Density and Shelter Influence the Adaptation of Wild Juvenile Cauque Prawns Macrobrachium americanum to Culture Conditions

Abstract

Consumer demand for aquatic animals has led to increased interest in using new species for aquaculture purposes. This study appraises the potential for aquaculture of the cauque prawn Macrobrachium americanum using wild juveniles from the west coast of Mexico. Four treatments were applied; treatments A and B consisted of 196 prawns/m² and treatments C and D of 98 prawns/m², with and without shelter, respectively. Growth and survival under these conditions were examined for 84 d. The combination of 98 prawns/m² and shelter resulted in the best survival and growth, whereas the poorest performance was in the treatment with 196 prawns/m² and no shelter.