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

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.     

Effect of Low Salinity on Growth and Survival of Postlarvae and Juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei

The effect of low salinity on survival and growth of the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei was examined in the laboratory due to the interest of raising shrimp inland at low salinities. In three separate experiments, individual L. vannamei postlarvae (∼ 0.1 g) were cultured at salinities of either 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, or 3 ppt ( N = 5 or 10/treatment) for 18 to 40 d at 30 C in individual 360-mL containers. In each experiment controls of 0 and 30 ppt were run. There was no postlarval survival at salinities < 2 ppt. Survival was significantly different ( P < 0.01) at 2 ppt (20%) compared to 30 ppt (80%). Growth was also significantly different ( P < 0.01) at 2 and 3 ppt compared to 30 ppt (416%, 475%, and 670%, respectively). A fourth experiment compared juveniles (∼ 8 g) and postlarvae (∼ 0.05 and 0.35 g). Shrimp were cultured at salinities of 0, 2, 4, and 30 ppt for 40 d at 25 C, in individual 360-mL and 6-L containers ( N = 7/treatment). There was no postlarval survival at < 2 ppt. Postlarval survival at 4 ppt (86%) was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from 30 ppt (100%). Juveniles exhibited better survival at lower salinities (100% at 2 ppt) than 0.05 and 0.35 g postlarvae (29% and 14% respectively, at 2 ppt). The effects of salinity on growth varied with sizdage. Final growth of 0.05 g postlarvae at 2 ppt (693%) was significantly less ( P < 0.01) than at 4 ppt (1085%) and 30 ppt (1064%). Growth of 0.35 g postlarvae was significantly less ( P < 0.01) for 4 ppt (175%) than for 30 ppt (264%). There was no growth data for juveniles (8 g). It appears from these experiments that the culture of L. vannamei poses risks when performed in salinities less than 2 ppt.     

Survival of Post‐larval Litopenaeus vannamei Following Acclimation to Low Salinity Waters at Different Temperatures

Temperature and salinity are two factors known to influence the growth potential and survival of the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, acclimated to low salinity waters. In west Alabama, farmers suspect low water temperatures at stocking, in conjunction with low salinity and suboptimal ionic profiles, might be responsible for reduced survival and production at harvest. To determine the influence of temperature and salinity on post‐larval (PL) L. vannamei, a series of bioassays were conducted at the E.W. Shell Fisheries Research Station in Auburn, Alabama and Claude Peteet Mariculture Center in Gulf Shores, Alabama. PL L. vannamei of ages 11, 13, and 20 (PL₁₁, PL₁₃, and PL₂₀) were acclimated down to salinities of 12, 4, 2, 1, 0.5, and 0.2 ppt at different temperatures ranging from 17.6 to 24.0 C. During the acclimation bioassays survivals were assessed at 24 and 48 h. PL survival of the three age groups examined were significantly reduced at salinities of 1, 0.5, and 0.2 ppt. These results correspond well to those reported at higher temperatures confirming that across the tested temperature range salinity endpoint was the driving factor in determining survival and that suboptimal temperatures had a minimal influence on survival.     

Acclimation of Litopenaeus vannamei Postlarvae to Low Salinity: Influence of Age, Salinity Endpoint, and Rate of Salinity Reduction

