Effect of bioflocs on growth and immune activity of Pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei postlarvae

The bioflocs technology (BFT) for shrimp production has been proposed as a sustainable practice capable of reducing environmental impacts and preventing pathogen introduction. The microbial community associated with BFT not only detoxifies nutrients, but also can improve feed utilization and animal growth. Biofloc system contains abundant number of bacteria of which cell wall consists of various components such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan and β‐1, 3‐glucans, and is known as stimulating nonspecific immune activity of shrimp. Bioflocs, therefore, are assumed to enhance shrimp immunity because they consume the bioflocs as additional food source. Although there are benefits for having an in situ microbial community in BFT systems, better understanding on these microorganisms, in particular molecular level, is needed. A fourteen‐day culture trial was conducted with postlarvae of Litopenaeus vannamei in the presence and absence of bioflocs. To determine mRNA expression levels of shrimp, we selected six genes (prophenoloxidase1, prophenoloxidase2, prophenoloxidase activation enzyme, serine proteinase1, masquerade‐like proteinase, and ras‐related nuclear protein) which are involved in a series of responses known as the prophenoloxidase (proPO) cascade, one of the major innate immune responses in crustaceans. Significant differences in shrimp survival and final body weights were found between the clear water and in the biofloc treatments. mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in the biofloc treatment than the clear water control. These results suggest that the presence of bioflocs in the culture medium gives positive effect on growth and immune‐related genes expression in L.vannamei postlarvae.     

Effects of a yeast‐based additive on growth and immune responses of white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931), and aquaculture environment

A 60 days feeding experiment was conducted to determine the effects of YK‐6 (a yeast culture feed supplement) on growth and immune responses of white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei and aquaculture environment in commercial scale farms composed of nine ponds. Three treatments (control, Diet 1 and Diet 2) were designed to contain YK‐6 levels of 0.0, 1.0 and 1.5 g kg^?1 respectively. At the end of the test, the mean production of Diet 1 (0.649 ± 0.030 kg m^?2) and Diet 2 (0.648 ± 0.033 kg m^?2) were significantly higher than that of the control by 29.5% and 29.3% respectively. The feed conversion ratio decreased significantly by 12.3% (Diet 1) and 8.5% (Diet 2) compared with the control group respectively. The environmental indices indicate that the quality of water and pond sediment was improved. The endotoxin concentrations, the number of Vibrios and heterotrophic bacteria in the shrimp intestine of the treatment groups were significantly lower than that of the control, particularly in the later stage of the farming period. The YK‐6 extended positive effects on growth, improved sediment quality, reduced endotoxin in shrimp intestine, and enhanced activities of lysozyme and phenoloxidase.     

Effects of dietary nucleotides on growth,survival and metabolic response in whiteleg shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei against ammonia stress condition

This trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of nucleotides on growth of whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, and the survival and metabolic responses to ammonia stress test. Experimental diets were as follows: low fish meal diet (LFMD), and four LFMD test diets, each supplemented with 0.1% guanosine monophosphate (GMP), 0.1% inosine monophosphate (IMP), 0.1% mixture of GMP and IMP and 0.1% mixture of GMP, IMP, uridine monophosphate (UMP) and cytidine monophosphate (CMP). The shrimp specimens (initial body weight: 0.99 ± 0.01 g) were randomly allocated into five groups and fed four times daily for 8‐weeks. After the trial, final body weight was recorded and haemolymph was withdrawn for haematological analysis. The shrimp was then challenged with 70 mg/L ammonia (LC50) for 10 days. Survival and haemolymph of the shrimp were taken after exposure to ammonia. The highest growth performance was observed in the shrimp fed diet supplemented with GMP (p < .05), while survival was not influenced by the test diets in the feeding trial. In the ammonia challenge test, the highest survival was observed in the shrimp fed GMP supplemented diet compared to others. The plasma protein, glucose and cholesterol levels increased in all the treatments while triglycerides level decreased post challenge. Cortisol level recovered at day 10th after the challenge. Shrimps fed with nucleotides diets showed higher protein and glucose level compared to control groups post challenge. In general, nucleotides supplemented in the diet enhanced growth, improved stress resistance while modulating the haemolymph metabolites in L. vannamei under ammonia stress.     

