Effects of water exchange and reducing dietary vitamin and mineral supplementation on survival and growth of Litopenaeus vannamei

A growth trial was conducted with Litopenaeus vannamei to evaluate effects of dietary vitamin and mineral supplementation (VMS) and water exchange on survival, growth and water quality. Four levels (0, 25, 50 and 100%) of VMS were evaluated using a 20% protein base diet. Postlarvae weighing 0.22 g were stocked for 26 days with either zero or high (5440% daily) water exchange. Growth was greater at zero than high exchange. However, growth was not affected by the level of VMS at both high and zero exchange. Survival for 0% VMS was lower than survivals for 25 to 100% VMS at high exchange. For 0% VMS, survival at high exchange was lower than survival at zero exchange. Results suggested that at zero water exchange, diets without VMS can replace diets with VMS without reducing survival.