 7,400/ha. Two ponds received prawns only as a control. Prawn survival from all ponds averaged 96%, and in no case was survival less than 84%. Prawn survival was not affected by the size or stocking density of catfish. Prawn yields averaged 170 kg/ha after a 107‐day grow‐out period. Overall, males averaged 87±25.3 g and females 55±13.9 g at harvest. Prawn yields and male weight at harvest were independent of catfish stocking size and stocking density. Harvest weight of individual female prawns was affected by catfish treatment. Prawn morphotypic profile was independent of catfish stocking treatment. Average adult catfish survival and yield were 52% and 1,305 kg/ha at the high stocking density, and 51% and 735 kg/ha at the low stocking density. Fingerling catfish survival and yield in fry‐stocked ponds averaged 41% and 963 kg/ha at the high density and 50% and 603 kg/ha at the low stocking densities. Poor catfish performance was not believed to be related to the presence of prawns.