Effect of different salinities on survival and growth of prawn, Palaemon elegans (Palaemonidae)

The LS5096 h of prawn, Palaemon elegans, was determined at various salinities (0–45 ppt) with the Caspian Sea salt proportion. In addition, growth indices, survival and moulting at salinities 8, 13 and 18 ppt were also studied during four weeks. All the experiments were carried out in the laboratory (24±1°C). The results showed that more than 50\% of the prawns survived at 1 to 30 ppt salinity range, while above and below this range, less than 50\% survived within 24 hours. No significant differences (*P  0.05) in growth parameters such as carapace length (CL) increase, specific growth rate (SGR) and also in survival and moulting rates were observed in prawns reared in salinities 8, 13 and 18 ppt. Mean intermoult period in each salinity was 8.12 ± 3.07, 8.61 ± 2.96 and 8.92 ± 3.47 days, respectively. Salinity 8–18 ppt was found to be the optimum range for P. elegans in the studied length range (CL, 6–9 mm).