Abstract.Macrobrachium rosenbergii(de Man) post‐larvae were packed in plastic bags at packing densities of 100, 200 and 300 post‐larvae/bag and netting material was folded into the bag to study the effect of habitat materials. Packing density of 300/1 showed significantly better survival (P<0·05) than 100/1 after a 12‐h period. However, after 24h and 36h. packing density of 100/1 was significantly higher (P<0·05) than that of 300/1. Use of habitat material had some effects of reducing cannabalism and increasing survival of post‐larvae. The water quality parameters—temperature, dissolved oxygen, ammonia‐N, dissolved carbon dioxide and pH ‐were determined at 0h for control bags only and for all bags after 36