Commercial Prawn Production
Diseases
Unlike marine shrimp, disease has yet to be identified as a major problem affecting production of freshwater prawns. This attractive characteristic is probably due to the comparatively lower amounts of total biomass in production ponds relative to marine shrimp enterprises. However, as stocking rate and biomass per unit area increase, the potential for disease-related mortality correspondingly increases. Some prawns in a pond population may be afflicted with shell disease that is bacterial in origin and clinically manifested by black spots on the outer shell (exoskeleton). Incidence is usually associated with physical damage to the shell but is not lethal and is eliminated by the shedding of the old shell and the production of a new uninfected shell. At times, algae or insect eggs may be found adhered to the shell. This condition is neither disease nor stress related, but would have an adverse effect on consumer acceptance. Disease problems are most prevalent during the hatchery phase of culture and generally result from the proliferation of bacteria caused by an unintended high organic load.
MSU Publications & Information
- Culture of
Freshwater Prawns in Temperate Climates
Bulletin 1138 - Search MSUCares Prawns/Aquaculture Publications
Other Freshwater Prawns Information
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