Macrobrachium rosenbergii and fresh shrimp breeding method
I. Breeding Conditions and Preparation
1. The pond area for breeding should range between 5 to 30 mu, with a water depth of approximately 1.5 meters. The water source must be clean, free from pollution, and ensure convenient drainage and electricity supply. The transportation of both water and land should also be well-organized. At the end of each culture cycle, the pond is drained, and the surface silt is removed and dried to form a cracked layer. Two weeks before stocking, the pond is disinfected using appropriate chemicals, and one week prior to seeding, filtered water is introduced to ensure cleanliness.
2. Supporting facilities are essential. For every 5 mu of water surface, an oxygen aerator of 3 kilowatts should be installed, along with a pump at the inlet. For secondary desalination of Macrobrachium rosenbergii, a small cloth barrier is placed in one corner of the pond to create a holding pool.
3. Time Coordination
The shrimp feeding period typically runs from early November to the end of April of the following year. In early May, the ponds are sterilized in Qingtang, and Penaeus vannamei or Macrobrachium rosenbergii are released from mid-May to early June. Macrobrachium rosenbergii is cultured from mid-June to mid-October, and harvesting begins in mid-October until the end of the month.
4. Young shrimps for consumption can be sourced from other ponds. To optimize growth, a small pond occupying about 3% of the total area of the main pond can be dug in one corner. Broodstock and young shrimp are self-produced and cultivated locally.
II. Key Technical Points in Breeding Operations
1. Stocking of Macrobrachium rosenbergii involves purchasing virus-free, healthy seedlings that are over 1.2 cm in size, with a density of 25,000 to 35,000 per mu. Green shrimp seedlings should be 1 to 1.5 cm in size or larvae weighing more than 300 per kilogram, with 20,000 to 30,000 prawns per acre or 3 to 5 kilograms of larvae. Additionally, 50 to 100 tails of carp and silver carp per mu are maintained for polyculture.
2. The protein content of feed for Macrobrachium rosenbergii should range from 20% to 35%, with higher levels (35%–30%) for larval stages and lower levels (20%–25%) for middle and adult shrimp. Feed is provided 2–3 times daily, mainly in the evening, at 3%–7% of the shrimp’s body weight. The bait size is controlled to 2 mm or less during the early stage, 3–4 mm in the middle and late stages, and animal-based fresh food like small fish, snails, clams, and quail meat is added later. During colder seasons, feed is given once daily in sunny areas, with a feeding amount of 3%–5% of the shrimp's body weight. Natural biological feed is primarily managed through fertilization to maintain a yellow-green or brownish water color.
3. Water quality management is crucial. The pH should remain between 7.6 and 8.3, dissolved oxygen above 5 mg/L, and water transparency between 25 and 35 cm. Fertilization is adjusted based on pond conditions, using a method of applying small amounts frequently. Fresh water is regularly added, and water changes are made as needed. Aerator use is scheduled twice daily, each time for about 2 hours during the growing season.
4. Daily management includes morning and evening inspections of the pond, observing water quality, shrimp activity, feeding behavior, signs of disease, leaks, or predators. Prompt action is taken when issues arise. To prevent diseases in Macrobrachium rosenbergii, the following measures are recommended: (1) Soak shrimp in formalin for 2–3 minutes upon stocking. (2) Disinfect the entire body with bromochlorohydantoin every 15–20 days. (3) Apply photosynthetic bacteria every 20 days. (4) Regularly add allicin, multivitamins, and “King Shrimp King†to the feed.
5. Harvesting of adult Macrobrachium rosenbergii is done using nets. Small quantities can be caught with cages or dip nets. It is important to catch, transport, and sell them promptly. After the Spring Festival, when shrimp prices rise, tools such as cages, dip nets, and trawls are used to catch and sell shrimp multiple times throughout the breeding season.
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