The vannamei shrimp life cycle consists of several stages, starting from eggs to finally becoming adult shrimp. Every developmental stage has different characteristics.
It is important to understand the life cycle of vannamei shrimp larvae to provide them with appropriate treatment. By understanding the life cycle of vannamei shrimp, you can identify their needs and adjust their surroundings.
What are the stages of vannamei shrimp life cycle and how should the larvae be treated? Read more in this article.
What is the Life Cycle of Vannamei Shrimp?
The life cycle of vannamei shrimp begins with spawning between male and female shrimp. Female shrimp that have reached maturity or have reached 7-8 months and have an orange color on their backs can become broodstock.
The female shrimp will release pheromones that stimulate male shrimp. After that, the mating process occurs. Later, the mating process between the male and female shrimp produces eggs which will be laid by the female shrimp.
About 4-5 hours later, female shrimp or now broodstock lay eggs. These eggs are pre-larvae which will later develop into cultivated vannamei shrimp.
Furthermore, read the following explanation about stages of shrimp life cycle:
1. Eggs
A broodstock is usually capable of delivering 500,000-1,000,000 eggs each time it lays eggs. These eggs are kept apart from their broodstock in a different pond.
It takes 12-16 hours for the eggs to eventually hatch into microscopic larvae (naupli).
2. Naupli
Naupli or nauplius is the initial stage of development of vannamei shrimp larvae. At this stage, shrimp larvae at this stage have food reserves such as egg yolk stored in their bodies, hence they do not need artificial feed intake yet.
Throughout the naupli stage, the larvae undergoes six changes of form, namely Nauplius I, Nauplius II, Nauplius III, Nauplius IV, Nauplius V, and Nauplius VI.
Naupli (Wyban and Sweeney, 1991 in Nuraini, 2021)
3. Zoea
Naupli will grow into zoea or 1.05–3.30 mm shrimp larvae. At this stage, zoea undergo three changes of form, namely Zoea I, Zoea II, and Zoea III, and can be fed natural feed. This stage lasts for 3-4 days.
Zoea (Wyban and Sweeney, 1991 in Nuraini, 2021)
4. Mysis
At the mysis stage, the larvae start to resemble shrimp because they have a fan-shaped tail. These larvae have the characteristic of moving backwards and bending their bodies (Azizah, 2018).
Similar to zoea, mysis will undergo three changes in form, namely Mysis I, Mysis II, and Mysis III.
Mysis (Wyban and Sweeney, 1991 in Nuraini, 2021)
5. Post Larvae
The count used at this stage uses days, for example if the post larvae are 1 day old, they are PL1. Apart from that, shrimp in the post-larvae stage have started to actively move around.
Post larvae are usually raised until PL11-PL12. At this stage, the post-larvae is known as shrimp fry which are resistant to rearing conditions and are ready to be stocked in ponds.
Post Larvae (Wyban and Sweeney, 1991 in Nuraini, 2021)
6. Juvenile
Juvenile is the next stage of the shrimp life cycle following post larvae. At this stage, the shape of the shrimp already resembles adult shrimp.
However, this stage is considered a vulnerable period in the shrimp life cycle because shrimp require a habitat with the right amount of feed and environmental conditions (Putri, Nitisupardjo, & Hendrarto, 2014). At this stage, the shrimp are transported from the hatchery to the farm for cultivation.
7. Young Shrimp
After 80-90 days from the juvenile stage, the shrimp will grow to be young shrimp. Its weight depends on the cultivation system in the farm, ranging from extensive to supra-intensive.
8. Adult Shrimp
About 25-30 days later, the young shrimp grow to be adult shrimp, and this is the final stage of the shrimp life cycle.
Shrimp can be said to be adult starting 4 months after the juvenile phase. In this stage, the shrimp are ready to be harvested because they already reach enough economic value.