Effects of supplemental Azomite in diets on growth,immune function and disease resistance of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of dietary Azomite, a natural mineral of volcanic ash, on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, serum non‐specific immunity and disease resistance of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Graded levels of 0.0 g kg^?1 (control group), 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0 g kg^?1 Azomite were supplemented in basal diet to feed shrimps. After 6 weeks feeding, weight gains of the 2.0 and 4.0 g kg^?1 Azomite groups were significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with control group, the activities of stomach protease, hepatopancreas lipase, and serum alkaline phosphatase, lysozyme and phenoloxidase were significantly increased by the 4.0 g kg^?1 Azomite addition (P < 0.05). When subjected to hypoxia stress, the lethal times of the first shrimp and all shrimps were both delayed by the addition of 2.0–6.0 g kg^?1 Azomite to diets, compared with the lethal time of control group. At the 96th hour after the injection of bacterium (Vibrio alginolyticus), the accumulated mortality of 4.0 g kg^?1 Azomite addition group was 34.6% lower than that of control group (P < 0.05). The results showed that dietary levels of 2.0 and 4.0 g kg^?1 Azomite can improve the growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, serum non‐specific immune function and disease resistance of white shrimp.     

Dietary thiamin could improve growth performance,feed utilization and non‐specific immune response for juvenile Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

This study evaluated the effect of dietary thiamin on growth performance, feed utilization and non‐specific immune response for juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Six isonitrogenous and isolipidic practical diets were formulated with graded thiamin levels of 6.9, 32.7, 54.2, 78.1, 145.1 and 301.5 mg kg^?1 of dry diet, respectively. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 30 juvenile shrimp and provided four times each day to apparent satiation. Weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) of the shrimp were significantly influenced by the dietary thiamin levels, the maximal WG and SGR occurred at 54.2 mg kg^?1 dietary thiamin level. However, with further increase in dietary thiamin level from 54.2 to 301.5 mg kg^?1, the WG and SGR significantly decreased. Shrimp fed the 54.2 mg kg^?1 thiamin diet exhibited higher feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio and protein productive value than those fed the other diets. Dry matter and protein content in whole body were significantly affected by the dietary thiamin levels. Thiamin concentration in hepatopancreas significantly increased when the dietary thiamin level increased from 6.9 to 145.1 mg kg^?1. The total protein, glucose, triacylglycerol and cholesterol contents in hemolymph were not significantly affected by the dietary thiamin levels. Dietary thiamin had significantly influenced superoxide dismutase, catalase and lysozyme activities in hemolymph. Results of this study indicated that the optimal dietary thiamin requirements estimated using a two‐slope broken‐line model based on WG and thiamin concentration in hepatopancreas were 44.66 and 152.83 mg kg^?1, respectively.     

Effects of low salinity exposure on immunological,physiological and growth performance in Litopenaeus vannamei

Growth, immunological and physiological parameters of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei reared at different salinity levels (1, 10, 15, 25 and 35 g/L) at stocking density of 214 shrimp/m³ were examined at 1, 30 and 63 days. Results showed that the total haemocyte count (THC) of shrimp decreased with time at all salinity levels, indicating a potential reduction in the resistance of shrimp against pathogens, since a low value of THC indicates a perturbation of the immune system. Glucose and protein values observed in the haemolymph throughout the study indicate that shrimp adapted well to low salinities (1, 10 and 15 g/L). Although of those shrimp reared at 10 g/L only 83.3% survived, at this salinity, shrimp depicted a higher glucose concentration in haemolymph at the beginning and end of the study.     

