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Email the author (Login required) Effects of carbon sources on the growth performance and water quality in nursery culture of blue shrimp (Penaeus stylirostris) under biofloc conditions
Submited: 2025-12-16 03:29:19 | Published: 2026-06-30 22:44:54
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol54-issue3-fulltext-3598
Abstract
Blue shrimp (Penaeus stylirostris) has been less studied in biofloc technology systems than white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). Given current environmental challenges, generating experimental data is crucial for diversifying aquaculture. This study evaluated the effects of four supplementary carbon sources on water quality and the productive performance of P. stylirostris cultured in biofloc during the nursery phase. A completely randomized design with five treatments in triplicate was used: wheat flour (WF), corn flour (CF), sorghum flour (SF), sugar (SU), and a control (C) with no additional carbon. The postlarvae of blue shrimp were collected from the natural environment (estero de La Cruz), Sonora, Mexico. After acclimatization and quarantine (15 days, in a recirculating system), the organisms (0.270 g) were cultured (300 ind m-3) in BFT for 42 days in 150 L tanks. Water quality and productive response variables were monitored. The addition of external carbon improved water quality and productive response compared to the control treatment. Carbon sources led to differences in dissolved oxygen and total suspended solids (P < 0.05). There were no differences in the average levels of toxic nitrogen compounds (P > 0.05), which remained within acceptable limits. CF showed the highest values for final weight (3.96 g ind-1), survival (74.81%), biomass gain (133.18 g tank-1), specific growth rate (6.30% d-1), weight gain rate (1,310.63%), and the lowest feed conversion ratio (1.68) (P > 0.05). The nursery of P. stylirostris is technically feasible in biofloc systems, with a productive response similar to that of P. vannamei. These results contribute to the knowledge of the species in systems with zero water exchange and highlight its potential as a productive alternative.