Abstract.— Inland culture of Liropenaeus vannarnei in low salinity well waters is currently conducted on a small scale in a few areas in the U.S. To successfully rear shrimp in low salinity water, postlarvae (PL) must be transferred from high-salinity larval rearing systems to low-salinity growout conditions. To determine effective transfer methods, a series of experiments were conducted under controlled conditions to evaluate the influence of PL age, rate of acclimation, and salinity endpoint on 48 h survival of shrimp. Three age classes of L. vannurnei PL (10, 15, and 20-d) were acclimated from a salinity of 23 ppt to treatment endpoint salinities of 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 ppt. Survival of PL₁₀ acclimated to 0, 1, or 2 ppt salinity was significantly lower than survival of PL acclimated to salinities of 4, 8, and 12 ppt. Survival of PL, and PL₂₀ shrimp was only reduced for the 0 ppt salinity treatment, thus indicating a clear effect of age on salinity tolerance. The same age classes of PL were acclimated from 23 ppt to final salinity endpoints of I or 4 ppt at three different rates of salinity reduction: low, 19%/h; medium, 258/h, and high, 478/h. Survival was not significantly influenced by the acclimation rates for any of the three PL age classes. As in the fixed rate experiments, survival of the 10-d-old PL was significantly lower for shrimp acclimated to the 1 ppt endpoint compared to the 4 ppt endpoint. Under the reported conditions, age appears to influence PL tolerance to a salinity end-point. A 10-d-old PL can be acclimated to 4 ppt with good survival, whereas 15- and 20-d-old PL can be acclimated to a salinity of 1 ppt with good survivals.     

Investigation of the Effects of Salinity and Dietary Protein Level on Growth and Survival of Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

It is presumed that in hypo‐ and hypersaline environments, shrimp’s requirements for some specific nutrients, such as protein, may differ from those known in the marine habitat; however, few investigations have been conducted in this area of study. In the present investigation, the effects of salinity and dietary protein level on the biological performance, tissue protein, and water content of Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, were evaluated. In a 3 × 4 factorial experiment, juvenile shrimp with an average initial weight of 0.36 ± 0.02 g were exposed for 32 d to salinities of 2, 35, and 50 ppt and fed experimental diets with crude protein contents of 25, 30, 35, and 40%. A significant effect of salinity on growth of shrimp was detected, with the growth responses (final weight, weight gain) ranked in the order 2 ppt (3.87, 3.50 g) > 35 ppt (3.40, 3.04 g) > 50 ppt (2.84, 2.47 g). No effects of dietary protein level or an interaction between salinity and protein on growth of shrimp were observed under the experimental conditions of this study. Percent survival of shrimp fed the highest protein content (40%, survival of 74%) was, however, significantly lower than those of shrimp fed the other feeds (25, 30 and 35% protein, survival of 99, 91, and 94%, respectively), a result likely associated with the concentration of total ammonia nitrogen, which increased significantly at increasing protein levels. Final water content of whole shrimp was significantly lower in animals exposed to 50 ppt (70.8%) than in shrimp held at 2 (73.7%) and 35 ppt (72.3%). No effect of salinity, protein, or their interaction was observed on the protein content of whole shrimp. The results of the present study are in agreement with reports of superior and inferior growth of L. vannamei reared in hypo‐ and hypersaline environments, respectively, as compared to what is generally observed in seawater.     

内陆地区南美白对虾苗种淡化试验

在内陆地区利用工厂化设施、臭氧水处理系统进行南美白对虾苗种淡化。淡化周期为12~15d,苗种成活率为65%~85%,单位水体出苗量5.0×104~7.0×104尾/m3。每个育苗季节可淡化虾苗4.0×107~5.0×107尾,卤水使用量仅为30 m3,并且无药物投放。     

凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)低盐度围隔调控养殖环境微生物研究

在广东省珠海市斗门一个大小为0.3hm2的空白虾池内,设立10个大小为5×5×1.6m(l×b×d)的陆基池塘围隔,对凡纳滨对虾低盐度调控养殖环境微生物进行实验研究,结果低盐度围隔调控养殖系统,水体异养细菌平均为1.33~9.27×104cfu.ml-1,致病性弧菌平均为2.83~7.91×102cfu.ml-1,养殖水体致病性弧菌的数量比异养细菌平均低2个数量级。各围隔水体异养菌在养殖早期都有一个高峰期,中后期低而稳定;围隔异养细菌的数量并未因定期施菌而增高,反而呈下降的趋势。对虾养殖健康的围隔,中后期水体致病性弧菌保持较低的数量,而对虾发病的围隔,致病性弧菌数量高。围隔调控养殖系统,异养细菌的数量相对比较稳定,而致病性弧菌数量呈较大波动。     

Possible Potassium and Magnesium Limitations for Shrimp Survival and Production in Low‐Salinity,Pond Waters in Thailand