Hypoxia‐induced changes in survival,immune response and antioxidant status of the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) fed with graded levels of dietary myo‐inositol

A 3‐hr experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary myo‐inositol (MI) supplementation on survival, immune response and antioxidant abilities in Litopenaeus vannamei under acute hypoxia stress. Six practical diets were formulated with supplementation of graded levels (control group 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 g/kg dry diet) of MI and were randomly assigned to triplicate groups of L. vannamei (mean weight 0.40 ± 0.00 g) for 8 weeks. Ten healthy shrimp (final mean weight approximately 11–14 g) randomly selected from each tank were exposed to hypoxia stress after feeding trial. After 3‐hr acute hypoxia stress, survival of shrimp fed MI‐supplemented diets (except 0.1 and 0.4 g/kg diets) was significantly increased compared with the control group. Shrimp fed control diet had lower activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), acid phosphatase (ACP), total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and higher malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) contents in hepatopancreas than those fed the MI‐supplemented diets. In addition, mRNA expression levels of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), catalase (CAT) and penaeidin were significantly differentially regulated in hepatopancreas. In summary, dietary MI supplementation may have a positive effect on improving resistance to acute hypoxia stress of L. vannamei.     

Effects of different carbon sources and dietary protein levels in a biofloc system on growth performance,immune response against white spot syndrome virus infection and cathepsin L gene expression of Litopenaeus vannamei

A 5‐week study was performed to evaluate the effect of spoilage date extract (SDE) as the biofloc carbon source on Litopenaeus vannamei (5.4 ± 0.3 g) performance. The two levels of dietary protein (15% and 25% crude protein) and two carbohydrate sources (molasses‐M and SDE‐P) were tested including: M15, M25, P15 and P25. The minimum (0.2 ± 0.0 mg/L) and the maximum (0.5 ± 0.0 mg/L) of total ammonia nitrogen were observed in the P15 and M25 groups respectively. The highest protein efficiency ratio (6.1 ± 0.3) and protein productive value (112.3 ± 5.8%) were found in the P15 group (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found between biofloc treatments in the expression of cathepsin L gene in hepatopancreas (p > 0.05). The number of total haemocyte count (THC), semigranular cells (SGC) and granular cells (GC) of shrimp in SDE‐based biofloc treatments was relatively higher than those in molasses‐based biofloc treatments. Following the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) challenge, a significant decrease in THC, SGC, GC and hyaline cell values was observed in all treatments (p = 0.001). Plasma biochemical parameters were significantly influenced by dietary protein levels, biofloc carbon sources as well as WSSV challenge test. In conclusion, SDE successfully could be used as an alternative carbon source for establishing a biofloc system in L. vannamei production.     

Effect of using sodium bicarbonate to adjust the pH to different levels on water quality,the growth and the immune response of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei reared in zero‐water exchange biofloc‐based culture tanks

The bioflocs technology proved to be a sustainable technique used in zero‐water exchange shrimp culture systems. However, the pH and alkalinity may decrease due to the biofloc formation process and Nitrification. A 48‐day experiment was performed to investigate the effects of different pH (7.1–7.6; 7.6–8.1) conditions on water quality, the growth and the health status of shrimp in biofloc technology (BFT) through using sodium bicarbonate to adjust pH respectively. Two pH treatments and one control were compared: T0 — control, T1 — pH 7.6 — NaHCO₃, T2 — pH 8.1 — NaHCO₃, each treatment consisted of three replicate tanks (90 L water volume) and each replicate stocked with 30 shrimp (equivalent to 333 shrimp m^?3). Significant physical, chemical and biological differences (P < 0.05) were detected among treatments. At the end of the experiment, water quality, the growth and the immune response of shrimp in control were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than the other treatments. Moreover, the T2 treatment had a better performance in these three aspects. The results indicated that it was necessary to adjust the pH and alkalinity in the BFT, and a higher pH as well as alkalinity for shrimp growth and the stability of the BFT were more favourable.     

