Kenapa Udang Galah Salin Kulit??

Setiap binatang yang bercengkerang seperti ketam atau udang akan bersalin kulit untuk membesar. Oleh itu udang galah, khususnya akan bersalin kulit banyak kali untuk mencapai saiz yang besar seperti 100 gram atau lebih. Tetapi , apabila udang bersalin kulit ia mempunyai kelemahan. Udang bersalin kulit tidak boleh mencari makanan, lemah kerana badan yang terlalu lembik serta boleh menjadi makanan kepada udang galah yang lain (udang galah bersifat kannibalisme). Pada masa ini selalunya ia akan mencari tempat perlindungan yang keras dan tersorok sehingga kulit kembali keras. Tempoh masa untuk kulit kembali keras adalah sesuatu yang subjektif tetapi pengerasan kulit memerlukan beberapa mineral penting seperti kalsium dan magnesium.

Kedua-dua mineral ini boleh didapati secara semulajadi tetapi memakan masa lama untuk mengeraskan kulit udang, kecuali jika sumber air anda dari bukit batu kapur seperti di bahagian utara Malaysia (batu kapur adalah sumber asli kalsium). Oleh itu penggunaan kapur amat penting untuk mengeraskan kulit udang secepat mungkin. Baiklah, ada beberapa jenis kapur yang wajib diketahui namun di dalam blog ini saya hanya akan terangkan kapur untuk pengerasan kulit udang iaitu kapur sejuk atau calcium carbonate.

Calcium Carbonate adalah kapur yang dikhaskan untuk mengeraskan kulit udang. Kapur ini tidak akan menjejaskan kualiti air seperti kenaikan pH mendadak tetapi menambahkan alkaliniti dan kandungan kalsium serta magnesium di dalam kolam. Oleh itu, harus diingati penggunaan kapur sejuk dan tempat berlindung untuk udang galah adalah penting jika ia sedang salin kulit.

Status Report On Fibre Tank Udang Galah Growout

As of today, we have found a conclusion on our way of udang galah growout in fibre tank. But please be reminded that is it not a conclusion of udang galah growout in fibre tank, only our way of doing it. at least it will give some info to you all and also some improvement on our side.

Observation:
1) Ammonia level too high, feed leftover too many at the tank bottom
2) Udang galah growth rate is superbly slow
3) Poor health condition observed on their shell, very black color. This is due to the dirt, toxic and waste grow on their shell day to day
4) Some of the udang galah is stuck at the tank wall and died.
5) Tank with the sand and clay at the bottom shows more survival than the one without
6) Comparison with the ones from the pond, which comes from the same batch and released the same day show a vast difference in size and health (refer picture)
7) Immediately after the one from the tank is put into cold freshwater, it molts (salin kulit). This shows that the udang galah is not very comfortable with its own dirty shell (refer picture)

Improvement:
1) Need a water flowing system for freshwater to flow daily
2) Need a good filtering system to filter the waste at the bottom
3) Lime and fertilizer must be applied frequently
4) Feeding must be observed carefully, cannot have too much waste.

Conclusion:
1) Udang galah still can survive in the dirtiest water possible but only the strong will live longer.
2) Many improvements needed to ensure success in fibre tank growout
3) Key point is ammonia level; control item is feeding, filtering, fresh flowing water and fertilizer
4) Tank bottom needed to put sand or sand and clay to absorb some ammonia and waste.
5) Maybe something need to be done to improve the udang growth inside the tank, becausethe only depends on the feeding we give and lacks natural food. Maybe some experts in fibre tank aquaculture can advise some special fertilizer or safe chemical to boost their growth.

NOTE: Udang galah observed is 3 weeks old
Anyway, will keep you posted on any progress


Red arrow: Udang from pond
Yellow arrow: Udang from tank


Red arrow: Newly molt udang from tank
Yellow arrow: Old shell, notice the black color on the shell due to dirty substances

Our news on Sinar Harian and Utusan Malaysia!!

Today 16 March 2009, we have seen our faces and news on the previous exco visits in two newspapers which is Sinar Harian and Utusan Malaysia. Yes, we are now famous, hehe. But it covers Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and maybe Johor. However, many people noticed us at least here in Ulu Bendul. Our salesman Mr Radzi's handphone never stops ringing from people who are asking about the training and all udang galah related questions. Finally, TrueAqua is more and more recognized. Here are some photos to share.

