Overview of Penaeus Monodon Grow-Out Culture

Grow-out culture of 

Penaeus

monodon

Mr. Bhartendu Vimal

Guest Faculty-Asst. Prof.

CoF, Kishanganj, BASU, Patna

O

u

t

l

i

n

e

•

Scientific

Classification

•

Overview of the Grow-out

Techniques

•

Production

Cycle

•

Prawn

Physiology

•

Geographical

Location

•

Pond Preparation for Soil 

and

Water

•

Soil 

and Water

Management

•

Prawn

Feed

•

Prawn

Harvest

•

Diseases 

and 

Control

Measures

Kingdom

Phylum

Subp

h

ylum

Class

Order

Suborder

Family

Genus

Species

Animalia

Arthropoda

Crustacea

Malacostraca

Decapoda

Dendrobranchiata

Penaeidae

Pena

e

us

P.

monodon

Binomial 

Name

Penaeus

monodon

Fabricius

,

1798

Wild

broodstock

Maturation 

tank 

(1-3

mo.)

Re-

maturation

(eyestalk

ablation)

spawning 

eggs 

(external

fertilization)

S

p

a

wning

Nauplii 

(2

days)

Nau

p

l

i

i

Hatchery 

(12-18

hrs)

Protozoea 

(4.5

days)

Larval 

Rearing 

tank

(26-31days)

Mysis 

(4

days)

Postlarvae

A

d

ult

Intensive

S

e

mi

-

intensi

v

e

Postlarvae 

(15-20

days)

Wild

seed

Extensive

Adult

Harvest

Adult

A

.

E

m

b

r

y

o

-

s

t

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f

r

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p

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(

2

,

4

,

8

,

1

6

,

3

2

c

e

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d

)

m

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g

.

Fertilized

Eggs

B. 

Larva 

- planktonic in behavior occurring 

offshore.

At

this stage 

the 

6th 

abdominal 

segment is

relatively

longer 

than 

the 

carapace

length.

Newly 

hatched 

larvae-

Nauplius

Second 

stage 

Larvae-

Zoea

3

rd

Stage 

_

Mysis

4

th 

Stage 

_ 

Post

larvae

1

and

 ½

old

larvae

C.

Juvenile



t

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p

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D.

Adolescent



b

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p

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p

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s

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.

E

.

S

u

b

-

a

d

u

l

t

•

begin at the onset 

of 

sexual

maturity,

•

male 

possessing

spermatozoa in the terminal

ampules

•

female possess spermatozoa

in

thelycum

•

spermatozoa 

by

copulation

F

.

A

d

u

l

t

•

completion of sexual

maturity;

•

male 

possess spermatozoa

in 

paired terminal

ampoules;

•

female 

start 

to

spawn;

•

second 

and more copulations

occur.

Life

cycle

1.

Spawner

2.

Roe

3.

Nauplius

4.

Zoea

5.

Mysis

6.

Post

larva

7.

Fry

8.

Adult



Sex

Differentiation



Courtship 

and 

Mating

Behavior



Maturation 

Stages 

of

Ovarian



Embryo



Larval

Stage

Lateral 

view

of

Adult

Penaeus

monodon

with their

Technical

Terminology

•

Prawn 

a

- 

newly molted;

majority 

blue 

and 

minority 

black

color 

on 

shell white 

stripes

across 

body

segment.

•

Prawn 

b 

-

second 

day 

after

molting 

process 

stage, 

minority

black 

color 

of the 

soft

shell

•

Prawn 

c

- fourth 

day 

after 

the

molting, shell is 

light green 

turn

to 

very light 

blue 

color; 

light

yellow 

color 

stripes 

on the 

body

segment.

•

Prawn 

d

-

in the 

matured

stage

after 

molting, 

shell 

is 

hard 

and

light 

green yellow 

color 

across

the

body.

S

o

i

l

M

a

t

e

r

i

a

l

t

h

i

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g

s

f

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d

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;

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f

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.

,

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,

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,

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c

.

;

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f

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w

a

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r

.



Clay 

loam 

– 

very sticky; 

dike 

is not easily 

destroyed, 

however,

pond 

bottom 

cannot absorb 

contaminated 

water 

that becomes 

acidic

causing 

prawn

sickness.



