Common mistakes in shrimp farming

Some common mistakes in shrimp farming are not choosing high-quality postlarvae, growing shrimp in high density, improper farming techniques, inattention to diet for shrimp, and the overuse of lime:

Mistakes in choosing shrimp postlarvae: Farmers don’t buy postlarvae at well-known hatcheries, buy cheap postlarvae or those without quality control and quarantine. Choosing low-quality postlarvae also causes negative consequences to the farming process later on.

Mistakes in choosing stocking density: Stocking shrimp in high density when farming techniques and other care conditions are ensured can cause different issues. High stocking density will lead to growth retardation in shrimp, high feed conversion ratio (FCR), and losses. According to Vietlinh, whiteleg shrimp should be farmed at a density of 60-80 shrimp/square meter. Black tiger prawn should only be farmed at 15-25 prawns/square meter.

Mistakes in compliance with proper farming techniques: Without adhering to accurate farming techniques, problems and mistakes in pond preparation, pond improvement, feeding methods, disease prevention, and other farming stages will lead to crop failure.

Mistakes in diet for shrimp: The lack of oxygen and digestive enzymes makes feed digestion and feed absorption in shrimp become difficult. It also increases the feed conversion ratio (FCR), and the costs of farming. Not providing sufficient amount of minerals and vitamins can weaken shrimp’s resistance.

Overuse of lime: The use of lime in shrimp farming should follow package instructions and farming guides. Overusing lime can cause an increase in Ca2+ and eliminate beneficial microorganisms in ponds. According to Vietlinh, this makes shrimp underdeveloped. When preparing ponds, farmers should measure soil pH and use an adequate amount of lime. During farming, based on the actual situation of pond environment, periodically apply lime with a right dose to maintain water quality.