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.     

Preliminary Comparisons of the Native Penaeus setiferus and Pacific P. vannamei White Shrimp for Pond Culture in South Carolina, USA

Two pond experiments were conducted at the Waddell Mariculture Center to compare production characteristics of the native Penaeus setiferus and Pacific P. vannamei white shrimp in South Carolina. In 1985, 7–9 day old postlarval P. setiferus were stocked in one 0.1 and one 0.25 ha ponds, while P. vannamei of the same age were stocked in one 0.1 and one 0.25 ha ponds, while P. vannamei of the same age were stocked in one 0.1, one 0.25, and one 0.5 ha ponds. Both species were stocked at 12 shrimp/m². The shrimp were fed a 25% protein commercial food and harvested by draining after 147 d. Sarvival in all ponds was > go%, but growth and production of the P. setiferus were considerably lower than values obtained for P. vannamei: 12.8 g and 1,555 kg/ha/crop for P. satiferus versus 19.7 g and 2,477 kg/ha/crop for P. vannamei. In 1989, duplicate 0.1 ha ponds were stocked with P. setiferus and P. vannamei at 60 shrimp/m², and two additional 0.1 ha ponds were stocked with P. setiferus at 40/m². The P. setiferus postlarvae were produced at the Waddell Center from captive-reared and wild South Carolina brood stock. Rearing procedures involved paddlewheel aeration (10 hp/ha), regular water exchange (averaging 16–21%/d in all ponds), and use of a 40% protein feed. Due to the availability of postlarvae, the various treatments were stocked at different times. Both P. setiferus treatments were reared for 145 d, while the P. vannamei were reared for 165 d. P. setiferus at the 40/m² density attained mean size, survival, and standing crop biomass at harvest of 13.5 g, 97.5% and 5,259 kg/ha/crop, respectively. The 60/m²P. setiferus treatment was stocked 2 wk earlier and yielded 15.2 g mean weight, 87.5% survival, and 7,995 kg/ha/crop at harvest. The P. vannamei 60/m² treatment, which was stocked 3 wk earlier than any of the P. setiferus, produced mean size, survival and standing crop biomass at harvest of 17.1 g, 69.5% and 7,187 kg/ha/crop. Both survival and production levels would have been higher had not one replicate experienced a partial mortality due to a feeding accident. The 1989 study yielded what is thought to be the highest production levels yet achieved with P. setiferus in pond culture. These results suggest that P. setiferus may be a viable alternative to P. vannamei for intensive cultivation in the continental U.S. when P. vannamei are unavailable. Further evaluation of this potential is needed.     

Effects of Organic and Chemical Fertilizers and Biological Control of Problem Organisms on Production of Fingerling Striped Bass,Morone saxatilis

Sixteen 0.04-ha ponds were fertilized with similar amounts of nitrogen (N) and available phosphorus (P) provided by either alfalfa meal, urea and phosphoric acid, or a combination where half of the P was provided by phosphoric acid and half by alfalfa meal. Half of the ponds fertilized with the combition of nutrients were stocked with adult male common carp, Cyprim carpio, at an average biomass of 168 kg/ha to provide biological control of rooted aquatic plants and clam shrimp, Cyzicus morsie. All ponds were stocked with 25,000 larval striped bass, Morone saxatilis, at an age of D4 (Dl is the day of hatch). Median harvest density and survival were about 100,000ha and 16%. Number harvested was directly related to numbers sampled with a light and dip net at D5 and D8. Low survival was probably related to high afternoon water temperatures (25-26°C) and relatively low morning dissolved oxygen (4.6-6.5 mg/L) when larvae were D5. Stocking larvae at an age prior to swim bladder inflation resulted in an inflation success of 99%. Dynamics of average net photosynthesis, chlorophylla concentrations, and densities of crustacean zooplankton, as well as mean number, biomass, and length of fingerlings harvested were similar in all treatments, regardless of whether the source of P was organic, inorganic, or the combination. Growth rate of larvae from DS to D8 was considered satisfactory (≥0.4 mm/day) with average densities of crustacean zooplankton of 10-20/L. The average growth rate of larvae from D8 to D40 was negatively related to number harvested. A weekly fertilization rate of available P from 28-38 µg/L resulted in satisfactory average growth rate (0.83 mm/day) of decreasing numbers of larvae at increasing ages: D8-D19-150.000ha. D19-D25-125.000/ha, and D25-D40-73,000/ha The presence of adult common carp provided several benefits: effective control of Chara and filamentous algae; a lower average percentage of fingerlings stranded in vegetation when ponds were drained (0.4% vs 10.1%); lower pH; effective control of clam shrimp.     

