Effects of age, size, and light intensity on spawning performance of pond-reared Penaeus merguiensis

The effects of prawn age, size, and light intensity on spawning performance of pond-reared Penaeus merguiensis were studied by inducing spawning of prawn broodstock by eyestalk ablation under two different light intensities (bright, 1100 lx and dim, 2 lx) at three different known ages (7, 10, and 13 months old). For each age group (except the 13-month-old group), two distinguished size classes (large and small) were established to reveal the effect of prawn size. Results showed that light intensity did not affect spawning performance of prawns of different ages and sizes (P>0.05). In contrast, age had a significant effect on spawning performance of prawns (P