Effects of Different Carbon to Nitrogen Ratios on Water Quality, Growth Performance, and Body Composition of Green Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus semisulcatus): in a Limited Water Exchange Aquaculture System
Subject Areas : Journal of Animal BiologyMohammad Hossein Khanjani 1 * , Ahmad Rafieepour 2
1 - Department of Fisheries Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Jiroft, Jiroft, Kerman, Iran
2 - Department of Fisheries Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Jiroft, Jiroft, Kerman, Iran
Keywords: Aquaculture, Green tiger shrimp, Biofloc, Water quality, Growth performance,
Abstract :
In the present study, the effect of different carbon to nitrogen ratios on water quality, growth performance, and body composition of green tiger shrimp (P. semisulcatus) in a limited water exchange aquaculture system was investigated. The experiment was conducted for 28 days with shrimp postlarvae with an average weight of 65.6 ± 5.5 mg in 130-liter tanks at a stocking density of one postlarvae per liter. Four experimental groups included a control group in which 35 to 50% of the water was changed daily. Three biofloc groups with different carbon to nitrogen ratios, 10 (CN10), 15 (CN15), and 20 (CN20), were considered, with 0.5 to 1% water change daily. The results of water quality parameters show that different carbon to nitrogen ratios affect water quality parameters. The lowest dissolved oxygen (5.68 mg/L) and pH (7.91) were obtained in the CN20 treatment, which showed a significant difference with other treatments. The results of growth performance showed that the highest body weight gain (1.249 g), specific growth rate (10.70%/day), and survival rate (84.87%) were obtained in CN15 treatment, which showed a significant difference with other treatments (p < 0.05). Analysis of biochemical components of shrimp bodies showed that the lowest levels of protein (74.66% dry weight) and lipid (5.75% dry weight) were observed in the control group, which showed a significant difference with other treatments (p < 0.05). The presence of biofloc in culture tanks led to improvements in protein, lipid, and ash content of the body of green tiger shrimp. Overall, the present study showed that improvements in water quality, growth performance, survival, nutritional parameters, and biochemical composition of green tiger shrimp occurred at a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 15:1 in an aquaculture system with limited water exchange.
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