Macrobrachium rosenbergii

[Kin Corvida]

Just reserved 2 big Freshwater Prawns "Macrobrachium rosenbergii" from a supermarket near my office. Paid like SGD 4.30 for them. Cheapest pets ever...

Told a tall tale to the unhappy fish-lady over the counter that i wanted to cook them for presentation purposes (which i won't!) thus they had to have all their legs and claws and such, ha ha... They look pretty big, about a good 5 inches, not counting the extended claws.

Am in need of information before i go pick them up after work and zip home in a hurry so they don't die out on me. Like what's the best feed for them? Am thinking of frozen baby squid every other day...

And minimum tank size? I'll prob give one away to the bf, don't think 2 males would live well in the same tank. Hmm... Is there much difference in the sexes? Always wanted to see if i could breed prawns...


Kin

 

[Kin Corvida]

Pictures of my new pets... The ladies in the seafood section were more helpful this time, packing the little guys into my tub and asking how much water I'd need to keep them alive. They didn't struggle much and i popped them into my tank/pond after an hour or so's rest in a bucket.

They seem to like their new environment, soon sparring with each other over the best algae-encrusted spot to feed on. Much to the horror of the resident ghost shrimp at having unwanted cousins drop in unannounced... Ha ha ha...

Suddenly my tank feels so alive again...


Enjoy!
Kin


At arm's length...


The two in their travelling tupperware


Checking ya out...


Me having itchy fingers...

 

[cbfreder]

I've wanted to keep one of these for a while. Does anyone know a source for them in the US? How is their temperament?

Brandon

 

[mibbyblues]

There is a gentleman in Texas who runs a hatchery.
He doesn't raise them but he sells little babies. The problem is these will grow HUGE>>>>>>

I don't have that kind of space to spare....

I will ask my husband and see if he can remember the mans name.

 

[Kin Corvida]

I've wanted to keep one of these for a while. Does anyone know a source for them in the US? How is their temperament?

Brandon

Hi Brandon,

I'm not sure about a source for the prawns in the US but a good bet would be a Chinese supermarket in the live seafood section... Not kidding.

Temperament wise, i haven't really had the opportunity to observe them much but from what i have seen and what i've read, they like to dominate the tank. They will spar with each other in territorial disputes but i don't think they're that vicious i.e (ripping each other's arms off) as the opposing prawn has probably the same reach with those amazing claws. They have little feeding claws hidden underneath and only seem to use the long ones to fight or find their way around the tank.

Other large fish may be also on the receiving end of the pinchers but i've only got guppies and ghost shrimp, both which can zip away faster than the prawn can grab so they should be fine. Don't know if they'll be aggressive towards plecos either.

As for human contact, the claws shouldn't pose too much pain versus a lobster but i'm not going to try it either... It can be picked up by the main shell around the head but watch out, they can swing their long claws above that area so they may be able to reach you. I prefer to pick them up by the segment just before the tail (like in the pix) and they seem calmer (or resigned to their fate) just moving their swimmerettes around quickly, splashing water all over the place.

Hope it helps, will get to engage and find out more about them over the weekend...


Kin

 

[Pburstrom]

I've kept these guys before. Outrageously ravenous! i put them in a gar tank to clean up the dead feeders they started climbing the rocks jumping at my Huentas! They grow quick and will eat just about anything. Got my first one at an asian market. Very cool very aggressive. Don't keep with any bottom dwellers.

 

[kakojones]

how big do they get? they sound awesome.

 

[Veneer]

how big do they get? they sound awesome.

 

[dovii88]

nice pickup....really cool looking

 

[benzjamin13]

I caught a few of these in Thailand. They're delicious! It was at this restaurant where if you caught it from their little pond, they'll cook it for you for free. Anyways, I managed to save 2 and my cousin and I tried to raise 2 of them, but shortly after I left Thailand, they died. They weren't eating. What a waste!