Increased weight of giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii by feed supplemented with Butea superba

Abstract

The administration of Butea superba in postlarvae Macrobrachium rosenbergii was conducted by B. superba mixing diet at the concentrations of 0, 0.05, 0.5 and 5% in 140 days of the experimental period revealed that all concentrations of B. superba mixed diet increased the weight and length of M . rosenbergii with no significant different in the first 4 weeks . On the contrary, the weight and length of M. rosenbergii reduced after that. At the end of the experiment, the weight, length, the size of the first abdominal segment and claw length of giant freshwater prawns were inhibited by the feed supplemented with and 5% B. superba. B. superba mixed diet did not increase the male ratio of theM. rosenbergii . All concentration of B. superba mixed diets decreased the ratio of male to female prawn. The number of ovigerous female was significantly decreased m concentration of 5% B. superba mixed diet. There were no significant different of survival rate among the treatments. The histological studies showed that the reproductive cells of mature M. rosenbergii were not affected B. superba concentration in the diet.