New Shrimp Farming Technique: How to Fatten Up Shrimp

Xu Zhihua, a shrimp farmer in Fengma Yicun, Hengli Town, Nansha District, Guangzhou, China, contracted 60 mu of ponds to farm whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). In 2007, under the guidance of agricultural technicians, he used enzyme bacteria technology and fish-shrimp fertilizer, achieving a net income of 5000 yuan per mu.

Xu Zhihua conducted comparative trials in two ponds. Pond No. 1 was sprayed with enzyme bacteria and fertilized with fish-shrimp fertilizer, with 50,000 shrimp fry stocked per mu. He applied fertilizer frequently and lightly, and throughout the entire process did not use water purification agents or bactericidal drugs, yet there was no shrimp surfacing or death, and the shrimp survival rate was above 95%. At harvest 4 months later, 1750 kg of shrimp were collected, with about 800 kg still remaining in the pond. He obtained a net income of 5000 yuan per mu, with remarkable economic benefits.

Xu Zhihua's Pond No. 2 had an area of 5.5 mu. It used the same batch of shrimp fry stocked at the same time and the same density as Pond No. 1, but was managed with conventional methods. In early May, Pond No. 2 suddenly became covered with blue-green algae; the shrimp swam along the pond edges and refused to eat feed, and dozens of dead shrimp appeared at the pond edge every day. Xu Zhihua then applied enzyme bacteria and fish-shrimp fertilizer to Pond No. 2. Three days later, the blue-green algae were gone, the shrimp surfacing decreased, and the shrimp resumed eating feed. After May 23, basically no dead shrimp were found. At the inspection on June 21, Pond No. 2 had already harvested and sold 800 kg of shrimp, with about 750 kg still remaining in the pond, averaging 281.5 kg per mu. Feed use in Pond No. 2 was relatively reduced, but drug costs increased, with a net profit of about 630 yuan per mu.

Under the conditions of the same shrimp fry, same stocking period, and same density, Pond No. 1 used enzyme bacteria and fish-shrimp fertilizer throughout the entire process, achieving good water cultivation results, a high shrimp survival rate, and fast growth, saving the costs of water purification agents, bactericides, and other drugs as well as part of the feed cost. Its net income was 4370 yuan per mu more than that of Pond No. 2 under conventional management.