Effect of dietary protein level on growth, survival and ammonia efflux rate of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) raised in a zero water exchange culture system

Abstract

Litopenaeus vannamei postlarvae (1.96±0.07 g) were reared in a zero water exchange system for 25 days at 28°C. They were fed four commercial diets containing 25%, 30%, 35% or 40% crude protein in three replicate aquaria per dietary treatment. Total ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH were monitored weekly and total ammonia levels were additionally measured every 3 days using the flow injection analysis method. Total ammonia efflux rates were measured at days 0, 14 and 21, and survival and growth rates were recorded at the end of the experiment. No significant differences between water quality parameters such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH were found. Nitrite concentration remained low in all dietary treatments up to the second week increasing considerably from day 14 onwards suggesting the initiation of the nitrification process. Water total ammonia of all experimental groups exhibited a gradual increase up to day 13; however, following this time ammonia levels of all experimental groups decreased, probably due to either the action of bacterial nitrification or ammonia‐N uptake by the animals. High ammonia efflux rates were recorded at day 14, especially after the first hour of immersion in the 25% protein group, but no significant changes occurred in any experimental group after 3 h. No significant differences in weight gain, final weight or survival of shrimp were observed under these experimental conditions. The importance of zero water exchange systems and their effects on the nitrogen metabolism of crustaceans are discussed.

Effect of salinity on performance and body composition of Pacific white shrimp juveniles reared in a super-intensive system

“…However, many studies indicate that salinity represents one of the major factors influencing the development of heterotrophic bacteria and the nitrification processes (Timmons et al, 2002). Moreover, these studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between salinity and the rates of TA-N excretion by penaeid shrimp (Gómez-Jiménez et al, 2005;Perez-Velazquez et al, 2008). The highest N-NO 2 -and N-NO 3 -concentrations were found at the highest salinity, suggesting a higher intensity of the nitrification processes.…”

Some Limiting Factors in Superintensive Production of Juvenile Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, in No‐water‐exchange, Biofloc‐dominated Systems

“…vannamei in biofloc systems as the dietary protein level increased from 25 to 30 to 35%, but no growth difference between 35 and 40% protein diets. Browdy et al () and Gómez‐Jimenez et al () reported no difference in L . vannamei PL performance when fed diets of differing protein levels, 30 and 45% in ponds and 25, 30, 35, and 40% in zero exchange aquaria, respectively.…”

Effects of dietary protein and water exchange on water quality, survival and growth of postlarvae and juvenile <i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i>

“…Decamp et al (2002) reported no differences between the growth performances of L. vannamei fed on 25% or 35% protein diet in unfiltered pond water. Weight gain and survival of L. vannamei were also not different when feeding commercial diets with 25%, 30%, 35% and 40% protein in a zero water exchange system (Gómez-Jiménez et al, 2005). Xu et al (2012a) found that the dietary protein level of L. vannamei juveniles could be reduced to 25% without affecting shrimp growth in a zero-water exchange biofloc-based system.…”

“…Xu et al (2012a) also reported that the protein level of diet for L. vannamei juveniles could be reduced to 25% without affecting shrimp growth in a zero-water exchange biofloc-based system. Additionally, differences in weight gain and survival of L. vannamei were not observed when feeding commercial diets with 25%, 30%, 35% and 40% protein in a zero-water exchange system (Gómez-Jiménez et al, 2005).…”