Pond Management Tips for Healthy Prawns: A Guide for Growing a Strong Distribution Business

In the prawn distribution business, success doesn’t start at the market — it begins in the pond. After spending five years deeply involved with prawn farmers and distributors, one thing has become crystal clear: healthy prawns equal a healthy business.

Pond management is the foundation for growing strong, disease-free prawns that fetch top prices. Whether you’re running a large-scale operation or planning to scale up your prawn distribution network, getting pond management right is non-negotiable.

Here are essential tips to ensure your ponds produce the quality prawns your customers demand.

1. Water Quality: The Heartbeat of the Pond

Water isn’t just the environment prawns live in — it’s their entire world. Good water quality directly influences prawn growth, survival, and immunity.

Maintain Optimal pH Levels: Ideal pond pH should be between 7.5 and 8.5. Extreme pH levels stress prawns and make them vulnerable to diseases.
Monitor Dissolved Oxygen: Prawns need oxygen, especially at night. Use aerators if needed, and maintain oxygen levels above 5 ppm.
Regular Water Exchange: Freshwater flushes out toxins. Ideally, change 10–15% of pond water every week.

Pro Tip: Invest in basic water testing kits and monitor temperature, salinity, and ammonia levels every week. Prevention is cheaper than a pond full of dead stock.

2. Smart Stocking Strategies

Overstocking is one of the fastest ways to ruin water quality and increase disease risk.

Stock Juveniles, Not Post-Larvae: Distribute healthy juveniles that have a higher survival rate.
Density Matters: Recommended density is around 5–10 prawns per square meter for semi-intensive farming. Too many prawns = weak, slow-growing stock.

Example from the Field:
One of my clients tried doubling his pond density during a high-demand season. Initially, it seemed like a smart move. But three months later, water quality dropped, disease spread, and he lost 40% of his prawns — turning peak season into a financial nightmare. Lesson? Never chase short-term gains at the expense of water balance.

3. Feeding: Quality Over Quantity

Feeding is not just about growth; it’s about water health too. Overfeeding pollutes the pond and leads to diseases that can wipe out entire crops.

Feed Small Amounts Often, instead of one large meal, divide feedings 3–4 times a day.
Choose High-Quality Feed: Look for feed with a balanced mix of protein (at least 30%), vitamins, and minerals.
Observe Feeding Behavior: Reduce feeding if prawns stop eating actively — it’s often an early sign of stress or water problems.

Keep in mind: Profit is lost when feed is wasted.

4. Pond Preparation Between Crops

Between harvests, never skip proper pond cleaning. Think of it as hitting the reset button.

Drain and Dry the Pond: Sunlight kills harmful bacteria and parasites.
Apply lime: Agricultural lime helps balance pond pH and kills pathogens. Use about 200–300 kg/acre depending on soil condition.
Remove Mud and Sludge: Excess organic matter at the pond bottom can create toxic gases like hydrogen sulfide.

Step-by-Step Checklist for Pond Preparation:

Drain the pond completely.
Remove all visible sludge and debris.
Apply agricultural lime.
Sun-dry the pond bottom for at least 7–10 days
Refill with clean water gradually, adjusting pH and salinity as needed.

5. Health Checks and Biosecurity

Disease outbreaks not only destroy prawns but can also damage your business reputation.

Quarantine New Stock: Always isolate new prawns before introducing them to the pond
Routine Health Checks: Sample prawns every 7–10 days to check for signs of stress, discoloration, or irregular growth.
Control Visitors: Limit unnecessary entry to pond areas. Pathogens often arrive on boots, equipment, or even birds.

Recognizing Healthy Prawns:

Active swimming
Clear, shiny shells
Full digestive tracts visible through the body

Sick prawns may show signs like color change (redness or pale shells), slow movements, or surface-floating behavior.

6. Seasonal Pond Management: Adapting to Weather

In many parts of the world, seasonal changes greatly affect pond environments.

During Monsoon:

Increase monitoring for water runoff contamination.
Install drainage systems to prevent flooding.

During Summer:

Watch for higher water temperatures (>32°C)—can reduce oxygen levels.
Add shades or floating vegetation to cool ponds naturally.

Smart Tip:
Build small “emergency ponds” next to your main ponds. In case of sudden environmental crashes (like chemical spills or heavy rainfall), you can quickly transfer prawns to a safer place.

7. Technology in Pond Management

Modern technology has made pond monitoring easier than ever:

Automatic Feeders: Deliver feed at set intervals without overfeeding.
Water Sensors: Measure pH, temperature, oxygen, and salinity remotely.
Mobile Apps: Several apps now exist where farmers can log water conditions, feeding schedules, and growth tracking.

Example:
A farm I worked with installed a simple aerator connected to a smartphone app. The system would alert the farmer if oxygen dropped dangerously low at night, helping him avoid major losses during peak summer.

8. Environmental Responsibility: The New Business Standard

Today’s buyers — especially exporters — increasingly demand eco-responsible sourcing.

Practices That Boost Reputation:

Avoid antibiotics unless absolutely necessary.
Maintain buffer zones of natural vegetation around ponds.
Reduce water wastage by reusing partially treated water between ponds.

Bonus:
Environmentally sustainable farms often qualify for certifications (like ASC – Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification), opening doors to premium markets and international buyers.

9. Building Relationships with Farmers for Better Supply

If you’re involved in the distribution side, investing time in building strong ties with farmers is crucial.

Visit farms regularly: understand their practices.
Offer Support: Help them adopt better pond management techniques.
Reward Quality: Pay slightly better prices for healthier prawns — it motivates farmers to improve.

Trust builds reliable supply chains, ensuring you have consistent, high-quality prawns to offer buyers year-round.

Final Thoughts: Healthy Prawns, Healthy Profits

In the prawn distribution business, your reputation rides on the quality of the prawns you supply. Mastering pond management not only improves prawn survival and growth but also ensures a consistent supply — a major advantage in a competitive market.

As someone who has worked closely with farmers, buyers, and exporters, I can confidently say, invest in your ponds, and the ponds will invest back into your business.

Treat every pond like a factory producing your future profits — because, truly, that’s exactly what it is.

Pond Management