Rearing white leg shrimp larvae (Litopenaeus vannamei Boone, 1931) with concentrated diatom (Thalassiosira sp.)

Abstract

The objective of the experiment was to determine the best type of algae for growth, survival rate and the metamorphosis time of white leg shrimp larvae. The experiment consisted of five treatments: dried Spirulina sp. (NT 1), fresh Chaetoceros sp. (NT 2), fresh Thalassiosira sp. (NT 3), Thalassiosira sp. in concentrated form (NT 4) and Thalasiosira sp. in paste form (NT 5). The larvae at Nauplius VI were stocked in 0.5 m3 tank at the stocking density of 200 inds/L. The care regime was applied according to the popular process at the National Breeding Center for Southern Marine Aquaculture. After 10 days of stocking, the water parameters in all treatments were in a suitable range for the growth of larvae. The larvae in NT 4 showed the best body length, survival rate, metamorphosis time and were significant difference compared to the remaining treatments (P < 0.05). Whereas NT 5 was not significantly different (P > 0.05) compared to NT 2 in body length and NT 3 in metamorphosis time. NT 1 showed the worst these characteristics to the other treatments. In general, the use of concentrated Thalassiosira sp. for rearing white leg shrimp larvae gives good results, which should be commonly applied.