LAUSR

The Macrobrachium macrobrachion freshwater prawn is an important source of both protein and income for people living along the waterways of Benin. This study is conducted to determine the best salinity and temperature values for the survival and growth of M. macrobrachion larvae bred in captivity. For that purpose, two experiments have been carried out. The first one was about the impacts of salinity and the second one about those of temperature on survival and early development of the larvae. Salinities of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 ppt in a first trial and of 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 ppt in a second trial were tested on 1-day-old larvae (zoea I) for 120 h. As far as temperature is concerned, temperature values of 26, 28, 30, and 32 °C were tested for 120 h on zoea I larvae. The loading density of the larvae was 40 larvae/L. The results show that the highest survival (52.6%) and highest growth (81.4% for zoea III) were obtained with a salinity of 18 ppt. The estimated lower and upper mean effective salinities (EC50) for M. macrobrachion larvae were 17.87 and 18.35 ppt (≥ 50% survival), respectively. With regard to temperature, the best larvae survival (55%) and growth (70.52% zoea III) were obtained at 28 °C. Temperatures between 27.7 and 28.8 °C and salinity between 17.87 and 18.35 ppt are most favorable to the survival and growth of M. macrobrachion larvae in rearing.