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.     

Effects of an Extended Hatchery Phase and Vaccination against Enteric Septicemia of Catfish on the Production of Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, Fingerlings

The present study was conducted to evaluate production management methods to improve overall survival of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, fry to the fingerling stage by incorporating the use of a live, attenuated vaccine against Edwardsiella ictaluri and employing an extended hatchery phase. In this experiment, four treatments were used. In Treatment 1, 10‐d posthatch (PH) fry were vaccinated and then directly stocked into earthen ponds. In Treatments 2 and 3, 10‐d PH fry were sham‐vaccinated (control) and vaccinated, respectively, kept in nursery tanks for 22 d, and then stocked into earthen ponds. Fry in Treatment 4 were sham‐vaccinated at 10 d PH, kept in nursery tanks for 22 d, and then vaccinated prior to stocking into earthen ponds. Mean fingerling yield at harvest ranged from 4716 kg/ha in Treatment 1 to 8112 kg/ha in Treatment 4. Mean individual fish weight ranged from 38.8 g in Treatment 1 to 40.9 g in Treatment 4, and feed conversion ratios (FCR) ranged from 1.15 in Treatment 4 to 1.51 in Treatment 1. Mean survival ranged from 47.5% in Treatment 1 to 73.4% in Treatment 4. In specific comparisons to evaluate the nursery effect (Treatments 1 and 3), yield and overall survival were significantly different (P < 0.05) between these two treatments. In specific comparisons to evaluate the effect of the use of the vaccine (Treatments 2, 3, and 4), overall survival was significantly different (P < 0.05) between Treatment 2 (sham‐vaccinated control with nursery phase) and Treatment 4 (vaccinated at 32 d PH with nursery phase). No significant differences (P > 0.05) in yield, average weight, and FCR were observed between treatments. Results indicate that implementing an extended hatchery phase and vaccination strategy with older fry can improve overall survival of fingerling fish.     

Stocking strategies for production of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) in amended freshwater in inland ponds

The performance of the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) under various stocking strategies was evaluated in earthen ponds filled with freshwater amended with major ions. Six 0.1‐ha earthen ponds located in Pine Bluff, AR, USA, were filled with freshwater in 2003 and 2004, and potassium magnesium sulphate added to provide 50 mg K⁺ L^?1 and stock salt added to provide 0.5 g L^?1 salinity. In 2003, three ponds either were stocked with PL₁₅ shrimp (39 PL m^?2) for 125 days of grow out or with PL₂₅ shrimp for 55 days (23 PL m^?2) followed by a 65‐day (28 PL m^?2) grow‐out period. In 2004, ponds were stocked with 7, 13 or 30 PL₁₅ m^?2 for 134 days of grow out. Salinity averaged 0.7 g L^?1 during both years, and concentration of SO₄^?2, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ was higher, and Na⁺ and Cl^? was lower in amended pond water than in seawater at 0.7 g L^?1 salinity. Potassium concentration in amended water was 52–61% of the target concentration. Shrimp yields ranged from 3449 kg ha^?1 in 2003 to 4966 kg ha^?1 in 2004 in ponds stocked with 30–39 PL₁₅ m^?2 for a 125–134‐day culture period. At harvest, mean individual weight ranged from 17.1 to 19.3 g shrimp^?1. In ponds stocked with PL₂₅ shrimp, yields averaged 988 and 2462 kg ha^?1 for the 1st and 2nd grow‐out periods respectively. Gross shrimp yield in 2004 increased linearly from 1379–4966 kg ha^?1 with increased stocking rate. These experiments demonstrated that L. vannamei can be grown successfully in freshwater supplemented with major ions to a final salinity of 0.7 g L^?1.     

Intensification of Shrimp Culture in Earthen Ponds in South Carolina: Progress and Prospects

