Marine shrimp aquaculture: a novel waste treatment system

Ecuadorian Penaeus vannamei were cultured in dirt ponds (each of approximately 163 m²) at four different stocking densities, i.e. 5 shrimp m⁻², 10 shrimp m⁻², 15 shrimp m⁻² and 20 shrimp m⁻². Experiments were carried out over three different periods during the year. Each experiment lasted for 11–14 weeks. No commercial feed was given to the shrimp. The only input to the ponds was about 30 kg of cattle manure per pond per week. Chemical composition of the cattle manure was analyzed. Water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, DO and turbidity were recorded twice daily for each experiment; nutrients (nitrite, nitrate, ammonium and phosphate), water ATP, sediment ATP, H₂S and chlorophyll were measured twice weekly for each experiment. Shrimp were sampled either weekly or bi-weekly for body weight measurements.

The results showed a negative correlation between stocking density and growth. Weekly growth ranged from 0·44 to 1·58 g week⁻¹. Survival was over 50% in all treatments and averaged at 70·8%. Under these stocking densities, shrimp production ranged from 4·4 to 18·8 kg ha⁻¹ day⁻¹. The stocking density of 15 shrimps m⁻² provides better production than the other stocking densities.

Water quality data did not relate to any shrimp growth. Water nutrient levels in pond discharge water were less than or equal to the nutrients in the incoming water in spite of the weekly addition of cattle manure and did not increase with the addition of cattle manure. No coliform bacteria were detected in any pond water samples through the study period. This indicates digestion of cattle manure in marine shrimp ponds would not pollute the environment with high concentrations of dissolved nutrients.

Thus, a marine shrimp pond can be considered a dissolved nutrient marine treatment plant converting unwanted cattle manure (1841 kg cattle manure ha⁻¹ week⁻¹ in this study) into a valuable commodity — shrimp.     

Relationship between Secchi disk visibility and chlorophyll a in aquaculture ponds

The potential of using Bannister's linear equation (k_t=k_w+k_cc) (where k_t is the overall light extinction coefficient, k_w represents the non-phytoplankton light extinction, k_c is the specific light extinction coefficient due to chlorophyll a (chla), c is the chla concentration, and k_cc represents the light extinction due to chla) to partition sources of turbidity in Secchi disk visibility (SDV) measurements in aquaculture ponds was evaluated. Eight data sets from five sites around the world were used in the study. Chlorophyll a data were regressed against the overall light extinction coefficient determined from SDV measurements. The relationship between chla and overall light extinction coefficient was linear for seven of the eight data sets. The contribution of non-phytoplankton turbidity to SDV measurements was estimated by the intercept of the linear regression line (equivalent to k_w). The values obtained (range=3.61–8.91 m⁻¹) were variable and unpredictable between replicate ponds at all sites, but did not vary significantly over time (P<0.05). Because chla concentration serves as an indicator of phytoplankton concentration, the contribution of phytoplankton turbidity to SDV measurements was estimated by the slope of the linear regression line (equivalent to k_c) multiplied by the chla concentration. The slope of the regression line (0.014±0.006 m⁻¹ (mg m⁻³) ⁻¹) was similar to values reported for natural freshwater systems. The partitioned light extinction coefficients and chla concentrations were also used to determine the threshold chla concentration above which SDV measurements are determined primarily by chla. The threshold chla concentrations (177–980 mg m⁻³) above which phytoplankton biomass becomes the primary determinant of SDV were higher than observed chla concentrations. The results indicate that Bannister's linear equation can generally be used to partition and quantify the sources of turbidity in aquaculture ponds. The results also suggest that the contribution of non-phytoplankton turbidity to SDV measurements in fertilized and fed aquaculture ponds can be more important than phytoplankton turbidity.     

