Golden apple snail, cassave and maize as alternative feeds for the giant freshwaters prawn, Macrobrachium rosonbergii

Abstract

This study was done to show and to help the public especially to the inferior giant freshwater prawns' farmers about another low cost and easy to find alternative feed, a species known as golden apple snail. Maize and cassava also have been known as alternative feeds among prawn farmers, particularly contain lower protein value than the meat of golden apple snail. Golden apple snail was popular among paddy farmers despite of their ability to destroy and halted the growth of paddy plant. This phenomenal has lead to destruction and low income to the paddy farmers. Four treatments consists of shrimps, each of treatments were fed by raw golden apple snail, maize, cassava and also prawn pellet as control. The result show the specific growth rates of replicates in golden apple snail treatment was 1 % per day, much better than maize and cassava, respectively 0.81 and 0.83% per day. The growth of replicates fed with prawn pellet was the highest, due to its complete set of nutritions. Golden apple snail contain higher amount of protein than maize and cassava that vital for the growth of prawns. Each maize and cassava contains higher amount carbohydrates that important to provide energy for survival. These results suggest that raw golden apple snail meats may represent a commercial environmentally alternative feed, particularly in giant freshwater prawn culture.