Mangrove 

type 

– 

worst 

kind of 

soil, has 

no 

advantages at

all.



Sandy

clay 

and 

sandy 

loan 

– 

most 

suitable 

for prawn 

culture

as it 

has 

faster 

growth, most 

ideal pH and 

decreases 

the 

onset of

prawn

diseases.



Rocky 

type 

– 

has high pH, very 

difficult 

to control 

pond 

bottom

as it easily 

causes 

algae 

and 

microorganism growth 

in 

pond

bottom.



Cost

cheap 

in 

terms 

of 

land, 

equipment, 

labor, 

management,

construction

materials.



Fry 

Availability

nearby

areas



Environmental

Factors

Water; 

salinity 

(25-30ppt), 

temperature 

(25-30°C), 

pH 

(7-9), 

D.O.

(5ppm);

Soil 

pH 

(6.5 

and

above).



Geographical

Location

free 

from 

flood 

and 

typhoon 

for 

continuous 

operation 

whole 

year

round.



Transportation

convenient 

and 

accessible 

to 

pond

site.



Electrical

 power

must 

be 

adequately

available.



Feeds, 

chemicals 

and 

medicines, 

and 

fertilizer

can 

be 

supplied

easily.



Peace 

and 

order

good.



Pond

site

free 

from 

water 

polluted 

sources 

such 

as 

industrial,

agricultural

and 

domestic 

wastes,

etc.

Pond

site



situated 

above 

the 

highest 

tide 

of the 

river 

to avoid 

flood

problems,



near 

the 

sea 

coast 

and 

river

banks,



accessible 

to 

vehicle 

to facilitate 

transportation 

of 

fry, 

feeds, 

and

other

materials 

from the 

pond 

to 

buyer’s 

station

vice 

versa

Water

source



from 

a 

river 

or 

sea 

from 

the 

deep

wells,



free 

from 

all types of

pollution.

Water

quality



filtered through filtration 

system 

to 

get 

rid 

of 

all 

types of 

small aquatic 

life

(small 

eggs, 

fishes, 

and

shrimps).

Pond preparation for soil and water

•

Necessary 

specification 

of 

fry 

and 

water 

condition 

upon

stocking.

•

Acclimation 

of 

the

fry.

•

Water 

salinity, 

maximum 

difference 

in 

salinity 

is 

2

ppt.

•

Water 

temperature, 

the 

maximum 

difference 

is 

2°C.

•

Time 

of 

stocking; 

morning 

(6-9 

am)[preferable], 

afternoon

(5-9

pm).

•

Paddle 

wheel 

must 

be

activated;

at 

least 3 

– 

4 

hours 

a 

day 

for 

2-3 

days 

before

stocking

date, 

and 

3-4 

hours 

before 

the 

stocking 

of

fry,

to 

ensure 

adequate

D.O.

•

Fry

counting;

select 

any 

one 

bag 

and 

count 

the 

fry 

head. 

The 

total

number 

of 

fry 

counted 

from 

this 

bag 

represent 

the

quantity 

of 

the 

other 

uncounted

bags.

Fry

acclimation



important 

step 

before 

stocking 

fry 

to

pond;



purpose is 

to 

make 

the 

both 

transport 

and 

pond

water 

condition 

(temperature 

and 

salinity) 

to 

be same

(or 

almost 

same) 

to 

minimize 

stress 

on 

the

fry.

1.

Stocking 

time 

between 

6-9 

AM 

when 

the 

water temperature 

is

low 

(around 

26°C), 

avoid stocking 

during 

cloudy and 

rainy days 

to

prevent 

D.O.

problems.

2.

Float 

the 

plastic 

bags 

containing 

the 

fry 

in the 

pond 

water 

for 

at

least 

15 

– 

20 

minutes 

to 

equalize 

the 

water 

temperature 

in the

bag 

and in the

pond.

3.

Open 

the bags 

carefully 

once 

the 

temperature 

difference 

is 1

–

2°C, ready 

to 

check the

salinity.

4.

If the 

salinity 

difference 

is within the 

range 

of 3- 

5 

ppt, 

then the

fry 

are 

ready 

to 

be released 

into 

the

pond.

5.