美人鱼发光杆菌对凡纳滨对虾非特异性 免疫功能及抗病力的影响

在基础饲料中分别添加0.1%和1%美人鱼发光杆菌灭活菌、0.1%美人鱼发光杆菌活菌配制成3种免疫实验饲料,以基础饲料为空白对照组饲料,每组设3个平行样。对个体质量为(4.83±0.36)g的凡纳滨对虾进行为期20 d的饲养实验,分别在0、5、10、15和20d进行取样,以血清中的酚氧化酶(PO)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和溶菌酶(UL)活性为免疫指标,探讨了美人鱼发光杆菌作为免疫制剂对凡纳滨对虾非特异性免疫效应的影响;在投喂免疫饲料后的第22天,按0.004 2 kg/kg体重的剂量,直接投喂对虾白斑综合征病毒(WSSV)病料,并记录累积死亡率。结果表明,美人鱼发光杆菌免疫实验组对凡纳滨对虾血清中PO、ACP、AKP、UL和SOD活性影响明显高于对照组,并且在饲料中添加美人鱼发光杆菌后,明显提高了对虾抵御WSSV感染的能力。其中0.1%美人鱼发光杆菌活菌实验组的抗病毒感染能力最强,WSSV感染14d内累计死亡率为63.3%±5.8%;而对照组为96.7%±3.3%。研究表明,美人鱼发光杆菌添加在对虾饲料中能提高凡纳滨对虾非特异性免疫水平,增强抵抗疾病的能力,将其作为对虾免疫增强剂具有良好的应用前景。     

Effects of Pediococcus pentosaceus supplementation on growth performance,intestinal microflora and disease resistance of white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

Litopenaeus vannamei is economically important shrimp species in worldwide aquaculture. This study was conducted to assess the effect of different levels of probiotic Pediococcus pentosaceus (PP) on growth performance, feed utilization, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal microflora count and body composition of L. vannamei. Four diets containing different concentrations [0 (PP0), 10⁶ (PPI), 10⁷ (PPII) and 10⁸ (PPIII) CFU/g] of PP were formulated. After 8 weeks feeding trial, the experimental shrimps were challenged with Vibrio anguillarum and noted the surveillance. At the end of the feeding trial, the obtained results revealed a significant increase (p < .05) in final body weight, final length, weight gain (WG), survival rate, protease and amylase activities, lactobacillus sp. and Bacillus sp. intestinal count, total haemocyte counts (THC) and lysozyme activity in PPIII group when compared with the other groups. Similarly, WG, amylase activity, Bacillus sp. count, THC and lysozyme activity were significantly enhanced in case of PPII compared to the control group (p < .05). Interestingly, FCR and Vibrio sp. counts were significantly decreased in case of PPIII group when compared to the other groups (p < .05). Also, significant level of surveillance was noted in the challenging test with V. anguillarum. These results suggested that the P. pentosaceus improved the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, immunity and tolerance against V. anguillarum of L. vannamei.     

Effects of dietary astaxanthin on growth,antioxidant capacity and gene expression in Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (1050 individuals with initial weight of 1.01 ± 0.001 g) were fed either control diet or one of six dietary astaxanthin (AX) concentration (25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 mg kg⁻¹) diets for 56 days in 35 tanks (30 shrimp per tank). After 56 days of culture, shrimp‐fed AX125 and AX150 diets had higher (P < 0.05) weight gain, specific growth rate, total antioxidant status and lower (P < 0.05) superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) than shrimp fed control diet. After low dissolved oxygen stress for 1 h, survival rate of shrimp fed AX75, AX100, AX125 and AX150 diets was higher (P < 0.05) than that of shrimp fed control diet. Hypoxia inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α), cytosolic manganese superoxide dismutase (cMnSOD) and CAT mRNA expression levels of shrimp fed seven diets were significantly down‐regulated under hypoxia than under normoxia, but their expression levels were higher under hypoxia in shrimp fed AX‐supplemented diets than in shrimp fed control diet. About 70‐kDa heat‐shock protein (Hsp70) mRNA expression level of shrimp fed seven diets was significantly up‐regulated under hypoxia than under normoxia, but its expression level was lower under hypoxia in shrimp fed AX‐supplemented diets than in shrimp fed control diet.     

