Reproductive quality of male Penaeus monodon

Abstract

The reproductive performance of unilaterally eyestalk-ablated wild male Penaeus monodon was compared with that of unablated prawns (controls). After being stocked for 6 weeks in flow-through tanks, ablated males showed significantly higher sperm count (153.6 × 10⁶ vs.77.5 × 10⁶), less abnormal sperm (45.5% vs 73.3%), larger sperm head diameter (6.682 μm vs. 5.568 μm) and longer spike (5.096 μm vs. 4.360 μm) compared to unablated ones. Gonad index, spermatophore weight and percentage of live sperm were not significantly different between ablated and unablated males. No apparent decline in reproductive capacity was detected when comparing unablated prawns at the start of the study and after 6 weeks.