If the 

salinity 

and 

temperature 

difference 

between bag 

and 

pond

are great, 

add 

pond 

water 

gradually 

into 

the 

plastic 

bags 

to 

about

1/3 of the 

total 

original volume, 

then 

let 

it 

stand 

for 

10 

– 

15

minutes. Observe 

the 

behavior 

of 

the 

fry 

before 

releasing 

them

into 

the

pond.

6.

In 

releasing, 

the 

fry should be 

distributed 

evenly throughout 

the

pond 

to 

avoid overcrowding 

and 

cannibalism. 

A 

healthy 

fry 

will

swim 

in 

different 

direction upon release 

into 

the

pond.

Medicines 

for 

the 

Prevention 

and 

Control 

of

Prawn 

Diseases

D

A

I

M

E

T

I

N

•

volcanic 

mineral 

design 

formulated 

for

aquaculture

•

spread 

on 

ponds 

to 

purify 

and 

sanitize

water

•

improves 

water 

quality 

by 

absorbing 

ammonia, 

carbon 

dioxide,

hydrogen 

sulfide, 

and 

other 

toxic

pollutants.

T

A

N

-

P

A

X

-

S

O

•

is 

a 

complete fertilizer 

(contains 

nitrogen, 

phosphorus, 

potassium)

and 

other 

trace

elements

•

improves 

growth 

of 

plankton 

and

lablab.

•

applied 

on 

the 

pond 

bottom 

before 

water 

is 

allowed 

to

enter

•

controls 

water

 pH.

H

A

I

-

C

H

O

N

-

P

O

R

•

organic 

chemical 

kills 

unwanted 

algae 

in

water

•

fosters 

growth 

of 

harmful 

fungi, 

protozoa,

and

bacteria.

F

.

G

.

C

.

M

Y

C

I

N

•

prawn 

medicine 

appears 

to 

be

expensive

•

application 

rate 

is 

only 

1 

kilogram 

per

hectare.

Soil 

and 

Water 

Management

(Intensive

Method)



feeding

rate,

DISSOLVED

OXYGEN

D.O.



3-7 ppm- 

ideal 

D.O.

 concentrations



lower 

than 

2 ppm D.O.- 

prawns are

stressed



At 

1 

ppm 

D.O.- 

prawns died

Before

Stocking:

aeration- begins several weeks before 

stocking to condition pond D.O.

Whole

season:

D.O.- recorded 

in the 

morning 

and afternoon; (low 

D.O.- 

before sunrise, high 

D.O.- 

late

afternoon)

6 AM 

and 

4 PM- 

ideal 

D.O. checking

times

D.O. 

decrease by 1ppm 

in 3 AM- 

aeration is needed 

shortly after

midnight

pH 

(potential 

hydrogen)



9.0 

pH- prawns are

stressed



above 

9.5 

pH- prawns

died



increasing 

pH- caused by metabolism of

microscopic 

plants (phytoplanktons),

or

“ALGAL

BLOOM”

pH 

Cycle

(Narrative)

•

Bloom 

consumes 

CO2 

through photosynthesis,

since 

CO2 

in 

water 

forms 

weak 

acid 

(low 

pH), 

as

it is 

removed 

by photosynthesis, 

pond 

pH 

tends

to 

rise 

at 

daytime. 

As 

sun 

goes

down,

photosynthesis 

ceases, 

pH 

falls 

as 

plants

doesn’t

utilized

CO2

.

Factors 

affecting 

pH

concentrations

•

How 

dense 

a 

phytoplankton

bloom;

•

How well 

the 

water 

is

buffered.

pH 

Management

continued…

Before

stocking:

•

Add

1-2

tons

of

agricultural

lime-

after

the

pond

is

built

Whole

season:

•

˂

5

0

p

p

m

p

H

-

a

d

d

a

g

r

i

c

u

l

t

u

r

a

l

l

i

m

e

a

t

a

r

a

t

e

o

f

1

-

2

t

o

n

s

/

a

c

r

e



Remember when 

you get a pH at 

9.5

, 

it 

is

too late to look for things you

needed.

Practices 

in Lowering

pH

A

mm

o

n

i

a

•

Ammonia is 

produced from excreted wastes 

and feed

decomposition.

ammonia

toxicity,

pH 

and

temperature.

