Effects of feeding frequencies on growth performance of white leg shrimp (Litopenaenus vannamei)

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the most suitable and effective feeding frequency for the growth of vannamei shrimp in a recirculating system. The experiment consisted of four treatments of different feeding frequencies three, four, five, and six daily feeding times. The experiment was quadruplicated, arranged on 16 one cubic meter aerated composite tanks, and cultured in 56 days. Shrimp had an initial weight of 3.45±0.34 cm, an initial length of 9.17±0.37 cm, and stocked at a density of 200 individual/m3 . The feed used is Proconco brand white leg shrimp feed (40% protein). Water quality parameters are periodically monitored during the rearing process. During the culture period, the variation of parameters (temperature, pH, alkalinity, TAN, nitrite, nitrate) between treatments was not too obvious. After 56 days of culture, the growth rate of shrimp in terms of weight and length in different treatments was not statistically significant. In the treatment of 6 feedings per day, the survival rate (77.38±11.84 %), biomass (2.38±0.43 kg/m3 ) was the highest and the FR (1.30±0.23) was the most effective, these numbers were significantly different from the other treatments. The results showed that farming vannamei shrimp in a recirculating system with a frequency of 6 feedings per was quite good, but there was no significant difference compared to treatment 4 and 5 times. It is possible to apply the treatment 4 and 5 times feeding, if there are labor and money conditions, the treatment 6 times feeding can be applied. In practice, it is recommended to feed shrimp in 24 hours and divide feeding times by 24 hours.