Free water productivity measurements in leaky mariculture ponds

The rate of net organic productivity in experimental shrimp mariculture ponds was determined via free water methods for each hour over a two month period in late summer 1985. Automated measurements of pH and temperature served as the basis for development of a mass balance budget for dissolved inorganic carbon. Pond surface area and volume changed with depth in a complex but predictable fashion. The seepage rate, which is a quantitatively important term in the inorganic carbon budget, was determined with the salt mass balance. Seepage rates averaged 136–182 mm day⁻¹ (23–37% of pond volume per day). Close agreement between evaporation rates, independently determined from water budgets for each of the four adiacent ponds, demonstrated that the calculated seepage rates were accurate. All four ponds were net producers of organic matter despite the fact that three of the four received additions of allochthonous organic matter. Net productivity averaged 14–65 mmol C m⁻² day⁻¹.     

Presence of multiple viruses in non-diseased, cultivated shrimp at harvest

Histological examinations were carried out with 400 cultivated black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) from 12 commercial rearing ponds from three different areas in Thailand over a period of 3 years. The shrimp were collected at or near harvest time as two arbitrary size groups of 10–20 each from each pond. Aside from size difference, they showed no gross signs of disease and were normally active. Pathognomonic histopathological lesions were found only for hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV) or monodon baculovirus (MBV). Although these were relatively frequent, no unusual shrimp mortality had occurred in any of the ponds examined. Severity of these infections was negatively correlated with shrimp size. When grouped together, HPV-infected shrimp gave mean lengths of approximately 6.5 cm that were significantly different from uninfected shrimp at 9 cm length, early in the cultivation cycle while MBV-infected groups of approximately 9 cm length were not readily distinguishable until uninfected shrimp were 10 cm or more, later in cultivation. Thus, HPV infection was correlated with more severe stunting than MBV. In addition to histopathological examination, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for HPV, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) were carried out on one large sample of 240 shrimp from 6 ponds where visible lesions were apparent for MBV only. Surprisingly, 94% of the specimens gave a positive test for at least one of the four viruses. HPV and IHHNV alone or in combination were detected at high prevalence (approximately 60%) despite the absence of visible histological lesions and were confirmed by southern blot hybridization. Although the prevalence of the four viral pathogens was very high, it would normally have gone unnoticed, since normal shrimp are rarely examined for viruses.     

Effects of Inorganic and Organic Fertilization on Physicochemical Parameters,Bacterial Concentrations,and Shrimp Growth in Litopenaeus vannamei Cultures with Zero Water Exchange

To identify ways to improve water quality and shrimp production in closed systems, two parallel experiments (one in tanks and one in ponds) were conducted using Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, cultures. In both experiments, the effects of inorganic (Nutrilake®) and organic (molasses) fertilization on physicochemical parameters, bacterial concentrations, and shrimp performance under zero water exchange were evaluated. Fertilization with both molasses and Nutrilake enhanced the feed conversion rate, as well as shrimp survival and production. In tanks, the shrimp survival and production rates were highest in the molasses treatment, but this effect was not observed in ponds. In ponds, fertilization with Nutrilake increased nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations more than did the controls and molasses treatments toward the end of the experiment. In tanks, fertilization with molasses reduced ammonia concentrations toward the end of the experiment, but the same effect was not observed in ponds. In ponds, fertilization reduced the proportion of Vibrio spp. bacteria, which most likely reduced the incidence of disease from these potentially pathogenic organisms. In both culture systems, fertilization increased the proportion of Bacillus spp., which most likely enhanced food availability.     

Prey extracts evoke swimming behavior in juvenile Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)

This study tested the efficacy of prey extracts to induce food search behavior in juvenile (15–25 cm total length, 0 year group) Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus). In square culture tanks, halibut responded to shrimp and squid extract by tightly turning towards the source of the stimulus and by swimming in circles for 2–5 min following stimulus delivery. Cod extract, or a synthetic mixture consisting of glycine, proline, betaine, arginine, and alanine, failed to evoke this behavior.     

Liming and Fertilization of Brackishwater Shrimp Ponds

Agricultural limestone and burnt lime are applied either to the water during shrimp production or to pond bottoms between shrimp crops. However, unless the total alkalinity and total hardness of pond water is below 50 mg/L as equivalent CaC0₃ or the pond soils are acidic (pH < 7), liming is of little or no value. The use of burnt lime should be avoided because this material can cause high pH in water and soil. Chemical fertilizers or manures are used to fertilize brackishwater ponds. Fertilization programs for brackishwater ponds usually require more nitrogen (N) than those for freshwater ponds. Phosphorus (P) fertilization is important both in brackishwater and freshwater ponds. Because water is exchanged often in brackishwater ponds, fertilizer should be applied in small doses and at frequent intervals. Most managers of brackishwater ponds prefer a large proportion of diatoms in the phytoplankton community. An N:P application ratio of 20:l in ponds favors diatoms; in fiberglass tanks with water of low silica concentration, fertilization with silica encouraged an abundance of diatoms.     

