Last Updated on September 8, 2024 by Sara Rose
Have you ever wanted to know more about raising freshwater prawns in tanks? Well, you have come to the perfect place.
Raising prawns is not an easy task. You need to make sure you learn about the proper techniques before committing to doing it. Remember, the more you research before getting started, the fewer problems you will have in the future.
This article is a great place to start learning about raising freshwater prawns in tanks. We will overview all the important things you need to do before setting up your tank. This will include their diet, ideal tank conditions, growing time, and more.
Prawns are a popular addition to many diets around the world. They are also not very cheap things to buy. So why not try to raise them in your aquaponics system?
Not only will they give you a great meal, but their excretion can be used to fertilize your plants. It is a win-win situation.
Keep reading this article now to find out more information on raising freshwater prawns in tanks!
Table of Contents
Can You Eat Freshwater Prawns?
Freshwater prawns are a popular dish in many places in the meals! It is a very healthy source of protein. So, you can definitely eat them.
Learn more about: How To Raise Freshwater Shrimp?
This is one of the main reasons people choose to learn about raising freshwater prawns in tanks. You can get a free food source all year round!
Freshwater prawns are originally found in rivers, lakes, and streams. They are native to the Malaysia region. Usually, when you buy freshwater prawns today they came from large prawn farming operations.
Unfortunately, these farms often need to use a lot of chemicals to increase their production and earn more money. This makes buying prawns from commercial farms an unhealthy choice.
If you enjoy eating prawns, then the best option for you is by raising freshwater prawns in tanks. By doing this, you get to control exactly what goes into your prawn bodies.
Freshwater prawns are very big. Their nickname is Jumbo freshwater shrimp and giant freshwater prawn.
Not only are these prawns great to eat, but they do many great things for your fish tank. To start, you can raise freshwater prawns with other fish in a tank.
They are really good at cleaning your tank from any excess debris that may form. The prawns will eat old plant roots and various organic debris. This helps control the ammonia levels in your fish tank.
When ammonia gets too high, your fish are at risk of dying. So, prawns can play an important role in keeping your fish tank clean.
How Long Does It Take For Freshwater Prawns To Get Big?
Freshwater prawns usually live about three years. You can start harvesting and eating them 5 months in. Be sure to only harvest the larger shrimps at this point.
As the other shrimps grow, you can continue to harvest them. If your shrimp are breeding, you can create a continuous cycle that gives you prawns all year round. According to the University of Georgia, it takes about 3-5 months for freshwater prawns to grow.
The growth rate is always affected by the conditions in which the prawns are raised. If you feed them a balanced diet, they will grow better.
Another thing to consider about raising freshwater prawns in tanks is that they are tropical freshwater creatures. Since the tropics are hot, they need to be raised in heated water.
This is especially true if you are raising them in a cold climate. The best temperature range for freshwater prawns is between 78 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
As you may see, this is a pretty high temperature. You will need to use a water heater to get these temperatures if you live in a cold climate.
It is important to remember that you will need to raise freshwater prawns with other fish that have similar temperature requirements. Also, many warm-water species need to be raised in saltwater.
So make sure you pay attention to the other fish’s requirements to assess if they are compatible with raising prawns.
Since prawns are considered bottom feeders, you may not need to feed them any extra food. The food that all your other fish do not eat will sink to the bottom of the tank. This is when the prawn will feed on them.
It is not too difficult to learn about raising freshwater prawns in tanks. They are considered a relatively hardy species to raise. Also, they help keep your ecosystem clean and balanced.
There are many benefits to adding freshwater prawns to your tank. If you are nervous, start with a few prawns only and learn from there. The more success you have, the more confident you will be.
Feel free to comment and ask questions below. We are here to help!
Read more about: How Long Does It Take For Brine Shrimp To Hatch? All Your Answers Now!
FAQs
How big do freshwater prawns get?
A prawn will reach its full size within 3-5 months of growing. At this point, they can weigh 2 ounces and measure about 7 inches in length. As you can see, they are very big! This is why their nickname is jumbo freshwater prawn. It is very important to consider their full size when stocking your fish tank.
Are freshwater prawns good to eat?
Freshwater prawns are very delicious to eat. In fact, they are a popular dish in many cuisines around the world. They are native to asia. So it is common to find prawn dishes in asian countries. It is a great food source. This is one reason we recommend raising them in a fish tank.
How long does it take prawns to grow?
On average, it can take a freshwater prawn 3-5 months to reach their full size. However, they live up to 3 years old. So you can keep them in your tank and harvest whenever you want to eat them. Keep in mind that older prawns are usually less tasty than younger ones.
Are shrimp and prawns the same thing?
Shrimps and prawns are not the same thing. They are both crustacean aquatic animals. But they are different species and require slightly different conditions to raise.
