GROWTH AND PRODUCTION OF BROWN AND WHITE SHRIMP (Penaeusaztecus and P. setiferus) FROM EXPERIMENTAL PONDS IN BRAZORIA AND ORANGE COUNTIES, TEXAS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Culture experiments with Penaeus aztecus and P . setiferus were conducted during 1969‐71 in 0.2 ha earthen ponds located in Brazoria and Orange Counties, Texas. Five experiments utilizing 32 individual pond stockings provided information on growth, production, survival, food conversion, and condition of shrimp in potentially commercial ponds. All ponds were stocked at densities of 50,000 or 75,000 juvenile shrimp per ha. Juveniles were taken from nearby estuaries. It was determined that P . setiferus was better suited for pond culture than P . aztecus . Condition of shrimp followed a consistent pattern in every experiment, declining noticeably for a short period after stocking then gradually improving to a level near that at stocking then again declining. It was concluded that the initial decline resulted from stress due to stocking; the gradual improvement which followed indicated recovery from stress and the later decline possibly represented the effect of deteriorating water quality.