Tips for Rearing Shrimp Larvae
Vannamei shrimp larvae require the proper treatment during their life cycle to ensure the best potential growth into shrimp. Here are some measures that need to be taken to rear vannamei shrimp larvae:
1. Maintain Water Quality
Water is a crucial factor since it is the habitat where shrimp larvae grow. Therefore, make sure that the water quality parameters in the rearing pond, such as pH, temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen are in ideal conditions.
It is best to measure water quality parameters every day and record developments over time. These records can provide insights to help you take action in cultivation.
2. Manage Feed Properly
During the rearing period, shrimp larvae consume natural feed such as phytoplankton and zooplankton, especially since the zoea stage. However, if necessary, the hatchery will also provide artificial feed based on the nutritional needs of each larvae stage.
Shrimp larvae are fed 4-6 times a day in the hatchery. As the age of the shrimp larvae adds, the size of the feed and the dose given will increase. This is because the nutritional needs of shrimp larvae are increasing.
3. Prevent Diseases
Shrimp disease must also be paid attention to during the rearing period. Zoea Syndrome is one disease that often attacks shrimp larvae and is characterized by the larvae's unwillingness to eat since the Zoea I stage.
To prevent the spread of disease, it is best to separate the spawning tanks from the larvae rearing tanks. Additionally, maintain the sterility of the rearing area by, for example, making sure the person that helps with spawning them has received disinfection.
Conclusion
The vannamei shrimp life cycle consists of 8 stages, namely
- Eggs
- Naupli
- Zoea
- Mysis
- Post Larvae
- Juvenile
- Young Shrimp
- Adult Shrimp
Once you understand the life cycle, make sure the hatchery where you get your shrimp fry implements the proper measures for rearing vannamei shrimp larvae. An SPF or SPR certificate is also required to minimize the risk of disease attacks and improve the quality of the shrimp itself at harvest.
The next important thing is recording the daily conditions of cultivation. In addition to the development of the shrimp fry, other variables such as feed, disease, and water quality measures should also be recorded.
The good news is, JALA is #HeretoHelp through JALA App. With JALA App, you can record and monitor the condition of your shrimp farming at any time and from anywhere right at your fingertips regularly. Let's cultivate more productively and efficiently with JALA App!
References
4 Pilihan Pakan untuk Benur Udang Vaname Tumbuh Optimal | Minapoli
Azizah, N. (2018). Teknik Pemeliharaan Larva Udang Vaname (Litopenaeus vannamei) di PT. Central Pertiwi Bahari Takalar Sulawesi Selatan (final thesis). Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Pangkep, Pangkajene dan Kepulauan. Retrieved in 2024, from https://repository.polipangkep.ac.id
Haliman, R. W., dkk. (2005). Zoea Syndrome (ZS) pada Larva Udang Vannamei (Litopenaeus vannamei). Biosfera, 22(1), 6–11. https://journal.bio.unsoed.ac.id
Malik, A. (2018). Teknik Pemijahan dan Pengelolaan Telur Udang Vaname (Litopenaeus Vannamei) di PT. Suri Tani Pemuka (Japfa) Unit Hatchery Makassar Kabupaten Barru (final thesis). Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Pangkep, Pangkajene dan Kepulauan. Retrieved in 2024, from https://repository.polipangkep.ac.id
Putri, N. F., Nitisupadjo, M., Hendrarto, B. (2014). Analisis Kelimpahan Juvenil Udang dengan Menggunakan Metode Perangkap Agar-agar dan Pemberian Pakan Udang di Perairan Morosari, Demak. Diponegoro Journal of Maquares, 3(3), 1-9. https://www.neliti.com
Siklus Hidup Udang Vaname | Agrikan
Wyban, J., & Sweeney, J. N. (1991). Intensive shrimp production technology: The Oceanic Institute Shrimp Manual. The Institute. dalam Nuraini, A. N. (2021). Pemeliharaan Larva Udang Vaname (Litopenaeus vannamei) dengan Penambahan Probiotik Monodon Plus pada Media Pemeliharaan (diploma thesis). Politeknik Negeri Lampung, Bandar Lampung. Retrieved in 2024, from http://repository.polinela.ac.id/2058/
