Growth parameters of whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and red seaweed Gracilaria corticata in integrated culturing method under zero water exchange system

Growth parameters of whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and red seaweed Gracilaria corticata were measured using integrated culturing method under zero-water exchange system in a 45-day period. A 2x3 factorial design was used with two levels of shrimp stocking densities and three levels of seaweed weight densities. G. corticata was cultured on a net tied to a round polyethylene frame. Culture tanks were filled with 750-L filtered seawater. A 40-W compact fluorescent lamp was hung over each tank to provide adequate and sufficient light for seaweed growth. Growth parameters of shrimp and seaweed such as specific growth rate (SGR), weight gained (WG) and average daily growth (ADG) were computed based on the initial and final weight of shrimp and seaweed. The maximum and minimum SGR of L. vannamei (1.97 and 1.69%/day) were observed in treatment S(1)A(3) (25 shrimp/m(2) and 400g seaweed/m(2)) and S(2)A(1) (50shrimp/m(2) without seaweed) respectively. The best survival rate (94.67 +/- 1.33%), WG (129.9 +/- 2.9%) and feed conversion ratio (1.67 +/- 0.04) were also observed in treatment S(1)A(3). The SGR of G.corticata in the treatment S(1)A(3) (1.97 +/- 0.00%/day) was significantly higher, compared to others. Strong positive correlations were obtained between the density of G. corticata and the growth parameters of L.vannamei. The red seaweed G. corticata could boost the growth parameters, survival rate and total production of L. vannamei under zero-water exchange system.