Influence of Salinity and Dissolved Oxygen on Growth of Pacific White Shrimp Using Bore Water

Abstract

This study examined salinity, dissolved oxygen and production outcomes during the culture of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in three bore-water ponds at Etikatta, Andhra Pradesh, India. Each pond covered 0.6 ha and was stocked at 50 postlarvae/m². Shrimp received a commercial artificial diet containing 35–42% protein four times daily. Water-quality parameters were recorded at fortnightly intervals, and the reported culture period was 118 days. Across the ponds, salinity ranged from 5.0 to 10.0 ppt, while dissolved oxygen ranged from 4.0 to 4.6 ppm. Both parameters generally increased over the observation period. The final average body weights were 17.28, 19.23 and 20.0 g in Ponds 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Corresponding survival rates were 85%, 76% and 63%, with total production of 4,406, 4,384 and 3,780 kg. Feed consumption was 6,260, 6,720 and 6,220 kg, respectively, and the reported feed conversion ratios were approximately 1.42, 1.53 and 1.65. Pond 1 achieved the greatest survival and production, whereas Pond 3 produced the largest individual shrimp. Selling prices increased from Rs 295/kg in Pond 1 to Rs 325/kg in Pond 3, and reported profit per kilogram increased from Rs 80 to Rs 115. These observations describe differences in biological and economic performance among bore-water ponds without establishing a causal effect of salinity or dissolved oxygen.