Aquacultural Engineering 36 (2007) 184–191

www.elsevier.com/locate/aqua-online

Use of molasses as carbon source in limited discharge nursery

and grow-out systems for Litopenaeus vannamei
Tzachi M. Samocha *, Susmita Patnaik, Mike Speed, Abdul-Mehdi Ali,
Josh M. Burger, Rodrigo V. Almeida, Zarrein Ayub,
Margasanto Harisanto, Ami Horowitz, David L. Brock
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Shrimp Mariculture Research Facility, 4301 Waldron Road,
Corpus Christi, TX 78418, United States
Received 31 October 2006; accepted 31 October 2006

Abstract
Increased environmental regulations and loss of crops due to viral disease outbreaks have created a demand for productive,
pathogen-free, efficient and sustainable shrimp production practices. These methods, for the most part, call for raising shrimp under
limited, minimal, water exchange with careful monitoring of water quality. Two studies were conducted using the Pacific white
shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei to evaluate the effect of carbon supplementation on selected water quality indicators and shrimp
performance in the nursery and the grow-out phases using the limited water discharge practice with molasses as carbon addition.
A preliminary nursery study was conducted in four 40 m3 greenhouse-enclosed raceways stocked with 12-day old postlarvae at a
density of 1800 m 3 and were fed 45% crude protein feed. Molasses (24% carbon, w/w) was used for carbon supplementation to
provide 6 g of carbon for each 1 g of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) as measured in the water, and started 32 d after stocking, shortly
after the TAN level has risen over 3 mg L 1. The data suggest that molasses addition resulted in rapid reduction of TAN and nitrite-
nitrogen and could be used to prevent buildup of these compounds.
The grow-out study was carried out using twenty 7.8 m3 tanks stocked with juvenile shrimp at a density of 81 m 3. Shrimp were
fed a commercial diet (30% crude protein, Rangen Inc., Buhl, ID). Feed rations were determined based on assumed growth of
1 g week 1, FCR of 1.5 and weekly mortality rate of 0.5%. Molasses additions, at five levels, were started 26 days post stocking, to
provide 0%, 50%, 100%, and 150% of the theoretical carbon level needed for bacteria to assimilate the TAN provided in the feed.
The fifth treatment was based on the actual level of TAN in the tanks and was adjusted daily on as needed basis. The data suggest that
under the condition of this study, addition of molasses did not result in a significant effect on water quality or on shrimp
performance.
# 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Litopenaeus vannamei; Molasses; nursery; Grow-out; Limited discharge

1. Introduction

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 361 937 2268;
fax: +1 253 390 6081.
E-mail address: t-samocha@tamu.edu (T.M. Samocha).
(FAO, 2003), shrimp is the most important and
profitable commodity among all seafood trades. In
recent years, approximately half of the shrimp traded
internationally has been derived from aquaculture