Growout of Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, Stocked into Production Ponds at Three Different Ages

This study was designed to determine the production characteristics of the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, stocked into grow‐out ponds at three different sizes and ages. To meet this goal, three groups of postlarvae (PL) were obtained. The first group was placed in a nursery system for 21 d (N21), the second for 14 d (N14), and the third was stocked directly into ponds (DS). Shrimp from each nursery treatment (three tanks per treatment) were pooled and then subdivided for stocking into four replicate 0.1 ha ponds per treatment, another four ponds were stocked directly (DS) with PL₈. All 12 ponds were stocked on the same day at a density of approximately 35 PL/m², and cultured over a 16‐wk period and then drain harvested. After harvest, mean average weights (15.4, 16.9, and 14.9 g), survivals (63, 62, and 64%), FCRs (2.7, 2.5, and 2.7), and average yields (3592, 4005, and 3374 kg/ha) were determined for N21, N14, and DS, respectively. No significant (P > 0.05) differences were observed among treatments. Regardless of nursing time, nursed juveniles did not differ significantly in production characteristics from shrimp stocked directly from the hatchery.     

Water Management to Control Clam Shrimp,Cyzicus morsie in Walleye,Stizostedion vitreum,Production Ponds

Clam shrimp, Cyzicus morsie , can occur in hatchery ponds in such dense numbers that they interfere with production of fish. Hatchery ponds are frequently left dry during the fall and winter and are filed in spring or early summer, simulating the vernal pools where clam shrimp naturally occur. Ponds left dry over winter and ponds that were full over winter, but were drained and dried for a period of time immediately prior to stocking, had the highest numbers of clam shrimp (P = 0.001). Few or no clam shrimp were collected in ponds that were full over winter and were not dried in the spring. High turbidities were observed in ponds with high numbers of clam shrimp; however, clam shrimp were not the only cause of turbidity. The largest number of walleye were produced in ponds which contained few or no clam shrimp. Clam shrimp were controlled by preventing hatchery pond substrate from drying during winter and early spring; however, the absence of drying may cause other problems that interfere with fish production.     

A soft technology to improve survival and reproductive performance of Litopenaeus stylirostris by counterbalancing physiological disturbances associated with handling stress

The consequences of handling stress (fishing, transfer, eyestalk ablation) on shrimp broodstock are poorly documented. The weakness of farmed shrimp, Litopenaeus stylirostris, during winter is a major problem in New Caledonia, because of seasonal climate (tropical–sub-temperate). The transfer of broodstock in winter from earthen outdoor ponds to indoor maturation tanks in the hatchery (T = 20 °C, Salinity = 35‰, fed shrimp) usually leads, after 48 h, to high mortality (up to 70%). Eyestalk ablation to induce ovarian maturation in females leads to further mortality.

Starting from a background analysis of physiological disturbances (initial osmoregulatory imbalance) associated with handling stress (Wabete, N., Chim, L., Lemaire, P., Massabuau, J.-C., 2004. Caractérisation de problèmes de physiologie respiratoire et d'échanges ioniques associés à la manipulation chez la crevette pénéide Litopenaeus stylirostris à 20 °C. Styli 2003. Trente ans de crevetticulture en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Ed. Ifremer. Actes Colloq. 38, 75-84.), we developed a protocol using a soft technology, based on modifications of water salinity, temperature and feeding regime. The aim was to minimize problems of osmoregulatory imbalance and associated mortalities. The protocol we developed, called the LSD OT protocol (Low Salinity and Diet, Optimal Temperature), was first evaluated on sub-adult shrimp (20–25 g) and then applied to broodstock. Survival after transfer and following eyestalk ablation, as well as reproductive achievement (spawning rate, nauplii number) was considerably improved when shrimps were transferred under “physiological comfort” i.e. warmed isosmotic water (26 °C and 26‰) and unfed for 3 d. This new handling protocol, based on a better control of salinity, temperature and feeding conditions, has been transferred successfully to private hatcheries and already contributes to an increased profitability of New-Caledonian shrimp industry.     

