MANAGEMENT OF MINERALS USING MINSOLPLUS IN LOW SALINE CULTURE OF Litopenaeus vannamei

Inland or Low saline shrimp culture is being practiced in several regions of India.The culture of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in low saline water (2.0 ppt) faces several challenges. The ionic composition of these waters is deficient in several key minerals, including calcium (Ca), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Minsol Plus on growth and survival of L. vannamei stocked at 60PL/m3 for 90 days. Six tanks of 500 m³ were used and tanks with Minsol plus addition served as treatment and without Minsol plus was the control. Minsol plus were applied at a rate of 3kg per acre on alternate days in the initial days of fertilization and later was added according to the water quality.Following completion of growth trials, measurements of mineral content in hepatopancreas of culture animals were conducted to assess the absorption rate. Results from growth trial indicated significant differences (P < 0.05) in survival and growth was found between the treatment and control. Individual weight, specific growth rate, and percent weight gain appeared to increase with the addition of Minsolplus. Hepatopancreas mineralization showed significant difference for Na⁺ and K⁺ concentration and no significant difference was found for Ca²⁺ and Mg^2+.Neverthless the significant difference in the Ca:Mg of the culture water was found in the treatment. These results suggest a potentially higher energetic cost associated with depressed aqueous Mg²⁺ concentrations can be improved by the supplementation of Minsol plus in the culture water for vannamei farming.

Key words: Vannamei , Minsol plus, Growth ,Survival, Calcium, Magnesium