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A 60‐d growth trial was conducted with the black tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon (ca. 0.8 g juveniles) at CIFE Rohtak Centre to evaluate the effects of salinity and Na+/K+ ratio of inland saline water on shrimp growth, survival, and osmoregulation. Three different salinities (5, 10, and 15 ppt) and five different Na+/K+ ratios (25:1, 45:1, 65:1, 85:1, and 27.9:1), for a total of 15 treatments were prepared by ionic manipulation. The medium with Na+/K+ ratio 27.9 was reconstituted seawater and was used as the reference treatment. At the end of the 60‐d trial both salinity and Na+/K+ ratio significantly influenced the survival and growth of shrimp in inland saline water (P < 0.05). Final mean individual weight, weight gain (%) (WG [%]) increased with decreasing Na+/K+ ratios. Survival rates were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for Na+/K+ ratio 45 and 27.9 at salinities 10 and 15 ppt, respectively. Minimum growth and survival (0–24%) were observed in mediums with Na+/K+ ratio 85 at all salinities. Serum osmolality and osmoregulatory capacity were similar across all treatments at identical salinities except for sodium to potassium ratio (Na+/K+) 85. The serum sodium and potassium levels did not show any significant difference (P > 0.05) for mediums with Na+/K+ ratio 25, 45, 65, and 27.9 at all salinities. Significantly different (P < 0.05) serum sodium levels were observed in mediums with Na+/K+ ratio 85 at all salinities at the end of the trial. The serum potassium levels were significantly low in treatments with Na+/K+ ratio 85. There was no significant difference in the serum magnesium levels between treatments and the serum calcium levels were significantly lower for shrimp reared in the reference mediums. Results of this study confirm that P. monodon can be successfully cultured in low salinity waters with Na+/K+ ratio ranging between 25 and 45:1.

A 60‐day feeding trial was conducted to illustrate the effect of dietary protein levels on the growth and physio‐metabolic responses of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei reared in inland saline water (ISW). Six isoenergetic (15 MJ/kg) and isolipidic (60 g/kg) diets with graded level of crude protein viz., 240 (T240), 260 (T260), 280 (T280), 300 (T300), 320 (T320) and 340 (T340) g/kg diet were formulated. Significantly higher (p < .05) weight gain (%), specific growth rate, with lower food conversion ratio were found in T320 and T340 groups. The protein utilizing efficiency and whole‐body protein content were significantly higher (p < .05) in the T320 group. Trypsin activity increased with the increasing dietary CP level but amylase activity decreased with the increasing dietary CP level. Transaminase enzymes, haemolymph protein and haemocyanin were elevated in T320 and T340 groups. The lactate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase activities were significantly higher (p < .05) in the T240 group. Shrimp of T240 group had the lowest (p < .05) glycogen and total haemocyte count with highest (p < .05) haemolymph glucose and antioxidant enzymes activities than the other groups. Based on the results, feeding 320 g CP/kg is found to be optimum for supporting maximum growth and health status of L. vannamei reared in ISW at 8 g/L salinity. The finding of the present study will help in developing a low‐cost feed for L. vannamei reared in ISW.

Survival and growth of tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) at three salinity levels, 5, 10 and 15 g/L were investigated in potassium deficient natural inland saline water (PD-ISW) and potassium supplemented inland saline water (PS-ISW). Shrimps reared in PS-ISW survived well, whereas total mortality occurred in PD-ISW. The survival at 45 and 60 days at the salinities of 5, 10 and 15 g/L was assessed in PS-ISW. The supplementation of potassium showed significant effect on the survival rates at different salinities. Length-weight studies at different salinities and periods of time in PS-ISW showed significant differences in the linear component, but there was no significant difference in respect to interaction of salinity and rearing periods in a two-way ANOVA repeated measures. Growth parameters indicated that a salinity of 10 g/L was best for the survival and growth of shrimps in inland saline water of the site with potassium supplementation. Individual cations and ratios between other cations were found to be equally important for survival and growth. The results of the present study will be useful in utilizing degraded ISW sites for the culture of tiger shrimp.