Experiments on the intensive cultivation of Pacific white shrimp, Penueus vunnumei, in ponds in South Carolina were begun in 1985 at the Waddell Mariculture Center. A preliminary study involved two 0.1 ha ponds stocked at an average of 43 postlarvae/m², with management practices based on those used in Taiwan for intensive pond culture of Penueus monodon. Harvest yields averaged 6,757 kg/ha for one crop, demonstrating the technical feasibility of such intensive culture of P. vannumei. In 1986, 2.5 ha of ponds at the Waddell Center (six ponds totaling 2.0 ha at 40 postlarvae/m² and two totaling 0.5 ha at 60/m²) yielded a total of 13,606 kg (5,442 ke/hn). These results were obtained even though aeration and water exchange rates were substanthlly reduced and South Carolina experienced its worst heat wave and drought. This served as a pilot-sde, proof-ofconcept test. Tank studies in 1985 and 1986 showed little effect of stocking density on shrimp growth rate at densities of 20–100 animals/m². This was confirmed in ponds in 1987 when no differences in growth rates were observed at densities of 20–100 postlarvae/m². Harvest biomass increased directly with stocking density in all trials, reaching a maximum of 12,680 kg/ha/crop at 100 shrimp/m² in 1987. Initial attempts to intensify production in the nascent South Carolina shrimp farming industry occurred in 1986, when approximately 32 ha of private ponds were stocked at densities of 10–32 postlarvae/m². Farm harvests increased with stocking density, with maximum yield of 3,656 kg/ ha/crop. This trend toward intensification in the private sector is continuing, and in 1987 maximum harvests from private ponds were 5,050 kg/ha from a 0.3 ha pond and 4,625 kg/ha from a 1.5 ha pond. Prospects for further implementation of intensive culture in the private sector appear excellent, with yields of ≥ 10,000 kg/ha/crop expected from private farms within the next few years.     

Paddlewheel Effects on Shrimp Growth, Production and Crop Value in Commercial Earthen Ponds

The effects of continuous paddlewheel operation on shrimp growth, yield and crop value were studied in Hawaii. Six 0.4 ha earthen ponds were stocked with Penaeus vannamei at 25 postlarvae/m². Three ponds served as controls with no mechanical aeration or mixing. Each of the other three ponds had two 1 hp paddlewheel aerators (3.7 kw/ha) running continuously throughout the five month trial (29 April-8 October 1986). All other management factors were applied uniformly.
Daily water temperature and use were significantly different between treatments. Paddlewheel ponds had lower water temperatures (28.3 vs. 28.5 C) and lower water use (0.8% exchange per day vs. 2.2% exchange per day) than control ponds.
Faster shrimp growth in paddlewheel ponds was evident in week 8. At week 14, mean shrimp body weights and growth rates were significantly greater. Shrimp at harvest were 21.2 ± 2.6 g in paddlewheel ponds versus 15.3 ± 2.6 g in control ponds. Mean shrimp production was 2,852 ± 222 kg/ha in paddlewheel ponds compared to only 2,061 ± 558 kg/ha in controls. Mean crop value was $13,719 per pond per crop for paddlewheel ponds versus $9,111 for control ponds. Hence, paddlewheels afforded an increase of 42% in net crop value after subtracting purchase and operating costs.     

Effects of Fertilization and of Fry Stocking Density on Pond Production of Fingerling Walleye,Stizostedion vitreum

The influence of fertilization and of fry stocking density on production of fingering walleye, Stizostedion vitreum, was evaluated in earthen ponds at North Platte State Fish Hatchery, North Platte, Nebraska. In 1990, five 0.4-ha ponds were fertilized with alfalfa pellets, and five were fertilized with soybean meal; four unfertilized ponds served as controls. All ponds were stocked with D2 (Dl = the day at hatch) walleye fry at 250.000ha. Differences in yield, number of fingerlings harvested, mean length, and mean weight amone treatments were not statistically significant (P> 0.05). In 691, two fertilization schedules (no fertilizer and fertilization with alfalfa pellets) and two fry stocking rates (250.000 and 375,000 fry/ha) were evaluated. Four ponds were used for each treatment. Statistically significant treatment differences were found in yield, number of fingerlings harvested/ha, average length, and average weight. Yield was higher in fertilized ponds compared with yield from unfertilized ponds at both stocking densities, but yield did not differ significantly between stocking density treatments given the same fertilizer treatment. Survival did not differ between density treatments, but total number of fish harvested was significantly greater from ponds stocked at the higher density. Fingerlings with the largest average weight were raised in fertilized ponds that were stocked at 250,00O/ha, while the smallest fingerlings were from unfertilized ponds that were stocked at 375,000ka. Days in culture interval, which varied among ponds by 9 days in 1990 and 10 days in 1991, was significantly correlated with most production variables in 1990 and with all production variables in 1991. Means of water quality variables were not significantly different between fertilized and unfertilized ponds in either year, but significant differences were found in means of three water quality variables between 1990 and 1991. Yield in both fertilized and unfertilized ponds in 1991 was less than in 1990.     