Feed Containing Novacq Improves Resilience of Black Tiger Shrimp,Penaeus Monodon,to Gill‐associated Virus‐induced Mortality

The ability of Novacq to improve resilience of black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, to infection and mortality induced by gill‐associated virus (GAV) was investigated. Over a 26‐d period, shrimp were fed pellets with or without 10% Novacq. Following this, four replicate tanks, each containing 10 shrimp that had been fed either diet, were maintained as‐is, injected with saline or injected with GAV inoculum (i.e., 40 shrimp for each of the six groups). For shrimp (n = 20) in two of each group of four tanks, survival was monitored daily over 14 d and a pleopod was sampled from each shrimp on Days 0 and 14. For the other two tanks, a pleopod was sampled from each shrimp on Days 0, 3, 7, 10, and 14 to track changes in GAV loads over time. Survival was significantly higher (P < 0.05) from Day 7 onward among the group fed Novacq. GAV infection loads appeared to vary more between individuals in the Novacq diet cohort, but overall were not reduced significantly at any time points post‐challenge compared to shrimp tested from the Control diet cohort.     

Intensive Culture Potential of Penaeus vannamei

Tank and pond rearing studies were conducted to assess the potential for intensive culture of Penaeus vannamei in South Carolina. Postlarvae were stocked in intensive nursery tanks at 500/ m². Growth and survival were compared for shrimp reared in control fiberglass tanks and in tanks with artificial substrates (fiberglass screen). Addition of substrate improved survival (82% versus 58%), but not growth. Juvenile shrimp (mean weight, 1.3 g) from the nursery trial were stocked into 6 m diameter tanks at densities of 10, 20 and 40/m². Growth rate was inversely related to stocking density, with mean sizes of 33.9, 32.5, and 26.7 g attained at the low, medium, and high densities respectively after 168 days. At harvest, standing crop biomass averaged 225.6, 442.0, and 685.4 g/m² for the three densities. To further test the intensive culture potential, two 0.1 ha ponds were stocked with hatchery-reared postlarvae at densities of approximately 40 and 45/m². The ponds were managed intensively using paddlewheel aerators and water exchange averaging 16–17%/day. The ponds were harvested after 138 and 169 days and yielded 6,010 kg/ha of 16.7 g (mean weight) shrimp and 7,503 kg/ha of 17.9 g shrimp, respectively. Average production was 6,757 kg/ha with a food conversion of 2.51. These data suggest good potential for intensive pond culture of P. vannamei in South Carolina and other areas of the continental United States.     

Hydrology of inland brackishwater shrimp ponds in Chachoengsao, Thailand

This study focuses on a new trend in shrimp aquaculture, the development of brackishwater ponds for Penaeus monodon culture in inland freshwater areas of Thailand’s Central Plain. Water balances were calculated for ponds and reservoirs at an inland shrimp farm in Chachoengsao, Thailand, between May and July 1999. Regulated inflow and outflow were the largest water fluxes, averaging 0.94 and 0.70 cm/day. Other daily average water gains were rainfall (0.52 cm/day) and runoff (1.7 cm/day), and other water losses were evaporation (0.31 cm/day) and seepage (0.52 cm/day). Over an entire crop cycle, of average length 109 days, average water inputs were: initial pond filling (84 cm); regulated inflow (103 cm); rainfall (57 cm); and runoff (3 cm). Average outputs were: regulated outflow (76 cm); seepage (57 cm); evaporation (34 cm); and draining at harvest (87 cm). The main feature of note in the water balance is the large volume of regulated outflow. All regulated outflow and most (82%) of the pondwater drained at harvest went directly to the irrigation canal system. Such large volumes of discharge could have serious environmental implications because small inland waterways have low assimilative capacity and pond effluent is saline. Consumptive water use for 14 inland shrimp ponds and reservoirs averaged 0.83±0.14 cm/day. Consumptive water use was also measured for 11 nearby rice fields, the main land use in the regions where inland shrimp farming is proliferating. Rice paddy water use averaged 0.91±0.17 cm/day. There was no significant difference in the daily consumptive water use of shrimp ponds and rice fields, suggesting that conversion from rice farming to shrimp farming would have little net impact on water availability for irrigation.     

