Improving survival rate in pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) reared in low salinity water by supplementation of Mg2+ and k+

Abstract

This study was conducted at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia. Samples of Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei were obtained from commercial hatcheries of Agrobest Shrimp Farm in Nenasi, Pahang. Samples were cultured for fourteen days in order to investigate the survival rate of L. vannamei in different treatment of low salinity water (0.5 ppt) supplemented with 5 ppm K + , 40 ppm K\ 20 ppm Mg2\ 160 ppm Mg2+ and mixed cations of 5 ppm K + with 15 ppm Mg2+ and 40 ppm K + and 120 ppm Mg2+ . 160 ppm Mg2+ showed the highest survival rate which is 80% and the lowest survival rate (23.3%) is the control tanks where the low salinity water of 0.5 ppt was not supplemented with any cations. Mixture of 5 ppm K + with 15 ppm Mg2+ showed high survival rate and efficient for shrimp survival and growth.