Low‐salinity waters of inland shrimp ponds in Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengsao, Prachin Buri, and Samut Sakhon Provinces of Thailand often had concentrations of potassium and magnesium below those expected for normal seawater diluted to the same salinity. However, in Samut Sakhon Province – where the sampling area was nearer the coast – ponds typically had higher concentrations of these two cations than did ponds in the other three provinces. Studies of inland, shrimp ponds at Banglane in Nakhon Pathom Province revealed that magnesium additions to maintain a target concentration near 100 mg/L resulted in greater (P < 0.05) shrimp survival, size, and production than obtained in control ponds. Although potassium additions to ponds (75 mg/L target concentration) did not improve shrimp survival or production, the control ponds had potassium concentration higher than those previously reported for ponds in Alabama where potassium treatment was highly beneficial to shrimp survival and production. A study conducted using laboratory, soil‐water systems with soil from one site did not remove potassium and magnesium from the water, while soil from two other sites removed potassium and magnesium from water – but at different rates.     

The Effect of Low Salinity Water with Different Ionic Composition on the Growth and Survival of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) in Intensive Culture

The effects of four different ionic composition low salinity water (T₁, T₂, T₃, and T₄), on growth and survival of Litopenaeus vannamei marine shrimp juveniles were investigated. Shrimp culture in seawater (T_m) was used as control treatment. The results indicated that there were no significant difference (P < 0.05) in growth, survival, production, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of L. vannamei juveniles reared in the different treatments, but significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed between each of them when compared with seawater (T_m). After 84 days, culture shrimp grew from 0.02 to 7.58 g in T₁. The lowest growth rate was attained in T₃ (0.57 g/week), in which potassium and calcium ions concentrations were the lowest (0.58 and 28.00 mg/L, respectively). The recorded survival rate (76.35% to 79.55%) is considered well for the 84 days growout period, although it was 7.6% lower than that recorded in the control treatment. Although there were no significant differences (P < 0.05) in growth with respect to the ionic composition of the four treatments, there was a trend of increasing growth in relation with the ionic ratio found in the seawater (T_m). This aspect should be evaluated more closely in future research.     

饲料添加益生菌对多病原阳性的凡纳滨对虾生长与存活的影响

采用假交替单胞菌(Pseudoalteromonas sp.) KL-3 2010和微小杆菌(Exiguobacterium sp.) KL-C2 2014作为益生菌,进行凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)投喂实验,研究上述菌株对带毒对虾的生长与存活的影响。假交替单胞菌KL-3 2010对致急性肝胰腺坏死副溶血弧菌(Vibrio parahemolyticus) (VPAHPND 20130629002S01)有拮抗作用和胞外蛋白酶活性,微小杆菌KL-C2 2014有胞外蛋白酶活性。待试对虾经检测为白斑综合征病毒(WSSV)、致急性肝胰腺坏死病副溶血弧菌(VPAHPND)和虾肝肠胞虫(EHP)弱阳性。经过为期60 d的养殖实验,结果显示,与投喂普通颗粒饲料的对照组相比,投喂假交替单胞菌KL-3 2010的对虾存活率提高了213%±43% (P<0.01);投喂微小杆菌KL-C2 2014的对虾平均生长率提高了105.5%±28.1% (P<0.05);交替投喂2株菌的对虾存活率提高了184%±52% (P<0.05),平均生长率提高了70.6%±32.8%。肠道可培养优势菌研究表明,2株益生菌的投喂显著影响了对虾肠道优势菌群的种类。本研究为带毒虾苗的养殖提供一种有效的病害防控和促生长的手段。     