Experimental evaluation of co-culture of juvenile sea cucumbers, Holothuria scabra (Jaeger), with juvenile blue shrimp, Litopenaeus stylirostris (Stimpson)

The co‐culture of juvenile sea cucumber Holothuria scabra (Jaeger), or ‘sandfish’, with juvenile blue shrimp Litopenaeus stylirostris (Stimpson) was tested by growing groups in co‐culture and monoculture for 3 weeks in tanks with enriched sand substratum. Feed was supplied on trays, accessible only to shrimp. Survival of shrimp and sandfish was high in all treatments (73–100%). Growth of shrimp did not differ between monoculture and co‐culture, but sandfish grew significantly slower in co‐culture (P=0.03), although their sand burying and surface foraging were apparently unaffected by shrimp (P=0.76). However, shrimp increased the levels of total ammonia‐N in tanks, which related inversely with sandfish growth (P=0.04). Conversely, sandfish did not appear to lower the water quality for shrimp culture. While sandfish bioturbate sediments and eat organic deposits, the juveniles did not significantly reduce the organic content of sand in tanks. Co‐culturing juveniles of the two species in earthen ponds appears feasible, with no detriment to shrimp production, presenting a cost‐effective method for growing sandfish to larger sizes for restocking. These findings underpin further studies to test the viability of commercial co‐culture of sandfish with blue shrimp at later stages in the production cycle of shrimp.     

Influence of Nursery Period on the Growth and Survival of Litopenaeus vannamei Under Pond Production Conditions

Techniques for head starting or nursing postlarvae (PL) has received considerable attention with regards to nursery protocols, yet there is little data pertaining to the effects of nursery period on the final growout of shrimp to marketable size. This study was performed to investigate the influence of nursery duration on survival and growth of Litopenaeus vannamei during subsequent pond culture. For this research, a single population of high health PL were received from a commercial hatchery and held in a tank for acclimation, quantification, and distribution to nursery tanks or ponds. Treatments included direct stocking of 10-d-old postlarvae (PL₁₀) into production ponds as well as the nursing of PL in a covered greenhouse nursery system for an additional 10 or 20 d. After nursing, the PL were harvested, quantified, and transferred to growout ponds. All ponds were stocked at a density of 35 PL/m² and maintained under standardized conditions. Shrimp were fed with a 35% protein shrimp feed, twice daily during the 112-d growth trial. Ponds were aerated as needed using a maximum of 19 hp/ha to maintain adequate dissolved oxygen (DO > 3.0). No statistical differences (P >0.05) were found in survival, yield, or growth between treatments. At harvest, survivals during growout were generally higher in ponds with nursed shrimp (77% for PL₂₀ and 79% for PL₃₀) than in ponds receiving PL₁₀ shrimp (67%). Yields were similar between treatments, ranging from 3,525 for direct stocked shrimp to 3,747 kg/ha for those that were nursed for 10 d. Although growth rates of PL under pond conditions will be faster than that of a nursery system, results suggest that a nursery period of at least 10 d helps improve survival during pond production and promotes better size uniformity. Shrimp nursed for 20 d showed little improvement in survival over shrimp nursed for 10 d but did result in a more uniform size of shrimp at harvest.     

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.     

