Freshwater Prawns in Georgia

Gary J. Burtle
Animal & Dairy Science
The University of Georgia

Freshwater Prawns
Machrobrachium
rosenbergii
An exotic shrimp from
Malaysia
Tropical
Lives in freshwater for
part of its life-cycle

U. S. Prawn Culture

Of interest for over 25 years.

Limited by the availability of seed stock.
Cultured in Texas, Kentucky, Mississippi,
South Carolina, recently in Georgia.
Average production 500 to 800 pounds per
acre.
Maximum production about 2,500 lb/A with
structure and higher stocking densities.

Reasons for Caution when

Considering Prawn Production
More difficult to raise than catfish
High prices are a temporary effect of a
niche market
Product quality is unique to freshwater
prawns
Tail is only 40% of total weight
Juveniles are very expensive

Prawn Production in Ponds

Prepare pond for stocking (early April in Georgia)

Stock 10,000 to 30,000 juveniles per acre
Fertilize for first 30 days
Feed a sinking feed during months 2-4
Monitor and control oxygen and pH
Use narrow ponds less than 2 acres in size
Harvest before water falls below 60 degrees

Preparing Ponds for Stocking

Prawns

Drain, dry, disinfect

Fill quickly within 14 days of stocking
Fill with filtered pond water if possible
When using well water, be certain of zooplankton
abundance before stocking
Stock grass carp for weed control (20 or more per
acre)
Install structure (horizontal is better than vertical
placement)

Prawn Pond with Structure

Proper Sized Juvenile Prawns

60 day old, 95/oz
28-35 day old, 250 to
280 per oz
Uniform size very
important
Careful handling and
stocking are essential to
juvenile survival
Avoid overcrowding

Feeding Prawns

Start with cottonseed meal and N-P-K

Use sinking catfish feed for 500 to 800 lb/A
Use shrimp diet for possibly higher yields
Monitor zooplankton with net during first
month
Feed over entire pond area
Estimate feed rate based on prawn samples

Water Quality in Prawn Ponds

Aerate continuously.
Keep oxygen above 3.0 ppm.
Monitor pH twice each day.
Flush with water to keep below 9.0.
Possibly add gypsum to lower pH (1,000 to
2,000 pounds per acre added as needed).
Keep water deeper than 3 ft to prevent
wading bird predation.

Prawn Harvesting

Harvest Procedure
Seine most of prawns with water at 1/2
depth
Use 1/2 inch mesh seine, grade with bar
grader (63/64 inch spacing)
Consider partial harvest one month before
end of season
Final harvest requires pond draining

Prawn Marketing
Entirely up the the individual producer
Local sales of fresh prawn limits the volume
of the market in Georgia
Rural locations will usually get lower prices
than urban areas
Entire harvest must be sold within a few days
Removing heads constitutes processing

Economic Sketch
Breakeven at 1,000 lb/A is about $5.00 per
pound
Juveniles cost $1,500 to $3,000 per acre
Feed costs $300 to $550 per acre
Aeration costs $200 to $400 per acre
Labor cost $800 to $1,200 per acre
Variable cost total$2,800 to $5,100 per acre