Comparison of survival and growth of Litopenaeus vannamei (Crustacea : Decapoda) postlarvae reared in static and recirculating culture systems

Experiments were conducted to compare survival and growth of Litopenaeus va nnamei postlarvae (PL8-PL10) in static (zero water exchange) and recirculat ing (130% water turnover per hour) culture systems. Experiment one evaluate d three dietary phosphorus levels (0.4, 0.8 and 1.2%) and three inorganic p hosphorus sources (CaHPO4, Na2HPO4 and NaH2PO4). Experiment two evaluated t hree dietary protein levels (10, 18 and 25%) and two lipid levels (3 and 11 %). Survival of PLs from both experiments averaged 86.1% +/- 8.8 in the sta tic, and 83.8% +/- 11.4 in the recirculating culture system. Survival of PL did not vary significantly in Experiment one regardless of culture system. In Experiment two, PL survival was significantly lower in the recirculatin g system for diets containing higher lipid levels. Growth (increase in weig ht) of PL was significantly higher in the static culture system for all die ts evaluated in both experiments except for diets containing 10% protein. A verage growth of PL fed diets containing 18% or higher protein levels withi n the static culture system was enhanced more than 40% compared to the reci rculating system. Excluding diets with 10% protein, feed conversion ratios were below 2.1 for both culture systems. These data indicated that water ma nagement strategies should be researched further to optimize the culture sy stem while ameliorating potential environmental impacts.