Restrictions on Total

Ammonia

•

pH 

9.0- 

total 

ammonia should not exceed at

1ppm

•

pH 

8.0- 

total 

ammonia should not exceed at 2

ppm

•

0.3 

ppm- toxic 

ammonia (un-ionized) should 

not 

exceed at this

level

Ammonia

feeding

rates,

flushing 

amount 

of

water



How does fertilizer helps lower the

ammonia?

Fertilizer 

is added 

to 

water 

to enhance phytoplankton

which 

can 

indirectly lower the 

ammonia by 

consuming 

it

as a nutrient, 

however 

pH 

increases. 

Thus, it 

is 

important

to control 

amount 

of fertilizers to be

added.

Nitrite

•

50 

lbs 

of NaCl / acre-foot of pond volume-

added at 

the start 

of growing 

season 

and

maintained the whole

 season.

•

1 acre, 4 ft.

depth

pond-

4 sacks or packs

×

50 

lbs 

of 

NaCl= 

11 

ppm

chloride

•

Above 

3 ppm Nitrite- more salt is

needed.

Alkalinity 

and

Hardness

•

Total alkalinity 

– indicates quantity 

of 

base 

present 

in 

the

water-bicarbonates, carbonates, phosphates, 

and

hydroxides.

•

Hardness

- overall concentration 

of 

divalent salts 

present

(calcium, magnesium, and iron) but 

doesn’t 

identify 

which 

of

these elements 

are source 

of

hardness

•

pH

- 

determination of 

whether water 

is 

acid, neutral, or

base.

•

alkalinity

- ability 

to 

resist 

large changes 

in pH (or

buffering)

•

Ca and 

Mg

- 

most common sources of water

hardness

Alkalinity

20 mg/ L of 

total 

alkalinity- lower 

than this, 

pH

swings 

from

6-10.

50-150 mg/L- suggested range of total alkalinity

concentrations.

Hardness

50-150 mg/L- suggested range of calcium 

hardness

concentrations

Why

Calcium?

•

Calcium 

hardness

- 

is 

critical 

component 

of 

water

hardness.

•

Calcium 

(Ca) 

– 

essential 

in 

biological 

processes 

of

aquatic 

animals; molting 

process, 

affects 

the

hardening 

of newly 

formed

shell.



If all is 

well, 

prawns 

will 

stay 

on 

the 

bottom 

of 

the

pond.

Increasing 

Alkalinity 

and 

Hardness 

in

Ponds

Water

Salinity

•

the normal 

condition of salinity 

is between 15 

ppt 

to

25

ppt.

DAYS

Temperature

•

25°C- 32°C 

– 

optimum 

temperature range for

prawns

•

˂ 

19

°C 

and 

above 

34°C 

– 

survival 

is

shortened

•

13°C 

– 

death occurs

quickly

DAYS

Prawn

Feed

Nutrient

Requirement

•

Formulated

diet

•

Nutrient 

requirement 

of the 

formulated

diet

Characteristics 

of a Good 

Prawn

Diet



Provides 

essential nutrients 

in 

amounts 

specified in

formulated

diet.



Supplied 

in 

suitable combinations 

of

ingredients.



Adequate 

in 

feed

attractant.



Contains 

essential

palatability.



Could 

digest 

and 

absorb 

the 

feed

nutrients.



Has 

rich 

sources 

of amino acids, 

vitamins 

and 

minerals, 

sufficient

calcium.



Doesn’t 

easily 

dissolve in 

water, 

could 

last 

for 

12 

hours without

changing 

its

shape.



Does 

not 

contaminate 

the 

water

quality.

Feed 

Quality

Control

•

Nutritional quality and the cost for different

feed 

ingredients vary

with wide

ranges.

•

That 

is why it 

is 

necessary to analyze 

continuously

the

•

quality of the 

feed 

produced and 

feed 

ingredient 

level

to  

be used

to assure 

that they correspond 

to the  specification necessary in

the 

feed

formulations.

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and 

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Supplements

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.

Types 

of 

Prawn

Feed

•

Natural 

food

- 

Lab- 

lab, and other planktonic

organisms

.

•

Wet food 

such as 

trash fish, 

mussel meal etc., traditionally 

fed

to

growing

prawns.