0144-8609/$ – see front matter # 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.aquaeng.2006.10.004
 T.M. Samocha et al. / Aquacultural Engineering 36 (2007) 184–191
(Cascorbi, 2004). Current projections estimate that the
world’s shrimp culture industry will continue to grow at
a 15% per year in the next decade (FAO, 2004). With the
rapid expansion and intensification, the impact of
inorganic nutrients in shrimp effluent on the environ-
ment has become a great concern (Cowey and Cho,
1991). Deteriorated water quality has resulted in disease
outbreaks and heavy financial losses and in criticism
from various environmental organizations as being
environmentally irresponsible. To minimize the amount
of nutrients reaching coastal ecosystems, governmental
agencies have taken regulatory actions to set effluent
water quality standards and discharge limitations
(Hopkins and Villalon, 1992; Boyd and Yoo, 1994;
Samocha et al., 2004). Such environmental issues have
created a large demand for productive, efficient and
sustainable shrimp culture systems that have low impact
on the environment and are more likely to be free of
disease (Horowitz and Horowitz, 2001, 2003). Growing
shrimp under minimal, limited, water exchange has
been a step in that direction.
Limited water exchange allows the farmer to reduce,
or even eliminate, the threat of microbial infection in the
incoming waters, to reduce the amount of nutrients
released into the environment, to reduce or eliminate
transfer of pathogens from the farm to the environment,
while maintaining good water quality in the farm
(Horowitz and Horowitz, 2002).
Limited water exchange allows a better control of
flocculated material in the water. Moss and Pruder
(1985) and Otoshi et al. (2001) documented a reduced
growth rate of L. vannamei when raised in water with
low or without flocculated matter compare to rearing
water with high load of particulate matter. Moss et al.
(1999) showed that when selected particle sizes were
retained in culture water, shrimp growth rates increased
compared to clear water systems. Other findings also
suggest that absence of suspended solids and flocculated
matter could adversely affect nutrient cycling and
shrimp performance in intensive production systems
(Wang, 1990; Burford and Longmore, 2001).
At high carbon to nitrogen ratios (C:N) heterotrophic
microorganisms would dominate over autotrophic
microorganisms and would assimilate total ammonia
nitrogen, nitrite and nitrate, to produce cellular proteins
that can serve as supplemental feed source for the
shrimp (Avnimelech et al., 1982, 1994; Avnimelech,
1999; Moss et al., 1999; Browdy et al., 2001; Burford
and Lorenzen, 2004). In a heterotrophic microbial-
based production system, bacterial flocs provide more
stable water quality than does a phytoplankton-based
production system (Boyd and Clay, 2002). In well
185
aerated and mixed limited or zero water discharge
production systems bacterial flocs are found as
suspended solids (Avnimelech et al., 1982). Avnimelech
(1999) and Hari et al. (2004) showed that in a well-
balanced limited discharge system, carbon supplemen-
tation could stimulate ammonia uptake by microbial
communities.
The present study looks at carbon addition, in the
form of molasses, and its effect on the water quality and
the growth of L. vannamei in nursery and in grow-out
facilities under limited water discharge conditions.
2. Material and methods
The work was carried out at the Texas Agricultural
Experiment Station (TAES), Shrimp Mariculture
Research Facility (SMRF), Corpus Christi, Texas.
2.1. Carbon addition
The amount of molasses added was calculated based
on Ebling et al. (2006) and Avnimelech (1999)
assuming that 6 g of carbon are needed to convert
1 g of TAN, generated from feed, into bacterial
biomass. Avnimelech (1999) also assumed that only
50% of the nitrogen in the feed is converted into
ammonia. The molasses used contained 24% (w/w)
carbon with specific gravity of 1.3. For example, to
supply 100% molasses level for 100 g 30% crude
protein feed with 6.25%-N in the proteins, one needs
14.4 g carbon, or 46.15 ml molasses.
2.2. Nursery study
The study was conducted in four 40 m3 (68.5 m2)
raceways. A complete description of the nursery
raceway system was provided elsewhere (Cohen
et al., 2005). All raceways were equipped with
pressurized sand filter (PSF) while two of the raceways
were also equipped with a home-made foam fractio-
nator (FF). The PSF was operated for the first 20 days
after stocking. From that time until the harvest, the
control of particulate load in two of the raceways was
done by FF while in the other two raceways water
exchange served to reduce particulate and dissolve
organic loads. The criteria used to perform water
exchange or operate the foam fractionators were based
on targeted settleable solids level < 10 ml L 1 and total