饲料中添加凹土对凡纳滨对虾存活和生长的影响

研究了饲料中添加凹土（０．０％、０．５％、１．０％、２．０％、４．０％和８．０％）对凡纳滨对虾（１．０４～１．０６ｇ）存活和生长的影响。实验在淮海工学院江苏省海洋生物技术重点建设实验室进行,凡纳滨对虾（Ｌｉｔｏｐｅｎａｅｕｓｖａｎｎａｍｅｉ）幼虾购自海南某育苗场;实验采用单因子６水平设计,每个水族箱放养１０尾对虾,每个水平设３个重复。实验前停食２４ｈ,称其初始体重。日投饵２次,过量投饵;投饵２．５ｈ后从每个水族箱收集残饵、粪便和虾壳。实验周期３０ｄ。所得数据用单因素方差分析和Ｔｕｒｋｅｙ′ｓ多重比较进行处理。结果表明,饲料中添加凹土显著地影响对虾的特定生长率,而对存活率、摄食量、饲料系数和吸收效率的影响不显著;在２．０％凹土水平,凡纳滨对虾的特定生长率显著高于０．０％凹土水平,但与其它处理差异不显著;总的看来,２．０％凹土添加组对虾的饲料系数低于其它处理,而摄食量高于其它处理。     

饲料中添加凹土对凡纳滨对虾存活和生长的影响

研究了饲料中添加凹土(0.0%、0.5%、1.0%、2.0%、4.0%和8.0%)对凡纳滨对虾(1.04～1.06 g)存活和生长的影响.实验在淮海工学院江苏省海洋生物技术重点建设实验室进行,凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)幼虾购白海南某育苗场;实验采用单因子6水平设计,每个水族箱放养10尾对虾,每个水平设3个重复.实验前停食24 h,称其初始体重.日投饵2次,过量投饵;投饵2.5 h后从每个水族箱收集残饵、粪便和虾壳.实验周期30 d.所得数据用单因素方差分析和Turkey's多重比较进行处理.结果表明,饲料中添加凹土显著地影响对虾的特定生长率,而对存活率、摄食量、饲料系数和吸收效率的影响不显著;在2.0%凹土水平,凡纳滨对虾的特定生长率显著高于0.0%凹土水平,但与其它处理差异不显著;总的看来,2.0%凹土添加组对虾的饲料系数低于其它处理,而摄食量高于其它处理.     

不同盐度对生物絮团、对虾生长以及酶活性的影响

在不同盐度条件下进行凡纳滨对虾的生物絮团养殖试验,研究盐度对生物絮团养殖水质和对虾生长及其酶活性的影响。试验设5个盐度梯度(10、15、20、25、30),生物絮团初始量为20 mL/L,对虾密度为500尾/m^3,试验周期30 d。试验结果显示,15盐度组与20盐度组的对虾体质量增长率最大,达70.73%,10盐度组的体质量增长率最小,达50.24%。盐度越高生物絮团生长越快,30盐度组17 d生物絮团沉降量达200 mL/L,之后逐渐降至43 mL/L,其他组呈相同变化趋势。试验过程中水体总碱度与pH持续降低,但不同组间差异不显著(P>0.05)。盐度越高氨氮累积越快,30盐度组在第6 d达到最大质量浓度8.62 mg/L,之后降至0 mg/L,其他组呈相同趋势变化。盐度越低亚硝态氮累积越快,10盐度组在第6 d达到最大质量浓度9.18 mg/L,之后降至0 mg/L,其他组呈相同趋势变化。硝态氮在不同盐度中呈前期上升的趋势,第16 d之后开始缓慢下降。15盐度组的淀粉酶活性显著高于其他组(P<0.05),其他各组之间无显著差异(P>0.05)。脂肪酶在25盐度组活性最高,盐度升高或者降低酶活性均降低。在10、15、20盐度组中,超氧化物歧化酶、碱性磷酸酶、酸性磷酸酶活性均维持在较高水平,在相同盐度下,肌肉酶活性低于肝胰脏。     

Studies of the Thermal and Haline Influences on Growth and Survival of Litopenaeus vannamei and Litopenaeus setiferus

