The effect of four substrates on growth and survival of Penaeus vannamei at two salinities

The marine shrimp, Penaeus vannamei Boone, was cultured on four substrates at two salinities for 56 days. Test substrates included three soils (fine sand, coarse sand and clay) and an impermeable substrate (bare fiberglass tank bottoms). Test salinities were 45 ppt and 27 ppt. Juveniles of 0.94 g mean weight were stocked at 15/n2 in 1.2 m diameter, outdoor tanks. Results indicated that P. vannamei has no soil substrate requirement for the 1 to 15 g size category. Significantly higher final weights were observed with impermeable substrate than with any soil substrate at both salinities tested (15.1 g at 27 pot, 13.2 g at 45 ppt). Shrimp cultured on sand substrates had higher final weights than shrimp cultured on clay, although the difference was not statistically significant in the higher salinity group. Average weight gain ranged from 1.55 to 1.77 g/week in the 27 ppt treatments and from 1.33 to 1.54 g/week in the 45 ppt treatments.