Broodstock Holding and Maintenance

The first stage of culture is the broodstock maturation stage.  In this stage male and female prawns are held in indoor heat controlled tanks from pond harvest (September to October) until the hatchery starts (February to March).  During this time brood prawns are fed and their water quality is held in ideal conditions which promotes mating and egg production.  Female prawns carry the eggs on their abdomen for approximately 14 days as the eggs mature and change color from yellow-orange to brown-grey.  When eggs reach brown-grey color they will hatch during the next couple days.  Larvae hatch directly off the abdomen of the adult female prawn and the larvae are free swimming. 

Gravid female prawns showing different stages of egg development.

Tanks used for holding broodstock and for nursery culture at Lyons Fisheries.

More detailed literature on broodstock holding and maintenance is available at these links:

Biology and Life History of Prawns

Hatchery and Nursery Management

SRAC Publication 483: Biology and Life History of Freshwater Prawns in Ponds

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