Freshwater Prawn in fish tank?

[DjSaneR]

Newbie here. Just looking to learn something new

I've been toying with the idea of dusting off my old 55 gallon fish tank to try and create a mini freshwater shrimp/prawn farm for personal consumption and to learn how to be a bit more self sufficient. I've successfully owned saltwater fish tank setups containing various decorative species and freshwater setups with piranha in the past, therefore, I consider myself experienced but definitely not an expert.

I'm interested in farming the Macrobrachium Rosenbergii, aka Giant River Prawn or similar species. I have several questions:

1. Is it possible to do this in a 55 gallon fish tank or does this process require more space?

2. If it is, would I use the standard filtration equipment for a normal fish tank setup? ie: canister filter, powerheads.

3. How many prawn can be produced in a 55 gallon tank at one time? I'm not sure if they need a certain amount of space.

4. Since this is going to be for human consumption, what type of feed should be used? I would like to keep this as chemical-free as possible.

5. I've searched the web for juvenile shrimp/prawn but only come up with aquarium/pet species.. Where can I find the edible juveniles.

Any information/tips would be greatly appreciated! Thank you, in advance!
-Matt

[keith_r]

there's lots of info on the web, i was looking at them for a little bit myself.. but they need lots of space sq/ft wise as male's will kill each other as soon as they get their long claws.. friendly's in hawaii was raising them in their raft beds i think..and they need pretty warm water to do well.. as do the australian "red claw" crayfish you can get in the states.. water heating costs make it kind of difficult for us northerners, but i was thinking of setting up a little "hot house" in my basement with an 8'diax18" deep kids pool, on top of insulation and use waterbed heaters to keep the water warm, could probably raise a couple houndred redclaw..

[RS_]

Matt,

adult fresh water prawn are extremely aggressive and cannibalistic, and would have to be kept separated in that small of an environment

Aquaculture of Texas, Inc.

Freshwater Prawn Hatchery
Macrobrachium rosenbergii

http://www.aquacultureoftexas.com/

has POST-LARVAE and JUVENILES and ships them almost any where

[DjSaneR]

male's will kill each other as soon as they get their long claws..

Would it be bad to remove the claws?

[DjSaneR]

Matt,

adult fresh water prawn are extremely aggressive and cannibalistic, and would have to be kept separated in that small of an environment

So if I seperated the males from females would it be feasable?

Thanks for your reply

[RS_]

i think, that you have to keep all adults separated, male and female, in a small environment, or give them Plenty of room in a Very Large environment so that they can have their own area to inhabit, and / or plenty of places to hide in while they are moulting, and in a vulnerable condition to be preyed on by others that are not moulting......

[Pugo]

I can never tell the difference between them until the female is carrying eggs.. There is this crazy hobby here in Taiwan, they raise giant prawns and place them in a pool, then a bunch people set around fishing for prawn in a large concrete pond, inside of building, and of course the beer is cold. To be honest even I engage in this, it is a lot of fun and a nice way to relax..

[kingjam]

I can never tell the difference between them until the female is carrying eggs.. There is this crazy hobby here in Taiwan, they raise giant prawns and place them in a pool, then a bunch people set around fishing for prawn in a large concrete pond, inside of building, and of course the beer is cold. To be honest even I engage in this, it is a lot of fun and a nice way to relax..

Pugo,
You forgot to mention the best part. I loved the eating part. Remember when you skewerer them, rub them in coarse salt then put them on those gas Barbecue grills and then eat them with your cold beer?
Kingjam

[Pugo]

yeah, that is the best part, when you finish fishing for your prawns, they have a free gas broiler to cook your prawns a table to set at and lots of cold beer.. it always makes for a nice Sunday evening. At least for me

And the one I go to has a lot has fresh Tilapia swimming around in a tank that you can buy and grill with your prawns.

Thanks for reminding me kingjam.

[Fizban]

I found this thread
http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/aq/aq017/index.php?0404
This might answer some of your questions.
It looks like it is pretty difficult, but they were scientists so they might have made it a lot harder than it actually needed to be. Plus it appears they were not recirculating the water just using it once.