Influence of variation in water temperature on survival,growth and yield of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei in inland ponds for low‐salinity culture

There is considerable interest in the culture of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in inland low‐salinity water in Alabama and other states in the Sunbelt region of the US. However, the growing season is truncated as compared with tropical or subtropical areas where this species is typically cultured, and temperature is thought to be a major factor influencing shrimp production in the US. This study, conducted at Greene Prairie Aquafarm located in west‐central Alabama, considered water temperature patterns on a shrimp farm in different ponds and different years; and sought possible effects of bottom water temperature in ponds on variation in shrimp survival, growth and production. Water temperature at 1.2 m depth in 22 ponds and air temperature were monitored at 1‐hr intervals during the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 growing seasons. Records of stocking rates, survival rates and production were provided by the farm owner. Correlation analysis and linear mixed model analysis of variance were used. Results showed that hourly water temperatures differed among ponds. The range of water temperature in each pond explained 41% of the variance in average final weight of shrimp harvested from each pond. In conclusion, the results suggest that variation in water temperature patterns has considerable influence on shrimp growth and survival in ponds.     

Nutrient budgets in tanks with different stocking densities of hybrid tilapia

Nitrogen and phosphorus budgets were estimated in 12 indoor fiberglass tanks stocked with hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus×O. aureus) at densities of 1 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg and 15 kg/m³ and reared for 14 days. Each density was replicated three times, and the experiment was repeated five times. The water in each tank was changed daily. Fish were fed a 34% protein tilapia feed to satiation twice daily. Feed consumption rate significantly decreased (P<0.05) with increasing density, but the FCR did not vary significantly (P>0.05) among the treatments. The production of one kilogram of fish required 2.0–2.2 kg of feed in different stocking density treatments, while 87.1–95.6 g nitrogen and 12.6–13.8 g phosphorus were released into the water, as metabolic waste. Of the feed input, 21.4% of the nitrogen and 18.8% of the phosphorus were incorporated in the fish harvested.     

Proteome modifications of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) muscle under biofloc system

The objective of the study was to examine the effects of biofloc technology on the muscle proteome of Litopenaeus vannamei. Two biofloc treatments and one control were compared: biofloc‐based tanks under zero‐water exchange fed with 150 g/kg crude protein (BF15), or with 250 g/kg crude protein (BF25) diets, and clear water tanks with 50% of daily water exchange stocked with shrimp fed with similar amount of a 250 g/kg crude protein diet, referred to as control. The shrimp (5.28 ± 0.42 g) were divided into the 300‐L fibreglass tanks (water volume of 200 L) at a density of 35 shrimp per tank and were cultured for 35 days. The biofloc groups displayed better growth and survival compared to the control. The muscle tissue from the control and BF25 groups was subjected to proteomic analysis. Lactate dehydrogenase, enolase, arginine kinase, mitochondrial ATP synthase subunit alpha, mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor factor 1 precursor, serpin 3 and myeloid differentiation factor 88 had an increased abundance in the BF25 group, while myosin heavy chain type 1 and myosin heavy chain type 2 showed a decreased abundance. The results indicate that biofloc technology could alter the expression of proteins involved in structure, metabolism and immune status of cultured shrimp.     

Pond production of Pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei,fed grain distillers dried yeast

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of four diets formulated to contain increasing levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 g kg^?1 of diet) of grain distillers dried yeast (GDDY) in production diets for Litopenaeus vannamei, reared in outdoor tanks or production ponds. The production pond trial was carried out in 16, 0.1‐ha ponds using four replicates per diet. Juvenile shrimp (38.1 ± 4.26 mg, initial weight) were stocked at 30 shrimp m^?2 for a 16‐week period. The same four diets and a commercial reference diet were offered to shrimp maintained in outdoor tanks over a 12‐week period. A total of 20 tanks were stocked with juvenile shrimp (3.05 ± 0.22 g, initial weight) obtained from production ponds at a density of 30 shrimp per tank (40 shrimp m^?2). At the conclusion of these trials, mean final weight ranged from 19.77 to 23.05 g, yield ranged between 4760 and 5606 kg ha^?1, survival ranged from 69.6% to 89.4%, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was between 1.02 and 1.23. Shrimp reared in the outdoor tanks confirmed the results of the pond trial. Mean final weight ranged between 18.12 and 18.97 g, survival ranged from 93.3% to 98.3%, and FCR was between 1.25 and 1.29. In both trials, there were no significant differences regarding mean final weight, FCR and survival among dietary treatments. Based on this study, GDDY up to 150 g kg^?1 of diet can be used in L. vannamei commercial feed formulation.