Influence of Temperature, Salinity, pH and Light on Molting and Growth in the Indian White Prawn Penaeus indicus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Penaeidae) under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

The effects of temperature (26, 31, 32.5 and 35°C), salinity (5, 15, 25, 35 and 45 ppt), pH (7±0.2, 8±0.2 and 9±0.2) and light (24hL:00hD, t2hL:12hD and 24hD:00hL) on the molt cycle and growth of early juveniles of Indian white prawn Penaeus indicus were investigated independently under laboratory conditions. Temperature, salinity and pH significantly (P<0.01) influenced the molting and growth of the prawn. The influence by photoperiod was not significant (P>0.05). The optimal levels of temperature, salinity and pH, which gave the fast molt with highest growth increment in P. indicus were 31 °C, 15 ppt and pH 8±0.2, respectively. Outside the optimum level, more molting did not produce more growth. Extreme levels of temperature, salinity and pH affected feed intake and normal molting resulting in poor tissue growth.