Supplementation of Chelated Magnesium to Diets of the Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, Reared in Low‐salinity Waters of West Alabama

Abstract

Shrimp farmers using inland low‐salinity waters in west Alabama have traditionally used agricultural fertilizers (K‐Mag®, muriate of potash) to raise pond water levels of potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) to improve the rearing medium for Litopenaeus vannamei. Laboratory and farm trials were performed to investigate the potential of using dietary supplementation of Mg instead of costly agricultural fertilizers. A 5‐wk laboratory trial was devised to test four diets with varying levels of Mg supplementation (0, 0.15, 0.30, and 0.60% Mg chelate) using a magnesium chelate (MgC)–amino acid complex. Juvenile shrimp were stocked into artificial low‐salinity water (5 ppt) designed to contain low levels of Mg. A farm trial was also conducted to test the same diets under field conditions. Although both laboratory and on‐farm trials revealed a trend for increased growth using the diet with the highest Mg supplement, results were not significantly different. The use of magnesium chelates as dietary supplements at levels higher than the requirement level to enhance survival, growth, and osmoregulatory capacity of shrimp reared in inland low‐salinity well waters appeared to have limited potential. Until effective specialized diet formulations are produced, farmers should continue to supplement pond waters with fertilizers containing K and Mg.

Shrimp culture in inland low salinity waters

“…2007). Improved growth and survival were not observed in L. vannamei fed a diet supplemented with chelated magnesium in laboratory and farm studies in west Alabama (Roy et al. 2009b).…”

“…2004, 2006b; Ur‐Rahman et al. 2005; Prangnell & Fotedar 2006; Roy 2006; Roy et al. 2006, 2009a,b,c; Araneda et al.…”

Astaxanthin krill oil enhances the growth performance and fatty acid composition of the Pacific whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei , reared under hypersaline conditions

“…Despite the ability to adapt to a wide range of salinity, hypo‐ and hyperosmoregulation lead to greater stress and energy intake often resulting in adverse effects to shrimp survival, growth and feed efficiency (Bray, Lawrence, & Leung‐Trujillo, ; Ramos‐Carreño et al., ; Sui, Ma, & Deng, ). In order to mitigate the effects of extreme salinity on shrimp culture, various studies have been conducted on dietary manipulation (carbohydrate, Wang et al., ; minerals, Gong, Jiang, Lightner, Collins, & Brock, ; Roy, Davis, Saoud, & Henry, ; Roy, Davis, Nguyen, & Saoud, ; Zhou, Zhang, Liu, & Ding, ; amino acids, Liu et al., ; crude protein, Sui et al., ; fatty acids, González‐Félix, Perez‐Velazquez, Quintero‐Alvarez, & Davis, ; alternative protein sources, Roy, Bordinhon et al., ; cholesterol and lecithin, Gong et al., ; Roy, Davis, & Saoud, ) and pond management strategies (water ionic concentrations, Limhang, Limsuwan, Chuchird, & Taparhudee, ; feeding rates, Roy, Davis, & Whitis, ).…”

Enzymatic Alterations in Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) Juveniles Exposed to Different Levels of Dietary Potassium and Magnesium Reared in Inland Saline Water

“…Currently rearing of shrimp using Inland saline water (ISW) presents a good opportunity to expand the culture of marine species other than the coastal areas (Roy et al, 2009). In ISW as the production of shrimp continues to expand so there is a need to do cost effective methods for increasing the availability of necessary ions to the organism in order to ensure proper survival and growth.…”