Effect of a diet lacking in vitamin and mineral supplements on the growth and survival of Penaeus monodon juveniles in a modified extensive culture system

Abstract

Penaeus monodon juveniles (mean weight, 0.006 g) were reared in 330 m earthen ponds for 120 days at a stocking density of 7.5/m2 under conditions of the modified extensive system of culturing shrimps. The shrimps were fed diets with or without vitamin and/or mineral supplements. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the growth and survival of P. monodon when fed a diet lacking in vitamin and mineral supplements. The results showed that growth, survival, apparent food conversion ratio (FCR), net production, and cost of production per kg of P. monodon were not significantly different between treatments. The cost of production per kg of diet was lower in the shrimps fed a diet without vitamin and mineral supplements, but not significantly different from the rest of the treatments. The favorable cost difference of P8.00 per kg of shrimp produced would make it more profitable to use a diet that contained no vitamin and mineral supplements in a modified extensive culture system.