Seed and Grow-out Production of Freshwater Prawn

Seed Production

Giant freshwater prawns live in freshwater environments but their larvae require brackishwater to survive. These  crustaceans are common in the tropical and sub-tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region and are reported to grow to a length of 255 mm. Based on breeding trials, they take more than a year and a half to mature.

Why culture freshwater prawn?

• Can be a good alternative to tilapia and tiger shrimp
• Can be polycultured with carp, tilapia, catfish, etc.
• Established market niche and high export potential
• Native to the Philippines and other Asian countries

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Seed and Grow-out Production of Big Head Carp

Seed Production

The bighead carp is a freshwater fish, one of several Asian carps. It has a large, scaleless head, a large mouth, and eyes located very low on the head. They are primarily filter-feeders that feed on zooplankton, phytoplankton, and detritus. Bighead carp are native to Eastern Asia and has been introduced to numerous countries worldwide due to its value as food.

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Mud Crab Culture and Production Business Guide

Mud crab fattening is a relatively new practice in the Philippines. The technology has been pioneered by the private sector, primarily to meet the demands of the domestic and foreign markets by culturing marketable crab in a short span of time. Mud crab fattening pertains to culturing mud crab from 15 days to 1 month so that they put on additional weight after moulting. Ovigorous females are highly prized for their bright red roe.

Fattening has also been resorted to by Filipino exporters to avoid confiscation of underweight mud crab, export of mud crab weighing less than 200 g being prohibited. However, due to limited baseline research studies in mud crab culture and fattening, practices vary widely in different parts of the country. Read more

Mud Crub Culture

Mud crabs, locally known as alimango, inhabit brackishwater and marine environments and prefer muddy and sandy bottoms. They dig deep burrows in mangroves and soft substrates in shallow or intertidal waters. Mud crab juveniles (crablets) are obtained from the wild and recently from the hatchery. Crablets are cultured for 4-5 months. Lean crabs are fattened for 30-45 days.

The four mud crab species are the following:

• Giant or king mud crab (Scylla serrata)
• Purple mud crab (Scylla traquebarica)
• Orange mud crab (Scylla olivacea)
• Green mud crab (Scyall paramamosain)

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The Basics of Pangasius Aquaculture – II

Food Source

Pangasius is an significant food fish and is farmed expansively in many parts of the world. It is one of the most important aquaculture species in Thailand, along with other farm-raised shark catfishes.

As stated earlier, it has caused much debate within the U.S., with legislation passed recently to prevent its imports from cutting into American farmed catfish sales. Prohibited to be labeled as “catfish” in the U.S., Pangasius is now labeled as “swai” (its Thai name), “sutchi catfish”, or “striped catfish”.

This fish is sometimes sold as the superior “basa”. Compared to the basa, this fish is thought to be inferior, as its meat is coarser and comes in thinner. Read more

The Basics of Pangasius Aquaculture – I

Pangasius is commonly called as river or silver stripped catfish, Siamese shark, sutchi catfish, or swai catfish. This fish species live in freshwater and endemic to the Mekong basin. It is a riverine catfish belonging to the members of the family Pangasidae. It exhibits fast growth when cultured given a good environment.

It was first introduced in the Philippines by BFAR in a research station in Tanay in 1981. Breeding trials commenced in 1985 and protocols for breeding and grow-out of the fish had been urbanized ever since. Since then, BFAR has dispersed brood stocks of Pangasius in Regions II and III.
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