The Influence of Water Exchange Rate on the Production of Penaeus monodon (Fabricius) and P. indicus (Milne Edwards) in Saudi Arabia PDF

Keywords

Saudi Arabian Gulf coastline, water exchange, cement tanks

Abstract

This study has been conducted in square cement tanks at Behars Farm in Ras Alzawr, on the Saudi Arabian Gulf coastline, to investigate the effects of two daily water exchange programs; 6 and 12 times (25 and 50 l/min) on the survival and growth of the tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon (Fabricius) and on that of the white shrimp, P. indicus (Milne Edwards). The results have revealed higher survival rates 77.95 ± 7.3% for the tiger shrimp, and 83.20 ± 16.3% for the white shrimp at the 6-time over the 12-time daily water exchange rate of 69.85 ± 7.3% and 77.1 ± 13.6% for the tiger shrimp, and for the white shrimp, respectively. But, the final weights and lengths revealed no significant differences in both programs neither for P.monodon nor for P. indicus. However, the white shrimp had better growth performance in its tanks, compared to those of the same species in the Red Sea over the tiger shrimp. Therefore, P. indicus could be the species of choice for future culture in cement canals with sandy bottoms and with a water depth of 2-3m, to avoid the negative impact expected on its production by both frequency of water exchange and fluctuations of water temperature.