Utilisation of Tubifex worms by Macrobrachium lanchesteri (de Man) under different feeding regimes

Abstract

Feeding trials were conducted on Macrobrachium lanchesteri to evaluate the utilisation of tubifex worms at different feeding levels as well as feeding frequencies and their effect on growth. Three sets of experiments were conducted using five different feeding levels at three different feeding frequencies for a period of 60 days. Triplicates were maintained for each set. Growth in terms of total length gain (%), wet weight gain (%), dry weight gain (%) and daily growth rate (%) were calculated. Feeding level of 5 % body weight, three times a day was found to be the most growth promoting feeding regime. Tubifex worms were found to be an ideal feed for the growth of these prawns.