The Biggest Event In TrueAqua History!!

Last Thursday 12th March 2009, we had the biggest event involving the government exco and also the press. This event is big, we had to prepare earlier including some proposal paper, bulletin, presentations, udang galah BBQ events, catering and also harvest during the visit.

The main man here is:
Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bertindak Pertanian, Industri Asas Tani, Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi Negeri Sembilan - Datuk Yunus Rahmat

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bertindak Pembangunan Modal Insan, Belia dan Sukan Negeri Sembilan - Abdul Samad Ibrahim

Pengarah Jabatan Perikanan Negeri Sembilan - Wan Muhammad Aznan Abdullah

Pengarah Jabatan Pertanian Negeri Sembilan - Zabidi Dun

Other than that, few members of the said department, Agro Bank, TEKUN members, MARDI officers, Jabatan Veterinar Negeri Sembilan officers and also press from Sinar Harian and Utusan Malaysia. A total of 36+ people visit our farm at the same time.

OK, here's the itinerary for that day:
1) Introduction by Jabatan Perikanan
2) Doa by local Imam/ Head of Kg Ulu Bendul
3) Intro and presentation by TrueAqua (En Fadzil bin Zainun - JAY)
4) Intro by Pengarah Jabatan Perikanan
5) Harvest by TrueAqua
6) Press Conference
7) BBQ and lunch
8) Photography Session

Here are some photos to share the event:


Jabatan Perikanan officer En Amran giving the introduction.



Presentation by TrueAqua rep - Mr A.Fadzil aka Jay






Harvest time!! This is the most awaited events!!


Press Conference by Sinar Harian and Utusan Malaysia - unfortunately it only covers state news segment, not national segment



BBQ event!!! 10kgs of fresh udang galah!!!



Special gifts for the excos - live udang galah!!!


Group photo - All the excos, directors, managers with TrueAqua


Alhamdulillah!! After a long day and sleepless night, finally we are all happy and able to have our lunch but without the BBQ prawns!! Dah kena sebat awal2 beb!!! Laku giler!!

As a conclusion, all visitors were very impressed with us and admits that udang galah business is very promising. Datuk Yunus Rahmat especially, is amazed by us the 4 graduates who pursue our dreams into this business which is totally unparallel with our academic background. Hopefully, with this kind of exposure, with bring us more opportunity to work with the government, universities and private bodies. Also, more exposure (due to the press) means more business. Amin

Delivery System

Udang Galah is a very sensitive creature when it comes to water quality. This includes oxygen, temperature and also pH. To transport live prawns from the farm to another destination of about 2-3 hours journey requires a handful of knowledge and patience if you dont want your prawns to arrive dead. We in TrueAqua have encounter many customers ranging from amateur to of 10 years experience in handling. The difference is too big and therefore we want to share a few tips for you out there who wants to do delivery of udang galah.

1) To carry 100kg or more udang galah you should use a pick up or a lorry or a van.
2) You should have a fibre tank with lid custom made for the delivery
3) DC blower which can be tapped from the vehicle's battery to supply air
4) Aeration system inside the fibre tank
5) Temperature indicator at the dash board - ideal temp is 13 degrees celcius
6) Loads of ice

To increase the area inside the tank and reduce stress, sometimes people used basket to create multiple levels for ther shrimp to sit. The shrimp will be in 'hibernate' mode when inside a very cold water and will not be active and aggresive, so less mortality is expected. Usually the soft shell will die so try to avoid to buy them in this situation. Maybe some pics below should help people to understand more on the delivery system.

200 grams Udang Galah

With the recent fatality of our 300 grams udang galah, we have found the replacement but a bit smaller. However, this is the biggest orange claw udang galah that we have grow in our pond. If u look at the scale it is 200 gram.

Life and Death of Bobo & Si Cecep

Last week our mascott, Bobo and his handicapped friend, Si Cecep died in our stocking pond due to water pollution that goes straight into our stocking pond. There's an excavation activity going on which leads to a mud contaminated water coming to our water supply that kills both giant prawns. Bobo and Si Cecep is our mascott during our training. They are around 350grams and the biggest prawns we ever grow in 5 months only. Sadly they died and we have to cook it and eat, hehehe. By the way, Si Cecep is named because its blue claw does not have any claws, only the arms...



Bobo - with blue claw


Si Cecep - no blue claw