Preliminary Comparisons of Yield and Profit Achieved from Different Rainbow Trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss,Production Systems in Inland Western Australia

Abstract

Farmers throughout the wheatbelt of Western Australia are interested in farming rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, in saline groundwater on salt-affected farmland, to generate an alternative source of income. We compared the relative productivity and profitability of three different production systems: extensive (trout stocked in earthen ponds and totally reliant on natural food); semi-intensive (trout stocked in earthen ponds and provided with supplementary diet); intensive (trout stocked in closed, recirculating tanks). The yield of fish increased with increasing production intensity. The mean wet weight (±SE) of trout after 4 months of grow-out was 61.3±2.7 g in extensive systems, 157.9±5.2 g in semi-intensive systems and 137.9±3.9 g in intensive systems, giving mean yields of 10.8 kg/pond (13.5 kg/ha), 27.9 kg/pond (34.8 kg/ha) and 54.9 kg/tank (21.1 kg/m³), respectively. A preliminary economic analysis of the different production systems showed that the increases in yield were sufficient to balance the extra operating costs involved in semi-intensive systems, but not in intensive systems. We conclude that semi-intensive production systems deserve further study for the commercially viable production of rainbow trout from saline groundwater in Western Australia.     

Effects of Two Densities of Caged Monosex Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, on Water Quality, Phytoplankton Populations, and Production When Polycultured with Macrobrachium rosenbergii in Temperate Ponds

The effects of different densities of caged Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, on water quality, phytoplankton populations, prawn, and total pond production were evaluated in freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, production ponds. The experiment consisted of three treatments with three 0.04‐ha replicates each. All ponds were stocked with graded, nursed juvenile prawn (0.9 ± 0.6 g) at 69,000/ha. Control (CTL) ponds contained only prawns. Low‐density polyculture (LDP) ponds also contained two cages (1 m³; 100 fish/cage) of monosex male tilapia (115.6 ± 22 g), and high‐density polyculture (HDP) ponds had four cages. Total culture period was 106 d for tilapia and 114 d for prawn. Overall mean afternoon pH level was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) in polyculture ponds than in CTL ponds but did not differ (P > 0.05) between LDP and HDP. Phytoplankton biovolume was reduced in polyculture treatments. Tilapia in the LDP treatment had significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) harvest weights than in the HDP treatment. Prawn weights were higher (P ≤ 0.05) in polyculture than prawn monoculture. These data indicate that a caged tilapia/freshwater prawn polyculture system may provide pH control while maximizing pond resources in temperate areas.     

Evaluation of alternative pond production systems for raising largemouth bass,Micropterus salmoides

This study evaluated three different pond‐based production systems for raising largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, for the food fish market, using nine 0.04‐ha ponds. Treatments included traditional ponds (TP), intensively aerated ponds (IAP), and split‐pond systems (SPS). TP and SPS ponds were aerated at 9.3 kW/ha, while IAP was aerated at 18.6 kW/ha. TP was stocked at 7,500 fish per ha (three replicates per treatment), and the other two production systems (SPS, IAP) were stocked with 12,500 fish per ha. Feed‐habituated advanced fingerlings (128 ± 47.6 g mean individual weight) were cultured for 157 days. Fish were fed a formulated diet (42% protein, 16% lipid) four times a day, feeding with a maximum allowance of 3% of total body weight and readjusted to the initial body weight biweekly. Fish raised in the SPS displayed a significantly lower specific growth rate, lower individual final weight, and lower weight gain, but the biomass gained was significantly higher than TP but not IAP. Final biomass gained was 50% higher in the SPS and IAP than in the TP. Survival rate and feed conversion ratio were not significantly different among treatments and ranged from 71 to 79% and 1.64 to 2.14, respectively.     

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.     

Effects of Stocking Size and Density of Tilapia on Macrobrachium rosenbergii in Polyculture

Studies were conducted to determine the effect of stocking size and density of prawns in polyculture.
In one experiment, postlarval prawns (av. wt. 0.02 g) were stocked in six 0.02 ha earthen ponds at 35,00O/ha. Two ponds were stocked with tilapia fry (av. wt. 0.14 g) and two were stocked with tilapia fingerlings (av. wt. 30.1 g), each at 10,000/ha. Two control ponds had no tilapia. Tilipia stocking size had no effect on prawn growth. Mean weight of prawns after 70 days of culture ranged from a low of 4.5 g when cultured with tilapia fingerlings to a high of 6.6 when cultured in monoculture. Prawn survival was adversely affected by tilapia fry. Average prawn survival in tilapia fry ponds was 65% compared to 75% and 91%, respectively, in tilapia fingerling and monoculture ponds.
In a second experiment, postlarval prawns were stocked in nine 0.02 ha earthen ponds at 40,000/ ha. Six ponds were stocked with 30 g tilapia fingerlings, three at 5,000/ha and three at 15,000/ha. Three control ponds received prawns only. After 100 days of culture, prawn weight ranged from an average of 15.9 g in monoculture ponds to 11.5 g in polyculture ponds. Survival was highest (93.8%) in low density polyculture ponds. Survival was lowest (85.6%) in prawn monoculture ponds. Tilapia reproduction had a negative impact on shrimp production.     