•

Artificial feeds 

are available for 

growth, 

and tested

under

laboratory and pond

conditions.

Why 

does 

Wet Foods are 

not used 

as  

full

diet?



Water 

quality is affected 

and cause 

unhealthy

environment.



Survival rate is

unpredictable.



Feed’s 

quality is inconsistent 

and 

is 

often 

nutritionally

limited.



Their 

price 

fluctuates because their 

supply 

is highly

variable.

Advantages 

of 

Feed

Pellets



Sufficient 

and 

well- 

balanced 

additives 

vitamins, 

amino 

acids,

minerals, 

and 

trace 

elements 

for 

the 

nutritional

requirements.



Water 

quality 

is 

easily

maintained.



Ability 

to 

hold 

its 

shape 

in 

water 

for 

at 

least 

12

hours.



Can 

be 

made 

into 

different 

sizes, 

as 

small 

pellets 

for 

smaller

prawns 

and 

big 

pellets 

for 

bigger

prawns.



Pelletized 

feed 

are 

extremely 

stable 

and 

can 

be 

stored 

for 

a

long 

period 

of

time.

Prawn

Harvest

Methods 

of 

Harvesting

Prawn

Traditional 

method

- 

commonly 

applied by 

extensive,

semi- 

extensive, 

and 

intensive 

system 

of 

culture 

in the

Philippines

•

partial 

harvest

- 

it is not necessary 

to drain 

the 

pond

water 

if the 

quantity 

is 

small; 

the 

harvest 

procedure 

is

simply 

throw over 

the 

cast net 

on the 

pond

surface

•

total 

harvest- 

following 

steps 

are 

followed 

by

semi-

intensive 

and 

intensive

culture:

1.

Reduce 

the 

water 

depth 

to 

80 cm 

one 

day before 

the

harvest

date.

2.

Harvest 

net 

is properly 

attached 

and 

installed 

into 

the

water 

gate 

of 

the 

drain

canal.

3.

Remaining 

prawns 

left 

at 

the 

pond 

bottom 

can 

be

harvested 

manually 

by 

hand picking 

them

up.

4.

Prepare two 

tanks 

half- filled with 

water, 

one 

tank 

is 

for

washing 

and the 

other 

is 

for 

chilling 

the

prawns.

5.

After 

washing 

the 

prawns 

it 

must 

be

transferred 

immediately 

to 

the 

chilling

tank.

6.

From 

the 

chilling 

tank, 

prawns 

are

transferred

to 

the 

sorting

table 

to 

classify 

them 

according

to

size.

7.

Classified 

prawns 

are 

packed 

in 

styropor

boxes

with 

alternate layers 

of 

ice 

and 

prawns 

to

preserve 

temporarily 

for

transportation.

Note: 

To 

avoid 

soft shell, the 

harvest 

time 

must 

be within 4

hours 

only. 

One 

day 

before 

harvest, 

check the 

prawn 

by 

using

cast 

net 

if 

soft- shell 

is 

plenty, 

delay 

the 

harvest 

date 

3-5 

days

to 

assure 

better

quality.

Electric 

shocker 

method

- 

is 

commonly used 

in 

Taiwan 

and Japan

especially 

for prawn 

harvest. 

It is 

composed 

of 

metal wire 

frame 

and

drag- net 

battery 

and 

transformer. 

Installed 

in the 

frame 

are 

brass 

wires

or 

rods 

composed 

of 

positive 

and 

negative 

electrodes 

installed

alternately, 

the wiring is 

insulated against

water.

Diseases 

and 

Control

Measures

REFERENCES

ᴥ 

Prawn Culture Scientific 

and 

Practical 

Approach

,

Dr.

Chen Kong 

Jung 

and 

Engr. 

William 

G. 

Co, 

Westpoint

Aquaculture

Corporation,1988.

ᴥ

Kentucky 

State 

University Prawn Production 

Manual

,

Robert 

M. 

Durborow, 

Ph.D., Sid 

Dasgupta, 

Ph.D., William A.

Wurts 

Ph.D., Forest 

Wynne, Leigh 

anne 

Bright, and Aaron

VanArnum., 

Kentucky 

State University 

Aquaculture Program,

2002.

ᴥ

Fisheries 

and 

Agriculture 

Organization Manual

,

2006.