Changes in the intestinal bacterial community during the growth of white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

In this study, we documented the changes in the intestinal bacterial community at four stages in Litopenaeus vannamei: 14 days postlarvae (L14) and 1‐, 2‐ and 3‐month old juveniles (J1, J2, J3), using 454 pyrosequencing techniques. The intestinal bacterial community was dominated by three bacterial phyla, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria at all stages. However, the relative abundance and bacterial lineages varied at the family level. The intestinal bacterial community of L14 and J1 was similar, with dominant members belonging to the Comamonadaceae of Betaproteobacteria. Conversely, bacterial members affiliated to Flavobacteriaceae of Bacteroidetes were dominant in J2 and Vibrionaceae of Gammaproteobacteria was dominant in J3. The abundance of Microbacteriaceae of Actinobacteria also fluctuated during the four stages. Bacterial members of Flavobacteriaceae and Rhodobacteraceae (Alphaproteobacteria) were present through all growth stages, and likely form the intestinal core microbiome of L. vannamei. However, they varied at the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) level through the growth stages. The intestinal bacterial community of pond‐rearing shrimp included the three main bacterial phyla identified above, and an additional group, Mycoplasmataceae of Mollicutes. Our results demonstrate that the intestinal bacterial community of L. vannamei was highly dynamic during the growth stages. Bacterial members belonging to Commamonadaceae dominated in the earlier growth stage of shrimp, possibly influenced by feeding with Artemia nauplii, but there was a shift to Flavobacteriaceae in the mid and Vibrionaceae in the late growth stages.     

Dietary niacin levels in practical diets for Litopenaeus vannamei to support maximum growth

This study investigated the effects of dietary niacin on growth performance, feed utilization and non‐specific immune response in juvenile Pacific white shrimp. Six isonitrogenous and isolipidic practical diets were formulated with graded niacin levels of 10.9, 65.8, 121.2, 203.4, 387.5 and 769.3 mg kg^?1 of dry diet, respectively. Results indicated that per cent weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and protein productive value (PPV) were significantly influenced by the dietary niacin levels. The maximum WG and SGR occurred at 121.2 mg kg^?1 niacin diet. However, survival and proximate composition of whole body were not significantly affected by the dietary niacin levels. Dietary niacin levels had no significant effects on the total protein, glucose, triacylglycerol and cholesterol contents in the haemolymph. The activity of catalase and lysozyme in the haemolymph was significantly affected by dietary niacin levels. Based on a two‐slope regression analysis of SGR against dietary niacin level, the dietary niacin requirement of juvenile Pacific white shrimp was 109.6 mg kg^?1.     

Dietary choline improves growth performance,antioxidant ability and reduces lipid metabolites in practical diet for juvenile Pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary choline levels on growth performance, antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolites in juvenile Pacific white shrimp. Six isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated to supply 0, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, 10,000 mg/kg choline chloride, and dietary choline levels were analysed to be 1,317 (basal diet), 1,721, 2,336, 3,294, 5,421 and 9,495 mg/kg, respectively. Dietary choline levels significantly influenced percent weight gain (PWG) and protein efficiency ratio (PER), with the highest PWG was observed in shrimp fed the 5,421 mg/kg choline diet. However, there were no significant differences in proximate composition of whole body and muscle. Shrimp fed the diet containing 2,336 mg/kg choline had lower HDL and LDL in haemolymph than those fed the basal diet (1,317 mg/kg diet). Dietary choline prevented the accumulation of free radicals and improved antioxidant capacity by increasing catalase activity and reducing malondialdehyde content. Based on broken‐line regression and quadratic regression analysis between PWG against dietary choline levels, the optimal choline requirements were estimated to be 3,254.1 and 6,488.3 mg/kg for juvenile L. vannamei, respectively.     

