Effects of Artificial Substrate and Water Source on Growth of Juvenile Pacific White Shrimp, <i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i>

Abstract

Commercial shrimp farmers must continually assess strategies to reduce operating costs and increase production in an effort to maximize profitability. One common approach is to promote natural productivity in the culture system to provide supplemental food resources for the target species. Anderson et al. (1987) reported that 53‐77% of the growth of juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, raised in earthen ponds was because of the assimilation of in situ natural pond biota. Epp et al. (2002) estimated that as much as 31% of the nitrogen requirements of L. vannamei were obtained from natural production. Bianchi et al. (1990) reported that 70‐80% of the weight gain of L. vannamei reared under laboratory conditions was attributed to the consumption of bacterial floc. Additionally, several studies conducted at the Oceanic Institute (OI, Waimanalo, HI, USA) have shown that growth rates of juvenile L. vannamei reared under intensive culture conditions were significantly enhanced when shrimp were grown in organically rich pondwater versus clear