Angular Substrate Preference and Molting Behavior in the Giant River Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii and its Implications for Cannibalism Management

Abstract

The Giant River Prawn is an important commercial species from southeastern Asia andhas a large global market. Many arthropods require firm perches on which they undergo ecdysis. Weinvestigated preference for substrate slope and its influence on ecdysis. Prawns occupied horizontalsurfaces more than others, but they perched on high-sloped and vertical substrates to flex theirshell and molt. We recommend cannibalism management include sufficient vertical or high-slopedsurfaces to facilitate ecdysis, while providing much horizontal space for foraging. This shouldcreate separation between foraging and freshly-molted prawns, thus leading to reduced cannibalism-related mortality