suspended solid below 500 mg L 1.
Culture water was chlorinated prior to stocking
(10 ppm chlorine, 30 min post application). Raceways
were stocked with 1800, 9–12 d old postlarvae m 3
186 T.M. Samocha et al. / Aquacultural Engineering 36 (2007) 184–191
Table 1
Experimental design for grow-out study conducted with L. vannamei in an outdoor tank-system under limited water discharge using low-protein diet
with molasses addition
Feed N Molasses addition
Rangen 30% Eco 4 0%
Rangen 30% Eco 4 50%
Rangen 30% Eco 4 100%
Rangen 30% Eco 4 150%
Rangen 30% Eco 4 Adjusted daily
(PL9-12) of L. vannamei (OceanBoy Farms, Clewiston,
Florida). Mortality of 10–30% of the PL was noticed
upon delivery due to delay during shipment. Before
stocking, raceways’ water was fertilized using urea,
silicate and phosphoric acid to provide a final
concentration of 2.2, 0.2 and 0.7 ppm for N, P and
Si, respectively. For the first few days after stocking the
shrimp were fed newly hatched Artemia salinas nauplii
and a combination of dry diets (PL Redi Reserve,
Zeigler Bros., Gardners, PA or crumble #3 and #4, Sure
Start1, Salt Creek Inc., Salt Lake City, UT) followed by
45% crude protein dry feed (45/10 swim-up, Fry #1, #2,
#3, #4, Rangen, Inc., Buhl, ID). Dissolved oxygen
(DO), temperature, salinity, and pH were monitored
twice daily. Settleable solids (SS) and algal counts were
monitored once a day while total ammonia nitrogen
(TAN), nitrite-nitrogen (NO2-N, reactive phosphorus
(RP), total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended
solids (VSS), 5-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen
demand (cBOD5) and chemical oxygen demand (COD)
were monitored once a week. The study was conducted
under reduced light intensity (1000 lux) created by a
shade cloth which was designed to lower the water
temperature as preliminary study showed low shrimp
survival when the shrimp were exposed to high
afternoon water temperature of above 35 8C that was
associated with high light intensity (35,000 lux). Total
ammonia nitrogen and nitrite-N were monitored daily
from day 32 until the harvest. Carbon was added daily
starting from day 32. Thus the study basically evaluated
the effect of two management practices to regulate
particulate matter load in the culture medium (e.g., FF
and water exchange) in the presence of molasses
supplementation. Shrimp samples were collected every
2–3 weeks for health check by a diagnostic lab (Texas
Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab, College Station,
Texas).
2.3. Grow-out study
The study was conducted with juveniles (6.2  0.3 g)
harvested from the nursery study and stocked at a density
1
Assumed growth (g week ) Assumed FCR
1 1.5
1 1.5
1 1.5
1 1.5
1 1.5
of 81 juveniles m 3 in twenty 7.8 m3 (9.5–10.5 m2)
tanks. Tanks were positioned under a shade (73% light
reduction) and aerated with 10 airstones (7–10 Lpm
each). The study was designed to evaluate the effect of
different levels of molasses supplementations on selected
water quality indicators and shrimp performance. Feed
rations, of 30% CP (‘‘30% Eco’’ diet, Rangen, Inc.), were
calculated based on assumed growth of 1 g week 1, FCR
of 1.5 and predicted mortality rate of 0.5% week 1. Feed
was offered 7 days a week at four equal daily portions.
Dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH and temperature were
monitored twice daily; TAN, NO2-N, RP, cBOD5, COD,
TSS, VSS, SS, turbidity and algal counts were monitored
weekly. Starting on day 26 of the study, molasses was
added daily (Table 1) and subsequently TAN levels were
monitored daily. Molasses was added at five levels: the
first four treatments provided 0%, 50%, 100%, 150% of
the theoretical carbon level needed for bacteria to
assimilate the TAN provided by the feed, and were given
daily regardless of the amount of ammonia in the tanks.
The fifth level was based on the actual concentration of
TAN in the tanks and was supplied daily when levels have
reached a concentration of 1 mg L 1 or higher.
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Nursery study
The trial lasted 58–60 days. One raceway (RW 2),
which was operated with a foam fractionator, developed
a mechanical failure of the aeration system that resulted
in over 80% mortality and had to be terminated early.
Since the equipment malfunction was not related to
carbon supplementation, this raceway was eliminated
from the study. A summary of the daily water quality
indicators is shown in Table 2. No significant
differences were found between raceways operated
with or without foam fractionators for DO, pH,
temperature, salinity, algal concentration and settable
solids. Due to the limited number of postlarvae, this
study did not include a control treatment (e.g., raceways
which operated with water exchange with no molasses
 T.M. Samocha et al. / Aquacultural Engineering 36 (2007) 184–191 187

