LOW-COST EXPERIMENTAL UNIT AND GROWTH-MEDIUM FOR TESTING SOIL EFFECTSON SHRIMP CULTURE

PVC pipes, 10 cm in diameter and 46 cm long, sealed at one end and fil led with 18 ppt of artificial seawater and a 6-cm layer of substrate, were tested as experimental units for the culturing of penaeid shrimp. The growth substrate was prepared by mixing 70% quartz sand, 24% Geor gia kaolin, 5% Gonzales bentonite and 1% Bermuda grass hay. One juveni le Penaeus vannamei was placed in each container and shrimp weight gai n was monitored. In the first study (four replicates), shrimp grew to 8.15 g within 8 weeks at a rate of approximate to 1 g week(-1) with no mortality; thereafter, growth decreased and 25% mortality was observe d. In the second study (seven replicates), the average weight of shrim p was 8.66 g in 10 weeks, with 29% mortality occurring between the sev enth and eighth week. Experimental unit cost was $3.30. (C) 1998 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.