Evaluation of the larval development of the prawn Macrobrachium Rosenbergii (De Man, 1879) at different temperatures under controlled conditions

The giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) is a commercially important species with great potential for farming in Mexico. Its larvae require adequate conditions for optimal development, making the farming of this species a complex process and, thus, one not widely undertaken in the country. Finding the ideal temperature for the larval development of M. rosenbergii is an important factor as it assists both larvae growth and the speed of metamorphosis into postlarvae. Three temperature gradients were studied (ambient, 28±0.5 °C, and 30±0.5 °C) in nine 70 L tanks, with an initial density of 1100 larvae in each and thermostats used to control the temperature. The larvae developed slowly and had a low survival rate, with 18 larvae surviving at an ambient temperature (27.07 °C on average) by the end of the experiment. In contrast, although larval development improved at 28±0.5 °C, the survival rate remained low with a final larva count of 20, while, at 30±0.5 °C, both survival and growth showed better culture efficiency, with a final larva count of 105. The ANOVA test applied showed significant differences, revealing a value of p=<0.001 with a 95% confidence interval, while the Tukey test applied identified the 30±0.5 °C treatment as both different and the optimal temperature for a commercial culture for this species.