Site selection
Suitable site selection is prerequisite for successful prawn farming as entire management aspect of the farm ultimately depends on specific conditions of the site. The aspects to be considered for site selection are as follows:
Climatic conditions: Warm climate is the most important factor affecting prawn production. Tropical and sub-tropical climates are most suitable when the culture period is too long while warm temperate climate is suitable where culture period is short. Also other climatic conditions like rainfall, evaporation, sunlight, wind speed etc. also play a critical role
Topography of the location: The ideal site must be flat or gently sloped. Low-lying lands, waterlogged areas, salinity and alkalinity affected areas could be effectively used for construction of Scampi farms.
Soil quality: The soil texture must be sandy-clay loam or silt clay loam with at least 85% water retention capacity. The clay content in the soil should not exceed 60%. Acid sulphate soils should be avoided for freshwater prawn farming.
Water quality: The availability of quality and quantity of water is a critical factor and water should be free from pollution. The pH of water should be of 7.0 to 8.5. The water temperature should range from 18°C to 34°C. Dissolved oxygen content of water should be 3 to 7 ppm.