A Detailed Guide to the Breeding Methods and Technical Key Points for Swamp Blue Shrimp

AbstractFirst select a place with sufficient water source to build the shrimp pond, with a water depth of about 1.5 m, disinfect it with quicklime or bleaching powder, and some tiles or branches can be placed in the pond as attachment materials; then fill with water to about 30-50 cm, and apply an appropriate amount of cow, sheep, and horse manure to cultivate feed organisms. When the water temperature stabilizes above 20°C, stock the shrimp fry, and during this period artificial compound pellet feed can be given; finally, during the breeding period, it is necessary to strengthen the regulation and control of water quality and strengthen disease prevention.

I. Building the Shrimp Pond

The shrimp pond can be built in a place with sufficient water source. The suitable water depth is 1-1.5 m. The pond bottom should be flat and have good seepage prevention. It should be rectangular and oriented east-west, generally preferably 1-3 mu.

II. Thorough Pond Clearing

Before stocking the shrimp fry, first use quicklime or bleaching powder to clear the pond and disinfect it, which helps kill loaches, frogs, wild miscellaneous fish, and so on.

III. Setting Up Attachment Materials and Shelter

Some tiles, branches, and so on can be placed in the pond, and aquatic plants can be planted, which helps the shrimp fry attach. Generally, attachment and shelter materials need to occupy less than 20% of the pond area.

IV. Fertilizing the Water Quality

3-5 days before stocking the shrimp fry, it is necessary to fill with water to 30-50 cm, then apply about 700-1000 kg of cow, sheep, and horse manure per mu, and cultivate feed organisms.

V. Stocking the Shrimp Fry

1. At the end of April or in May, when the water temperature in the pond stabilizes above 20°C, stock the shrimp fry. It is necessary to select shrimp fry that are robust in constitution, free of disease and injury, and uniform in size. For monoculture of swamp blue shrimp, 2-3 cm shrimp fry can be stocked per mu, totaling 10,000-15,000 individuals.

2. Fish and shrimp can be polycultured, mainly shrimp. Per mu, 2-3 cm swamp blue shrimp fry can be stocked, totaling 8,000-10,000 individuals, along with 50-120 silver carp and bighead carp that do not compete with swamp shrimp for food.

VI. Scientific Feeding

1. Swamp blue shrimp are omnivorous and feed on zooplankton. They generally like to eat aquatic insects, aquatic plants, algae, as well as cakes, rice bran, and wheat bran. Within 20 days after stocking the fry, egg yolk, soybean residue, soybean milk, and so on can be fed.

2. From June to September, artificial compound pellet feed can be fed, but powdered feed must not be fed. Generally, the protein content of the feed must be above 30%, and the particle size and length of the feed are 0.3 cm and 1-2 cm respectively.

3. Feed can be given 2-3 times a day, once in the morning and once in the evening (or additionally once at midnight). The feeding amount at night can account for 2/3 of the whole day's feeding amount.

4. During the growing season, the daily feeding amount can account for 5%-7% of the total weight of shrimp in the pond. During this period, persist in feeding with fixed quality, fixed time, and fixed quantity. It can be evenly splashed along the surroundings of the pond, and flexibly increased or decreased according to the weather and the shrimp's feeding, activity, and other conditions.

VII. Managing Water Quality

1. Swamp blue shrimp have very high requirements for water quality, so during the breeding period it is necessary to strengthen the regulation and control of water quality.

2. About 30 days after the shrimp fry enter the pond, keep the water level at 40-60 cm, then gradually deepen the water level later. By August-September it can be raised to the maximum water level. When filling with water, use a nylon sieve silk mesh bag for filtration to prevent harmful organisms from entering the pond.

3. In summer, change the water about once every 3 days, changing 15-20 cm each time, and an aerator can be installed to regulate water quality. Generally, pond water that is light green or oily green is preferable. If the water quality is found to be unsuitable, then a large amount of water needs to be changed in time.

4. During the growing season, the water transparency should be kept stable at 25-35 cm, and dirt should be removed in time to prevent sewage and pesticide water from entering the pond.

VIII. Strengthening Disease Prevention

Every 15 days, splash quicklime once to make the pond water reach a concentration of 20 ppm, or splash bleaching powder to make the pond water reach a concentration of 1 ppm, which helps play a role in disease prevention.