Table 2
Mean daily values of selected water quality indicators from a limited water discharge nursery study in four raceways that were stocked with L.
vannamei and supplemented with molasses
Treatment Temperature (8C) DO (mg L 1) pH Sal. Algae Turbidity Settleable
(ppt) (104 c ml 1) (NTU) solids (ml L 1)
a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m.
Pressurized sand filter-1 28.4 a 29.9 a 5.6 a 5.9 a 6.9 a 6.8 a 31.5 a 258 a 190 a 7.5 a
Pressurized sand filter-2 29.4 a 30.4 a 5.8 a 5.6 a 6.7 a 6.5 a 30.4 a 128 a 162 a 10.1 a
Foam fractionator-1 28.8 a 29.4 a 5.8 a 5.3 a 6.6 a 6.3 a 31.0 a 151 a 183 a 6.1 a
Foam fractionator-2 29.1 a 30.0 a 5.7 a 5.4 a 6.5 a 6.3 a 31.3 a 160 a 189 a 10.4 a
Means with the same letter suggest no statistically significant differences at a = 0.05 level.

supplementation). An ANOVA comparison of the
present results to those obtained previously in the same
nursery system without molasses addition, showed that
settable solids and turbidity levels were significantly
higher while algal density was significantly lower with
the use of molasses even though postlarvae density in the
previous study was much higher (about 4000 PL/m3
versus 1800 m 3) (Mishra et al., 2005). These differences
suggest that the use of molasses resulted in stimulation of
heterotrophic bacterial floc formation that successfully
competed with the algal population in this carbon-rich
environment.
The weekly changes in the four raceways in TSS,
VSS, cBOD5, COD, TAN, NO2-N and RP are presented

Table 3
Changes in selected water quality indicators in a limited water discharge nursery study in four raceways that were stocked with L. vannamei and
supplemented with molasses
Week Treatment cBOD5 COD TAN NO2-N RP TSS VSS
(mg L 1) (mg L 1) (mg L 1) (mg L 1) (mg L 1) (mg L 1) (mg L 1)
1 Pressurized sand filters 4.3 850 0.01 <0.001 0.69 N/A a N/A
Foam fractionators 3.8 854 0.00 <0.001 0.63 N/A N/A
3 Pressurized sand filters 14.4 938 0.99 0.29 0.80 N/A N/A
Foam fractionators 12.9 886 1.39 0.17 0.64 N/A N/A
5 Pressurized sand filters 44.3 1095 1.51 13.03 1.68 180 135
Foam fractionators 50.3 1050 0.55 31.65 4.68 275 175
6 Pressurized sand filters 24.0 1420 0.46 12.18 2.71 263 220
Foam fractionators 87.8 2300 1.62 11.20 6.67 342 313
7 Pressurized sand filters 27.8 1775 0.43 8.42 3.80 225 225
Foam fractionators 18.0 1800 1.97 1.18 5.50 350 350
8 Pressurized sand filters 58.5 1825 0.60 0.60 5.20 200 200
Foam fractionators 159.0 1887 2.25 2.40 6.10 550 550
9 Pressurized sand filters 58.5 3408 2.75 0.11 >10 663 375
Foam fractionators 288.0 3148 8.62 3.82 >10 800 600
a
Data not available.

Table 4
Summary of selected water quality indicators in a limited water discharge nursery study in four raceways that were stocked with L. vannamei and
supplemented with molasses
RW cBOD5 COD TAN NO2-N RP TSS VSS
(mg L 1) (mg L 1) (mg L 1) (mg L 1) (mg L 1) (mg L 1) (mg L 1)
Foam fractionatorsa 45 a 1230 a 1a 5.9 a 3.3 a 379 a 347 a
Pressurized sand filtersb 25 a 1332 a 0.7 a 4.4 a 2.2 a 217 a 195 a
Means with the same letter suggest no statistically significant differences at a = 0.05 level.
a
Raceways operated with foam fractionators and 1.53% daily water exchange.
b
Raceways operated without foam fractionators and 2.62% daily water exchange.
188 T.M. Samocha et al. / Aquacultural Engineering 36 (2007) 184–191

limited number of replicates, the statistical analysis

Fig. 1. Changes in total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) as a result of
molasses supplementation (started 32 days after the initiation of a
limited discharge nursery study) in one of the raceways stocked with
L. vannamei. Molasses was added only when TAN levels were above
1 mg/l. Nitrite-nitrogen levels, from the first day of molasses applica-
tion, stayed below 1.2 mg L 1 (data not shown).
in Table 3. No significant differences were found
between the four raceways in these water quality
indicators (Table 4). Fig. 1 shows the concentration of
TAN as a result of molasses addition starting on day 37
(e.g., 7 days before adding the molasses). Nitrite-N
levels remained below 1.2 mg L 1 from day 37 to
harvest (data not shown). The low levels of TAN and
nitrite suggest that molasses addition was an effective
tool in controlling these forms of nitrogen.
The mean final weight, yield, survival, water use and
FCR values for the nursery study are presented in Table 5.
Due of the high variability between raceways and the
showed no significant differences between raceways or
between treatments, except that the final mean weights of
the shrimp in the raceways operated without foam
fractionators were significantly higher than the raceway
operated with foam fractionator. The reason for the lower
shrimp weight in the presence of the foam fractionator is
not clear. Especially when considering the good shrimp
performance in previous studies where foam fractiona-
tors were used (Mishra et al., 2005).
3.2. Grow-out study
The grow-out study was terminated prematurely
after 84 days due to a hurricane watch alert. Analyses of
the daily water quality indicators before adding the
molasses showed no significant differences between
treatments in morning and afternoon water temperature
and salinity, and the afternoon DO. Significant
differences were found between treatments in morning
DO and morning and afternoon pH (Table 6). The same
trend was found in daily water quality indicators after
adding the molasses: differences in afternoon water
temperatures, morning pH and salinity were not
significant while some significant differences were
found between treatments in the morning temperature
and the afternoon DO and pH (Table 7). These
differences between treatments in daily water quality
were small and not related to the molasses application

