The Culture of Larval Penaeid Shrimp

Large numbers of penaeid shrimp were reared to postlarvae from eggs spawned in the laboratory. Rearing containers were four 1,040-liter tanks and one 1,890-liter tank. Temperature affected the rate of development through the larval stages. In water of 30 ppt (parts per thousand) salinity, the average time required for larvae of brown shrimp to reach first postlarval stage was 17 days at 24 C, 12.5 days at 28 C, and 11 days at 32 C. Survival of nauplii was best at 24 C, and as the shrimp became protozoeae and myses, survival usually increased with an incease in temperature. Larvae did not survive at salinities above 35 ppt or below 27 ppt. Algae tested for shrimp food were: Cyclotella nana, Isochrysis galbana, Skeletonema costatum, Thalassiosira sp., and a mixture of all four types. Isochrysis appeared to be the least suitable food, and the mixed algae and Thalassiosira probably were the best.