Farming Methods and Key Technical Points for the Metapenaeus ensis (Greasyback Shrimp)

The farming site is best at 2-5 mu in size, with a water depth of 1-2 m being optimal. Thoroughly clean and disinfect the farming site, and about one week before releasing the seedlings, apply fertilizer to cultivate the bait. Release the seedlings around late May, and one week before release they need to be desalinated and dechlorinated. Carry out routine management well, mainly water quality, feeding, and disease prevention and control management.

1. Site Selection

The farming site is similar to that for farming other fish and shrimp. It can be built yourself or use a rural pond, best at 2-5 mu in size, with a water depth of 1-2 m being optimal. The pond should have some slope, slightly inclined, which is good for drainage. The water quality of the farming pond must be high. Compared with other fish and shrimp, the Metapenaeus ensis has higher requirements for water quality and is more sensitive to water pollution. Clear water quality is the key point to ensure its molting and growth.

2. Cleaning and Fertilizing to Cultivate Bait

After preparing the farming site, thoroughly clean and disinfect it. After draining the pond water, sun-dry it for 2-3 days before adding water. For ponds with more silt, sun-dry for about one month. After adding water, strictly carry out disinfection treatment, and common quicklime or bleaching powder can be used for disinfection. The Metapenaeus ensis feeds on plankton, so about one week before releasing the seedlings, apply fertilizer to cultivate the bait, the basic biological bait in the shrimp pond. Fertilization is mainly with organic and inorganic fertilizers.

3. Releasing the Seedlings

The Metapenaeus ensis is suitable for growing in water temperatures of 18-30 degrees, so generally the seedlings are released around late May, when the temperature is relatively stable and suitable for releasing the seedlings. To ensure the survival rate of the shrimp seedlings, one week before release they need to be desalinated and dechlorinated, and kept for one week in water with a salinity specific gravity of 1.003 before they can be moved into the farming pond. Desalination must be done gradually, and by no means on a whim. It can be carried out at the same time as fertilizing to cultivate bait.

4. Farming Management

After the shrimp seedlings enter the pond, it is routine management, mainly water quality, feeding, and disease prevention and control management. Water quality management is extremely important. About 10 days after the shrimp seedlings are stocked, gradually add water and spread quicklime or bleaching powder to improve water quality and disinfect and sterilize. When the water temperature reaches 24-30 degrees, the food intake of the Metapenaeus ensis increases greatly, and this is also its period of rapid growth, so feeding must be increased to ensure a food source. Disease management focuses on prevention. At each time period, regularly spray quicklime for mold, and calcium can also be supplemented to promote shell molting and growth.