Nursery rearing freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, in biofloc system integrated with red seaweed, Gracilaria tenuistipitata, at different stocking densities under zero water exchange

This study was conducted to assess the effects of stocking densities on the water quality, survival and growth of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii postlarvae (PL) cultured in a biofloc system integrated with red seaweed (Gracilaria tenuistipitata). Postlarvae prawns weighing 0.012±0.001 g were stocked at densities of 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, and 2,500 PL/m3, noted as D1, D1.5, D2, and D2.5, respectively. Each density treatment was replicated three times and randomly assigned to 12 plastic tanks of 150 l at a salinity of 10 ppt. Red seaweed was added at a rate of 1.5 kg/m3, and molasses was used as a carbon source to maintain a C:N ratio of 15:1. No water exchange occurred during the 30-day rearing period. Results indicated that water quality parameters, including TAN and NO2-, biofloc volume, total heterotrophic bacteria, and Vibrio spp. counts, increased at higher prawn densities but remained within the appropriate range for prawn performance. Growth rate in weight and survival of prawns decreased as stocking density increased, with D1 and D1.5 showing comparable and significantly higher results compared to D2 and D2.5. Prawn production increased with rising stocking density, with a significant difference among treatments (p<0.05). Furthermore, prawns in D1 and D1.5 exhibited significantly higher feed efficiency than those in D2 and D2.5. These findings suggest that nursery rearing of prawn PL at a density of 1,500 ind/m3 in a biofloc system integrated with red seaweed offers optimal growth and feed efficiency, while maintaining good water quality and conserving water resources.