Table 5
Mean final weight, yield, survival, water use and FCR values for a limited water discharge nursery study conducted in four raceways stocked with L.
vannamei and supplemented with molasses
3
Treatment PL m Wtoa (mg) Days Wtfb(g) Yield (kg/m3) Survival (%) FCR New water added (% d 1
)
Pressurized sand filter-1 1830 0.8 60 2.01 a 3.14 a 78.2 a 2.14 a 3.53
Pressurized sand filter -2 1830 0.8 59 1.99 a 3.73 a 99.8 a 1.71 a 3.59
Foam fractionator-1 1830 0.8 58 1.74 c 2.96 a 85.8 a 2.09 a 2.14
Means with the same letters suggest no statistically significant differences at a = 0.05 level.
a
Size at stocking.
b
Size at harvest.

Table 6
Summary of the daily water quality indicators before adding molasses in a grow-out trial with L. vannamei when fed 30% protein diet with limited
discharge and supplied with different levels of molasses
Molasses application Temperature (8C) DO (mg/l) pH Salinity (ppt)
a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m.
0% 28.7 a 30.1 a 5.61 ab 6.22 a 7.53 a 7.68 a 31 a
50% 28.9 a 30.3 a 5.63 ab 6.26 a 7.53 a 7.72 ab 31 a
100% 29.0 a 30.1 a 5.49 a 6.45 a 7.54 a 7.71 ab 31 a
150% 28.9 a 30.1 a 5.75 a 6.18 a 7.61 ab 7.71 ab 31 a
Adjusted daily 28.9 a 30.1 a 5.48 a 6.41 a 7.54 a 7.69 a 31 a
Means with the same letters suggest no statistically significant differences at a = 0.05 level.
 T.M. Samocha et al. / Aquacultural Engineering 36 (2007) 184–191 189

Table 7
Summary of the daily water quality indicators after adding molasses in a grow-out trial with L. vannamei when fed 30% protein diet with limited
discharge and supplied with different levels of molasses
Molasses applications Temperature (8C) DO (mg/l) pH Salinity (ppt)
a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m.
0% 27.8 a 29.5 a 5.91 b 6.34 b 6.85 a 7.00 b 31.8 a
50% 28.4 bc 29.8 a 5.79 ab 6.31 b 6.88 a 6.99 b 31.2 a
100% 28.7 c 29.7 a 5.34 a 6.07 ab 6.85 a 6.84 a 31.7 a
150% 28.6 c 29.5 a 5.64 ab 6.00 a 6.90 a 6.88 ab 32.1 a
Adjusted daily 28.3 bc 29.6 a 5.33 a 6.00 a 6.84 a 6.86 ab 31.6 a
Means with the same letters suggest no statistically significant differences at a = 0.05 level.

Table 8
Summary of the weekly water quality indicators after adding the molasses in a grow-out trial with L. vannamei when fed 30% protein diet with
limited discharge and supplied with different levels of molasses
Molasses applications NO2-N COD cBOD5 TSS VSS RP Algae SS Turbidity
(mg L 1) (mg L 1) (mg L 1) (mg L 1) (mg L 1) (mg L 1) (104) (ml L 1) (NTU)
0% 3.33 ab 1,474 a 7.4 a 124 a 84 a 2.32 a 31.1 a 5.6 a 75.6 bc
50% 2.21 ab 1,495 a 7.8 a 102 a 66 a 2.50 a 30.8 a 5.2 a 77.9 bc
100% 2.12 ab 1,359 a 9.5 a 111 a 79 a 2.71 a 75.3 a 5.0 a 71.6 b
150% 1.54 b 1,417 a 7.6 a 116 a 77 a 2.37 a 15.6 a 5.7 a 77.3 bc
Adjusted daily 2.40 ab 1,401 a 9.7 a 110 a 77 a 2.65 a 73.8 a 5.5 a 66.5 a
Means with the same letters suggest no statistically significant differences at a = 0.05 level.

