Polyculture of milkfish (Chanos chanos) and tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon Fab.) with and without supplemental feeding

Abstract

Twelve 1,000 m² earthen ponds were used to compare the growth rates, survival and production of milkfish (Chanos chanos) and prawn (Penaeus monodon) in monoculture and polyculture systems in shallow brackishwater ponds and without supplemental feeding. The low production and survival rates obtained were attributed to the lack of natural food; the high salinity during the first month of culture could be one of the causes of the high mortality of prawn observed in both mono and polyculture systems. Although the results of the trial were not ecouraging, it is possible that high yields may be obtained from the combination of the 2 species given enough natural food and favourable water conditions.