A series of experiments were conducted to examine the effects of salinity (1–48 g/L) on the biological performance, as evaluated by growth and survival, of the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, and the Atlantic white shrimp, Litopenaeus setiferus, reared at temperatures of 20, 24 or 28 C. Poor growth and survival of L. vannamei was observed after 21–28 d of culture at low salinity (2 and 4 g/L) at 20 C. Raising salinity to 8 and up to 32 g/L significantly increased survival at this temperature, indicating that avoiding low temperatures is critical for survival of this species when reared at low salinity. A major improvement in the growth rate of L. vannamei was observed at 24 C, but it still was sub‐optimal compared to growth observed at 28 C. Irrespective of salinity, high survival rates were observed at both 24 and 28 C, but variable growth rates were recorded. Contrary to L. vannamei, the Atlantic white shrimp, L. setiferus, which was reared for 28 d at 24 C only, had better growth performance at 8 g/L compared to 2, 16 and 32 g/L. Under equal experimental conditions, L. setiferus had considerably lower weight gain and survival than L. vannamei.     

Effects of Dietary Short-chain Fructooligosaccharides on Intestinal Microflora, Survival, and Growth Performance of Juvenile White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

Abstract.— Five groups of juvenile white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei , in triplicate were separately fed a compound diet with additional short-chain fructooligosaccharides (ScFOS, Profeed^® 95%) 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, or 1.6 g/kg dried diet for 8 wk to investigate the effects of ScFOS on the intestinal microflora, survival, and growth performance of the shrimp. The juvenile shrimp with around 0.17 g of initial body weight were divided into 30 per tank and reared in a standard water recirculation system at 28 C. The shrimp were fed five times a day. At the end of experiment, the shrimp were weighed and their intestinal samples were analyzed for the amounts of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Aeromonas hydrophila, Lactobacillus sp. , and Streptococcus faecalis using selective agar. The results showed that the shrimps' weight gain and specific growth rate increased with the increment of dietary ScFOS, while their feed conversion ratio decreased. The result was the best when an additional ScFOS 0.4 g/kg dried diet was used.     

Effects of Temperature and Salinity upon Larval Growth, Survival and Development in Hatchery Reared Southern Atlantic Surfclams Spisula solidissima similis

Abstract.– Parameters associated with optimum larval-rearing conditions are important in developing the culturing protocol of potential aquacultural species, and have yet to be addressed in terms of water temperature and salinity for Spisula solidissima similis , the southern Atlantic surfclam. Hatchery spawned S. s. similis larvae were reared to late pediveliger stage in five simultaneously conducted water temperature and salinity treatments. This larval growth and survival experimentation consisted of three salinity treatments (15, 25 and 30 ppt) in conjunction with a water temperature of 20 C, and two water temperature treatments (15 and 25 C) in conjunction with a salinity of 25 ppt. In the 20 C temperature treatment, significantly higher larval survival and greater growth occurred (both, P < 0.0001) as compared to the 15 C and 25 C treatments by day 22. Complete larval mortality occurred in the 20 C, 15 ppt salinity treatment by day 4. No significant differences in larval survival occurred between the 25 ppt, 20 C and 30 ppt, 20 C treatments by day 22 (P = 0.714). However, significantly greater larval growth occurred in the 25 ppt, 20 C compared to the 30 ppt, 20 C treatment (P = 0.009). The optimum rearing temperature and salinity for hatchery spawned S s. similis larvae to late pediveliger stage are 20 C and 25 ppt, respectively, within the temperatures and salinities tested.     

Effect of Dietary Astaxanthin on Growth,Survival, and Stress Tolerance of Postlarval Shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

The effect of dietary astaxanthin on growth, survival, and stress tolerance was determined in postlarval Litopenaeus vannamei. An experiment was performed with postlarval shrimp (mean initial wet weight 1.2 mg) fed four isoenergic and isonitrogenous diets containing four supplemented levels of astaxanthin (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg diet, respectively). Shrimp fed diets containing 100, 200, and 400 mg astaxanthin/kg diet for 30 d showed higher weight gain (WG, %) and survival compared to the control (without supplementation of astaxanthin). Specific growth rate (SGR, %/day) and final body wet weight (FBW, mg) showed the same pattern as WG. There were no significant differences in growth performance (FBW, WG, and SGR) among the groups fed the diets with astaxanthin supplementation at the termination of feeding trial. Survival of shrimp in the control and 100 mg/kg diet treatments was significantly lower than that of shrimp in the treatments with 200 and 400 mg/kg diet. After 9 d of a stress tolerance test, survival of shrimp in the 200 and 400 mg astaxanthin/kg treatments was significantly higher than that of shrimp in the 0 and 100 mg astaxanthin/kg treatments (P < 0.05). We concluded from this experiment that astaxanthin was a necessary ingredient for the development of larval L. vannamei. Considering the effect of astaxanthin on both, growth performance and survival of postlarval L. vannamei, the level of astaxanthin supplemented in the diet should be between 100 mg and 200 mg/kg of diet.     