MONO- AND POLYCULTURE OF Penaeus vannamei AND P. stylirostris IN PONDS

Polyculture of fish has been shown to be an effective means of increasing production beyond that achieved in monoculture, but little research has been conducted to evaluate the effect of polyculture on production of shrimp species. This research was designed to investigate performance of Penaeus vannamei (v) and P. stylirostris (s) in monoculture (treatments 100v and 100s) as well as in polyculture at various species ratios (75v:25s, 50v:50s, and 25v:75s) at a constant density of 1.8 × 10⁵ /ha. Shrimp were stocked into fifteen 0.1-ha ponds at the Texas A&M University Mariculture Facility for 123–134 days. Results indicate a higher mean survival rate (73 vs 22%) but lower mean growth rate (0.09 vs 0.14 g/day) of P. vannamei than P. stylirostris. Survival rates of neither species differed significantly among treatments. Final weight of each species significantly decreased with increasing density of the same species but significantly increased with increasing density of the other species. Best growth of both species occurred in the 75v:25s treatment. Observed differences in distribution and diel activity of the two species within ponds may partly explain the compatability of these two species in polyculture. Production rates (range, 690 to 2,180 kg/ha) and value (range, US$2,720 to US$5,740/ha) among treatments generally increased with increasing composition of P. vannamei; however, no significant difference in mean value was detected between the 100v and 75v:25s treatments. As a secondary objective of this study, performance of shrimp (25v: 75s treatment) in a single-phase pond system was compared to that in a three-phase (nursery, intermediate, and grow-out) system. Survival, growth, production, and value were found to be similar between systems.     

Effects of Co‐stocking Smallmouth Buffalo,Ictiobus bubalus,with Channel Catfish,Ictalurus punctatus

Proliferative gill disease (PGD) in catfish is caused by the myxozoan Henneguya ictaluri. The complex life cycle requires Dero digitata as the oligochaete host. Efforts to control PGD by eradicating D. digitata have been unsuccessful. Smallmouth buffalo, Ictiobus bubalus, (SMB) are opportunistic bottom feeders and a putative option for controlling D. digitata. In 2011, 15 ponds (0.4 ha) were stocked with 5000 channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus; 7 of these 15 ponds were also stocked with 300 SMB fingerlings. There were no differences in benthic invertebrate numbers or water quality variables between ponds with or without SMB. At harvest, there were no differences in percent survival, total weight, or catfish feed conversion ratio. In the second year, 18 ponds (0.4 ha) were stocked with 6000 channel catfish. Half the ponds were also stocked with 300 SMB. Sentinel fish were used to estimate disease severity, and pond water was collected for molecular estimation of H. ictaluri actinospore concentrations. Similar to the first year, there were no differences between treatments in any variable tested, including PGD severity in sentinel fish and parasite concentrations in pond water. Under these study conditions, presence of SMB did not have a measureable effect on PGD incidence, parasite density, or overall catfish production.     

Forage-Based Feeding in Commercial Red Claw Ponds in Ecuador

Abstract

Red claw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, are perhaps the first tropical species of crayfish to be cultured commercially. Culture traits and high market value could allow semi-intensive culture. Feeding strategies used in extensive crayfish ponds in temperate climates may not be the most appropriate for semi-intensive culture systems where year-round growth is possible. The following study was conducted to evaluate differences between using a pellet-based system versus a pellet-plus-forage-based system. The study was conducted in 14 0.3-ha ponds on a commercial farm in Ecuador. Juvenile red claw (1-2 g) were stocked into all ponds at a rate of 4/m². All ponds received pelleted shrimp rations at a rate of 3% per day. Seven ponds also received dried hay at a rate of 100 kg/ha/mo during the 3-month study. At harvest, red claw weights were similar (30-34 g), but survivals were significantly higher in ponds receiving pellets and hay (65%) than in ponds receiving pellets only (50%). Yields in pellet-fed ponds averaged 594 kg/ha, while red claw receiving pellets plus forage averaged 889 kg/ha. The addition of dried forage was thought to provide a larger variety of natural food organisms throughout a greater area of the pond bottom and provided additional substrate for dispersal and hiding. Addition of grasses from outside the pond is recommended over production of grasses grown within the pond.     

