Survival Rate and Growth of Palaemon gravieri Larvae Reared in the Laboratory (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae)

The larvae of Palaemon gravieri were reared in the laboratory at three different temperature regimes ($15^{\circ}C,\;20^{\circ}C,\;and\;25^{\circ}C$) with the salinity ranges (28-32 psu) to understand how temperature and body size influence survival rate, and growth components (molt increment and intermolt period). The optimum temperature for the highest survival rate was $25^{\circ}C$. The intermolt periods consistently increased with an increase in size and instar number; however, the molt increments at successive instars generally decreased with an increase in size and instar number. The shortest intermolt period and the highest larval growth rate both occurred at $25^{\circ}C$. Thus, the optimum temperature for larval survival and growth rate was found to be $25^{\circ}C$ which was the temperature at which the larvae actually appear in nature.