A brief account is given of experiments undertaken rearing Penaeus monodon larvae fed on diatom (Chaetoceros calcitran) and fermented vegetable trash, which included fruits and their peels, vegetables and rice. The possible use of high protein content trash materials as a feed substitute is examined briefly.

A method is described for culturing mussels (Mytilus smaragdinus) using ferro-cement buoys, which may be used in the construction of a raft house or a flotation system for nets and cages.

An evaluation was made of the effects of Chaetoceros species, bread yeast and their combination on the survival of Penaeus monodon larvae. In general it was found that feeding with a combination of the 2 resulted in higher larval survival rates.

A study was undertaken examining the effect of malachite green on the development and survival of the zoeae, mysis and post-larvae of Penaeus monodon. Sensitivity varied with the different larval stages; the zoeae appeared to be the least tolerant. The prophylactic potentials of malachite green in the control of Lagenidiumand Zoothamnium infesting P. monodon larvae are considered briefly. Toxicity risks may be reduced by application between ecdyses or by the removal of the dye by filtration through activated carbon.

The embryonic and larval development of hatchery-reared silver therapon Leiopotherapon plumbeus are described to provide essential information on the early life history of this species. Egg size, larval size at hatching, yolk resorption rate, onset of feeding and development of some morphological characters were examined. Fertilized eggs (430–610 µm in diameter) were spherical, yellowish, demersal and slightly adhesive. First cleavage occurred 6 min post-fertilization and embryos hatched 21–24 h post-fertilization under ambient temperature of 27.5 ± 0.1 °C. Newly hatched larvae [1.79 ± 0.04 mm in total length (TL)] with yolk volume of 0.579 ± 0.126 mm3 had no functional or pigmented eyes, mouth or digestive tract. The eyes became fully pigmented and mouth opened [31 and 36.5 hours post-hatching (hph)] shortly before yolk resorption at 39 hph and when larvae had grown to 2.65 ± 0.14 mm in TL. Some morphological characters such as total length, pre-anal length and eye diameter decreased following yolk resorption, which also coincided with the development of foraging capacities shortly before exogenous feeding was initiated. L. plumbeus larvae initiated exogenous feeding at 54 hph, indicating a short (15 h after yolk resorption) transitional feeding period. Larval growth at the early stages of development (54–72 hph) was rapid and steadily increased from 288 to 720 hph, when larvae, 12.05 ± 4.02 mm in TL, closely resembled the external characteristics of their adult conspecifics.

Diets containing Chaetoceros gracilis plus Artemia nauplii artificially prepared diet, Diet-B, and two commercial feeds Tapes and mysid meals, were fed to larvae of P. japonicus. Highest survival rate was obtained when larvae were fed with Diet-B. The results show that the early larval stages of P. japonicus can be reared on artificially prepared diets. Since the chemical composition of the diet is known, it can be used as supplemental data for larval feeding development and nutritional requirement studies for the early larval stages of Penaeus japonicus and/or other penaeids. Information is tabulated on feeds and feeding rates used, composition of the artificial diet, fatty acid composition of lipids of the different diets, and of the sterols of the different diets.

P. monodon postlarvae were fed with fresh brown mussel (Modiolus metcalfei) meat, and artificial diets containing casein, shrimp (Metapenaeus ensis) meal, squid (Loligo) meal, and Spirulina as protein sources at a rate of 20% of their biomass per day for a period of 10 days. No statistical difference was found among the weight gains of shrimp fed on various experimental diets. However, shrimp fed squid meal diet had highest weight gain followed by shrimp meal, fresh brown mussel meat, casein and Spirulina . Shrimp fed squid meal diet had a significantly better feed conversion and those receiving other experimental diets. Poorest fed conversion was observed in shrimp fed Spirulina. The protein efficiency ratio was statistically highest for the squid meal diet, with the lowest value again for Spirulina diets. Survival rate was significantly highest for shrimp fed the shrimp meal diet. No statistical differences were found among shrimp fed other experimental diets. Appropriate data are tabulated.

An illustrated description is given of the courtship and mating behaviour of P. monodon. Courtship and mating follow three distinct phases: (1) parallel swimming of male and female from the bottom to a height of 20-40 cm over distances of 50 to 80 cm; (2) male turns ventral side up to female; and (3) male turns perpendicular to female, arches body around the female and lifts head and tail. Mating is believed to take place generally at night, following moulting of the female. On the basis of thelycum structure and mating pattern, Penaeus may be divided into two groups: (1) those with a close thelycum in which mating follows moulting, such as P. merguiensis and P. monodon; and (2) those with open thelycum where mating takes place immediately preceding spawning, as in P. stylirostris and P. vannamei.

Although shrimp head meal alone does not provide for good growth and survival, fish meal can provide high survival rate. The addition of shrimp head improves this diet. It is suggested that cholesterol present in shrimp could have caused this difference. Composition of the test diets is tabulated, as are proximate chemical analysis of the diets, and the mean initial weights, final weights, weight gains, survival rate, feed consumed, protein consumed, of Penaeus monodon postlarvae, feed conversion and protein efficiency ratio.