rate. No significant differences were found in shrimp Studies using stable isotopes have shown that the
performance between all treatments so it was concluded natural biota can contribute to shrimp nutrition in less
that the above daily differences in water quality were intensive ponds (Cam et al., 1991; Parker et al., 1991;
minor and had no overall effect on shrimp growth and Burford et al., 2002). Other reports (Burford et al., 2003,
survival. 2004) suggest that L. vannamei is capable of ingesting
The analysis of selected weekly water quality and retaining nitrogen derived from natural biota.
indicators, collected prior to adding the molasses, Guillaume (1997), while working in high density zero
showed no significant differences between treatments in exchange ponds, found that by increasing the proportion
nitrite-nitrogen, RP, COD, and cBOD5. The analysis of of flocculated particles in the culture medium, protein
the weekly water quality indicators after the initiation of
molasses addition on day 26, showed no significant
differences in SS, TSS, VSS, COD, and cBOD5.
Turbidity of molasses-adjusted treatment was signifi-
cantly lower than all other treatments. No significant
differences were found in nitrite-nitrogen between any
of the other treatments (Table 8).
No significant differences were found in the daily
TAN levels between treatments. These levels stayed
below 1 mg L 1 from the 17th day after the initiation of
molasses supplementations until the harvest (Fig. 2).
The similarity in water quality indicators between all
treatments suggests that the added molasses (0–150%)
had no significant impact. The effect of molasses
supplementations on the performance of the shrimp in
the grow-out study is summarized in Table 9. No Fig. 2. Daily concentrations of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) in a
significant differences were found in final weight, grow-out trial using 30% crude protein diet and different levels of
growth, survival rate and FCR among treatments. molasses in a limited discharge study stocked with L. vannamei.
190 T.M. Samocha et al. / Aquacultural Engineering 36 (2007) 184–191

Table 9
The effect of molasses supplementations on L. vannamei performance, fed 30% protein diet with limited discharge and supplied with different levels
of molasses, in a limited water discharge grow-out outdoor tank system
Molasses applications Weight (g) Survival rate (%) FCR Yield (kg m 3) Growth (g week 1
)
0% 16.6  0.7 a 99.0  1.4 a 1.59  0.07 a 1.24  0.03 a 0.89  0.06 a
50% 16.7  0.7 a 86.5  21.0 a 1.69  0.29 a 1.20  0.11 a 1.02  0.17 a
100% 16.8  0.5 a 95.7  4.6 a 1.69  0.27 a 1.20  0.10 a 0.90  0.06 a
150% 18.1  2.0 a 95.0  5.7 a 1.95  0.76 a 1.15  0.19 a 0.91  0.04 a
Adjusted daily 17.2  0.6 a 89.5  11.3 a 1.86  0.56 a 1.16  0.17 a 0.94  0.05 a
P-value 0.336 0.358 0.796 0.885 0.284
Means with the same letters suggest no statistically significant differences at a = 0.05 level.

requirements of this species can be reduced to 22%. References

Furthermore, studies by Teichert-Coddington and
Rodriguez (1995) and Hopkins et al. (1995) also
showed that reducing the dietary protein level from 40%
to 22% under high stocking densities using a limited
discharge management have resulted in acceptable
levels of shrimp production.
The present work was aimed only at the effect of
molasses addition to low protein diets (30%). Molasses
were added only as means to reduce TAN and nitrite-
nitrogen and not as feed replacement. Based on final
growth indicators additional molasses had no effect on
the shrimp under the condition of this study.
4. Conclusion
This study demonstrated that molasses can be used
as a tool to prevent increase in TAN and nitrite during
the nursery and grow-out phase of the Pacific white
shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, under limited water
discharge. There was no significant difference due to
molasses addition on shrimp performance in the
nursery phase. Similarly, no significant effect was
observed for water quality or shrimp performance in
the grow-out phase when the shrimp were fed a low
protein diet under limited water discharge when
culture water was supplemented with various levels of
molasses.
Acknowledgements
The studies reported in this paper were conducted
with funding from the USDA CSREES MSFP Grant #:
RI-9005, TAMUS, Texas Agricultural Experiment
Station Corpus Christi. Special thanks to Zeigler Bros.
Inc. (Garners, PA), and to Rangen Inc. (Buhl, ID) for
donating the feeds and to Harlingen Shrimp Farms (Los
Fresnos, TX) and OceanBoy Farms (Clewiston, FL) for
donating the shrimp for the studies.
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