alextret Posted January 25, 2006 Report Share Posted January 25, 2006 I noticed that Malaysian river prawns are gazetted as species that can be farmed in New Zealand Malaysian river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) http://www.fish.govt.nz/commercial/aqua ... index.html So why don't we keep them in aquariums? Or may be someone does? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted January 25, 2006 Report Share Posted January 25, 2006 Where are you from Alex..? Could you add your location to your profile. Makes things much easier for answering questions Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alextret Posted January 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2006 I'm in Palmerston North Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiuh Posted January 25, 2006 Report Share Posted January 25, 2006 i have been to one of a prawn farm somewhere up north. i cant remember the name of it. yes, it is malaysian prawn they cultured, they said they grow a lot faster than the native prawn found in new zealand. it was a good tour, showed us prawns culture from eggs to adulthood. even a restaurant with prawns dishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seahorsemad Posted January 25, 2006 Report Share Posted January 25, 2006 there is a prawn farm about 10 minutes north from taupo, very close to the Huka falls. It is a great tour as you get to see all the growing stages. Link below Cheers http://www.prawnpark.co.nz/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feelers Posted January 25, 2006 Report Share Posted January 25, 2006 Could these live happily in a tropical aquarium? Ie without eating the fish or being eaten themselves? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alextret Posted January 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2006 I could not find any evidence of people keeping them in fish tanks. There is a lot of literature on aquaculture, though. Theoretically, it should be possible to keep them. They are supposed to be quite hardy (as they live in dirty, low oxygen water in the wild). I suppose that when they change their shells, a big predatory fish could eat them. Also, I suspect that they would eat anything they can catch, but are not very good at catching fish. So (theoretically) should do ok with neons or similar fish (small enough not to eat them, and fast enough not to get eaten). They do eat each other, so probably one would not keep more than one per tank. Also, they can grow quite large, about a foot (I'm not sure if they would grow that large in a relatively small tank though). They have all sort of development stages, and can be bred in captivity (it appears that the conditions required are very well understood, because of the experience accumulated in aquaculture). Also, they feel fine (and, endeed, require) high temeratures, unlike native schrimp. But, I don't suppose people at Taupo would sell them live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiuh Posted January 26, 2006 Report Share Posted January 26, 2006 there is a prawn farm about 10 minutes north from taupo, very close to the Huka falls. It is a great tour as you get to see all the growing stages. Link below Cheers http://www.prawnpark.co.nz/ yup...thats the one i have been to. they are using geothermal ponds to heat up the pool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted January 26, 2006 Report Share Posted January 26, 2006 Could these live happily in a tropical aquarium? Ie without eating the fish or being eaten themselves? Yes can be kept happily in an aquarium. No, will eat anything they can catch. They're pretty good at fishing and will catch fish at night as well. I don't think the Taupo prawn farm sells live prawns. I heard they once did but have no idea how acurate the information was. On the last tour I was told they do not sell live prawns by the staff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.