Effects of eyestalk ablation on moulting and growth of penaeid prawn Metapenaeus dobsoni (de Man).

Penaeid prawns M. dobsoni of two different size ranges were ablated both unilaterally (UEA) and bilaterally (BEA) and subjected to individual study. The UEA prawns consumed almost the same amount of food as the control prawns in the size group, 35-40mm, but consumed about 57.8% more food than the control prawns in the larger size group, 48-53mm. Growth was estimated as length and weight changes and significant variation was observed. The moult rate and dry moult weight showed marked differences. Average intermoult period increases with second ablation. Dry weight of moult in every succeeding moult was found to decrease irrespective of the level of ablation. Unilateral eyestalk ablation resulted in increase in dry weight whereas bilateral eyestalk ablation reduced the dry weight of moult and this decrease in the rate increased after each subsequent moult. In the larger size group, values of protein efficiency ratio (PER) were almost same as that of the lower size group. The UEA prawns exhibited highest conversion efficiency. The production rate of UEA prawns was 84% more than that of the control whereas BEA prawns indicated negative production. The same trend followed for net growth efficiency also. The results suggest that unilateral eyestalk ablation can be resorted to accelerate growth and conversion efficiency. Eyestalk ablation has been frequently resorted in matured forms for inducing maturation of gonads. For the first time attempts have been made to compare between the effects of removing one eyestalk versus two and changes taking place in juvenile forms especially in their physiology related to growth.