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection and immunity responses in white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) exposed to sublethal levels of metals

To determine if exposure to a sublethal mixture of metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) increases susceptibility to White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection, Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles were fed WSSV‐infected shrimp tissues after 21 days of exposure to the metal mixture (WS‐MM treatment). Other treatments consisted of shrimp not exposed to metals and fed infected tissues (WS), and shrimp fed healthy tissues and exposed (MM) or not exposed to metals (C). The presence of viral DNA and inclusion bodies was detected at 32 hr postinfection (hpi) in the stomach epithelium of shrimp from the WS treatment, and eight hours later in shrimp from the WS‐MM treatment, possibly because of an initial negative effect of metals in viral replication. At 40 hpi, the severity of infection represented by the histopathological index increased in both WS and WS‐MM treatments, and values were higher in WS‐MM than in WS shrimp at the end of the experiment. From 56 hpi to the end of experiment, total hemocyte counts were lower in both WS‐MM and WS treatments, and concentrations were particularly low in WS‐MM shrimp. Conversely, phenoloxidase activity was higher in the WS‐MM treatment from 32 to 56 hpi, suggesting a possible role of the prophenoloxidase (proPO) system in the antiviral defense against WSSV. The presence of heavy metals at sublethal concentrations may increase shrimp susceptibility to WSSV; this is supported by a decrease in circulating hemocytes, an increase in the humoral response, and the development of a higher number of WSSV inclusion bodies.     

Administration of probiotic Bacillus licheniformis induces growth,immune and antioxidant enzyme activities,gut microbiota assembly and resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Litopenaeus vannamei

This study aimed to elucidate the effects of dietary Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 11946 (BL) on the growth, immune and antioxidant activities, intestinal morphology and microbiota, and susceptibility to Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VP_AHPND) in juvenile pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (LV). Juvenile LV (initial weight = 0.63 ± 0.001) were fed diets containing varying BL concentrations (0 (BL0), 10⁶ (BL1), 10⁷ (BL2) and 10⁸ (BL3) CFU/g feed) for 8 weeks. Growth performance, immune and antioxidant enzyme activities, and intestinal morphology significantly improved in the probiotic‐treated groups than the untreated. Regardless of the treatment group, the two dominant phyla were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, whereas the two dominant genera were Ruegeria and Vibrio. Increasing inclusion of probiotics in diets led to significant increase in beneficial bacterial genera (Ruegeria, and Pseudoalteromonas) and a significant decrease in some known opportunistic pathogens (Vibrio, Tenacibaculum, Photobacterium, Kangiella and Spongiimonas) with the BL3 group witnessing the best. A 7‐day challenge study with VP_AHPND showed significantly high protection in the probiotic‐treated groups, with the BL3, BL2 and BL1 obtaining 51%, 34% and 22% relative percentage survival, respectively. In conclusion, BL at 10⁸ CFU/g feed should be used to help in shrimp production since it attained the most significant improvement.     

Evaluating the effects of dietary resistant starch on growth,digestion, metabolism,immunity and resistance to ammonia stress in Litopenaeus vannamei

Resistant starch (RS) is considered to be a good alternative to antibiotics. A 56‐day feeding trial was followed by induction of acute ammonia stress to evaluate the effects of dietary RS on growth, digestion, metabolism, immunity and resistance to ammonia stress in Litopenaeus vannamei. The four diets used differed only in RS content: 0 g/kg (Control), 10 g/kg (RS1), 30 g/kg (RS2) and 50 g/kg (RS3). The results showed that dietary RS improved the growth and the survival rates of shrimp exposed to ammonia stress. At 56 days, the activity of digestive and metabolic enzymes (amylase, lipase, pepsin, hexokinase and pyruvate kinase) was increased in the three RS groups, while trypsin activity only increased in the RS1 and RS2 groups; immune‐related parameters (the total antioxidant capacity; the activity of superoxide dismutase, total nitric oxide synthase and phenoloxidase; and the expression of heat‐shock protein 70, thioredoxin, prophenoloxidase, lysozyme and toll gene) were increased in the three RS groups. After exposure to ammonia stress, all the selected immune parameters of the three RS groups were higher than those of the control group at 24 hr. Therefore, dietary RS improved the growth, digestion, metabolism, immunity and resistance to ammonia stress in L. vannamei.