Production Comparison of Three Genetic Strains of Freshwater Prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii,Raised Under Two Pond Management Technologies

Three genetic strains (Texas [cultured], Hawaii [cultured], and Myanmar [wild]) of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, were characterized and compared under two pond grow‐out management technologies using a 3 × 2 factorial design. Juvenile prawns (45 d nursed juveniles) from each strain were stocked at individual average weights of 0.4 ± 0.3 g (Texas), 0.3 ± 0.2 g (Hawaii), and 0.3 ± 0.2 g (Myanmar). The low input management technology prawns were stocked at 24,700 /ha with no added substrate. The high input management technology prawns were stocked at 74,100 /ha with the addition of artificial substrate. Each of the six treatment combinations were replicated in three, 0.04 ha earthen ponds (total of 18 ponds). Prawns were fed a sinking pellet (32% protein) once daily at a standardized rate. After 112 d, prawns were harvested, bulk weighed, and counted. Survival of Texas strain (95%) was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than Myanmar strain (77–80%) under both management technologies with survival of Hawaii strain (86–91%) intermediate and not significantly different (P > 0.05) from other strains. Under both management technologies, average weight, total production, and marketable percentage (>20 g) was significantly better (P ≤ 0.05) in Texas and Hawaii strains in comparison to the Myanmar strain. These data appear to indicate that the cultured strains evaluated in this study demonstrate positive impacts of domestication and do not indicate inbreeding depression.     

The Effect of Varying Biomass of Carryover Fish in Multiple‐batch Catfish,Ictalurus punctatus,Pond Production

The presence of carryover (fish >350 g stocked the previous year but not yet market size) channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, in multiple‐batch production ponds has been shown to affect overall production performance and costs. However, little attention has been paid to effects of varying biomasses of carryover fish in ponds. Twelve 0.1‐ha earthen ponds were stocked March 20, 2007, with 15,000 catfish fingerlings per ha (mean weight 31 g), and carryover fish at either 726, 1460, or 2187 kg/ha (mean weight 408 g, range 204–703 g) to compare the effect of three different biomasses of carryover catfish on the production performance of understocked fingerlings. Gross and net yields increased with increasing biomass of carryover fish. Growth and mean weight at harvest of fingerlings were significantly greater at the lowest biomass of carryover fish (<1460 kg/ha), but there was no difference between the medium and high carryover density treatments. Net returns were highest with the highest biomass of carryover fish, but fell by $688/ha in Year 2 because of slower growth of fingerlings in Year 1.     

Laboratory and on‐farm evaluation of low‐cost salt mixtures for use during salinity acclimation and the nursery phase of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

The current study evaluates the efficacy of a low‐cost salt mixture (LCSM) to replace expensive reconstituted sea salt (RSS) in the salinity acclimation and nursery phase of Pacific white shrimp under laboratory and farm conditions. LCSM was formulated to yield sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium concentrations closely comparable to that of diluted seawater. Laboratory‐based nursery trials were conducted at 2, 6 and 15 g/L salinities, incrementally replacing RSS with LCSM (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) at four replicates per treatment. Thirty postlarvae were reared for 7 days in 24‐L aquaria during the 2 and 6 g/L trials, while the nursery trial for 15 g/L salinity was conducted for 21 days with 400 postlarvae stocked in 150‐L tanks. On‐farm evaluation of LCSM was carried out in two tank‐based systems installed on levees adjacent to shrimp production ponds. RSS was incrementally replaced with LCSM (0%, 50%, 75% and 100%) and 100 postlarvae stocked into each 800‐L tank. Salinity acclimation was done from 30 g/L to 6 or 1.5 g/L within 2–3 days by pumping water from adjacent shrimp production ponds. Following salinity acclimation, the S4 system maintained flow‐through at 1.5 g/L, while N10 system was maintained static at 6 g/L salinity. At the conclusion, no significant differences were observed for either survival or growth of shrimp postlarvae between RSS and LCSM treatments at all salinities examined. Results reflect the potential use of LCSM to replace RSS, which could be an excellent solution to bring down the cost of production in inland shrimp aquaculture.