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.
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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.