The performance of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei fed commercial diets of differing protein content, in a super-intensive biofloc-dominated system

ABSTRACT

The effect of two commercial feeds of differing protein content, 35% or 40% (HI-35 and EXP), on Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, performance, and system water quality were investigated. Juvenile shrimp were reared in six 40 m³ indoor raceways containing biofloc-dominated water for 77 days. Performance of EXP-fed shrimp was superior for much of the trial. However, a Vibrio outbreak constrained final production. Final survival was significantly higher (P < .05) with HI-35 (93.1 ± 1.8%) than EXP (83.4 ± 1.6%). No problematic heavy metal accumulation was observed in culture water or shrimp tissue. Higher feed protein content increased nitrite and nitrate concentrations (maximum of 3.6 mg L⁻¹ NO₂-N and 401 mg L⁻¹ NO₃-N in EXP), and alkalinity consumption. Both feeds supported high growth rates (>2 g week⁻¹) and yields (7.79–8.21 kg m⁻³), demonstrating their suitability for shrimp culture in super-intensive, biofloc-dominated no exchange systems.

KEYWORDS:

• Protein
• biofloc
• pacific white shrimp
• vibrio

Acknowledgments

The NOAA, National Sea Grant (Grant # NA130AR4170199), Zeigler Bros. Inc. (Gardners, PA, USA), YSI Inc. (Yellow Springs, OH, USA), and Florida Organic Aquaculture (Fellsmere, FL, USA) for providing funding and/or materials. Two of the authors, C. L. Browdy and L. F. Castro are employees of Zeigler Bros. Inc.

Disclosure statement

Two of the authors, C. L. Browdy and L. F. Castro are employees of Zeigler Bros. Inc.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Florida Organic Aquaculture [Cash gift]; NOAA, National Sea Grant [NA130AR4170199]; Zeigler Bros. Inc. [Cash Gift]; and YSI Inc. [In kind donation].