The integrated use of artemia in shrimp farming

Abstract

The use of freshly hatched Artemia nauplii in penaeid hatcheries is a common practice, although a broader application of Artemia in shrimp farming is gaining more and more interest. In this regard, an integrated use of Artemia in shrimp culture is presented in this paper.

Artemia booster in combination with Fleischmann yeast has been proven to be a suitable algal substitute and the early feeding of decapsulated Artemia cysts at protozoea I to II stages has been shown to improve larval growth. Freshly hatched Artemia nauplii may be introduced at protozoea II to III and the use of enriched nauplii from mysis stage on clearly improves postlarval production. Enriched nauplii, pre-adult and adult Artemia can be successfully used in a nursery phase in order to improve weaning success and performance in grow-out ponds. Furthermore, the use of adult Artemia in broodstock feeding has been shown to be effective for inducing maturation.

All Artemia products mentioned can be purchased from commercial dealers but can be produced as well on the spot in most cases. Artemia cysts may be harvested from natural or inoculated populations occurring in adjacent salt works while decapsulation of the cysts can be done in the hatchery. Enrichment of Artemia nauplii can be done routinely using enriched formulated diets during hatching of the cysts or after separation of the nauplii. Pre-adult and adult Artemia can be produced either extensively in nearby salt ponds or intensively in flowthrough raceway systems using nutrient-rich effluent water from the hatchery.

In this regard, an integrated use of Artemia in shrimp farming will not only increase postlarval production but will decrease costs as well by production on the spot of the most expensive and valuable live food: Artemia.