The Effect of Controlled Soil Sulfur Concentration on Growth and Survival of Litopenaeus vannamei

Abstract.— In a microcosm study, sodium sulfate was mixed with a controlled composition soil to yield sulfur concentrations of 100 to 3,000 mg/kg and the mixture was inundated to a depth of 35 cm with 18-ppt salinity water. One juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei with initial weight averaging 0.3 g was placed in each soil-water microcosm and fed for 96 d. Dissolved oxygen concentration was maintained at approximately 70% air saturation. Calculated interstitial hydrogen sulfide concentration 0.5 cm below the soil-water interface increased with time, reaching maximum values ranging from 57 to 113 mg/L. Interstitial sulfide concentrations 0.5 cm below the soil-water interface increased as a function of soil S. Average weight gain of shrimp ranged from 7.4 to 8.7 g across treatment groups. Differences in shrimp weight gain and survival among treatments were not significant. A higher dissolved oxygen demand due to sulfide oxidation implies greater risk of shrimp mortality if the soil-water boundary is disturbed. Further, this study suggests that shrimp growth is not adversely affected by high soil sulfide concentration provided the sediment surface remains oxidized and that dissolved oxygen concentration in the overlying water is maintained at 70% saturation.     

饲料中添加虾青素对凡纳滨对虾生长、存活和抗氧化能力的影响

从雨生红球藻中提取虾青素,以不同质量浓度(0、20、40、60、80、100 mg/kg)添加到凡纳滨对虾的饲料中投喂7周,研究虾青素对凡纳滨对虾生长、存活和抗氧化能力的影响.结果显示,虾青素可提高凡纳滨对虾的存活率和特定生长率,其中添加量80 mg/kg组最高,80 mg/kg组特定生长率和对照组间差异显著(P<0.05),但试验组和对照组间存活率无显著差异(P>0.05).各试验组的总抗氧化能力与对照组相比显著升高(P<0.05),至第4周后逐步稳定;超氧化物歧化酶活力和过氧化氢酶活力与对照组相比均显著降低,且均表现出先降后升的变化趋势,第4周酶活力降至最低.以生长、存活和抗氧化能力为指标,虾青素的最适添加量为80 mg/kg,最佳投喂时间为4周.     

Effects of Major Water Quality Variables on Shrimp Production in Inland,Low‐Salinity Ponds in Alabama

Common water quality variables in nine, inland low‐salinity shrimp ponds in Alabama exhibited wide variation in concentrations among ponds and over time. Shrimp performance also varied considerably among ponds in 2008 as follows: survival, 16–128%; production, 928–5950 kg/ha; feed conversion ratio (FCR), 1.18–2.89. Measured water quality variables were not at concentrations high enough to be lethal to shrimp; but water temperature, dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, total ammonia nitrogen, calcium, and magnesium were occasionally outside optimum ranges for shrimp production and may have stressed shrimp. Survival and production both were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with increasing concentrations of methyl orange alkalinity, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness. Negative correlations (P < 0.05) between production and higher pH and water temperature may have resulted from lower water temperature and pH during final days of the crop in ponds harvested in October rather than from an actual effect of temperature and pH on growth. Nevertheless, those variables that were outside optimal ranges or correlated with shrimp survival or growth should be further investigated to ascertain whether or not excursions outside optimum ranges are harmful and to determine if observed correlations are causal.