Characteristics and Aquaculture Value of the Black Tiger Shrimp

The black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon), commonly known as the grass shrimp, black tiger prawn or flower shrimp, is one of the larger species in the family Penaeidae. It is widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, and is commonly farmed in the southern coastal regions of China such as Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Fujian. Its body surface bears dark brown transverse bands, its carapace is relatively thick, and adult shrimp are large with firm, sweet flesh, making it one of the prawn varieties favored by consumers.

In terms of habits, the black tiger shrimp tolerates a wide range of salinity; it can be farmed in seawater and can also, after desalination treatment, grow in low-salinity brackish water, so farming models are fairly flexible. It prefers to inhabit the pond bottom and often hides in muddy or sandy substrate, lying low by day and emerging at night. Its feeding habits are omnivorous, and it can utilize both animal and plant feed and readily accepts compound feed.

In terms of aquaculture application, the black tiger shrimp was once an important main farmed prawn species in China, mostly produced through pond monoculture or polyculture with fish and shellfish. During farming, attention must be paid to seed selection, water quality regulation and substrate management, while also guarding against common diseases such as white spot syndrome and ensuring scientific feeding, so as to guarantee survival rate and market size.

Compared with the whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), the black tiger shrimp grows somewhat more slowly and has a relatively longer farming cycle, but its market size is large and its meat yield is high, giving it good market recognition, making it suitable for farmers pursuing large-size finished products. In daily production, reasonably controlling stocking density, keeping water quality stable, and persisting in pond patrols to observe the shrimp's activity and feeding status are key measures for improving farming success rates.