ABSTRACT

The giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergi, de Man, is an economically important crustacean species belonging to the family Palaemonidae. It is found in freshwater and brackish water of tropical and subtropical areas. It generally becomes reproductively mature within 5 months. Mature males and females are able to mate throughout the year. Mating occurs after the female experiences a prematingmolt. The male deposits spermatophores on the medial surface between the pereiopods (walking legs) of the female. Eggs are normally spawned at night within 24 h after mating. Hatching commences about 19 days after spawning.