Farmers should know how to speed up molting in vannamei shrimp to avoid cultivation failure risks and shrimp mortality. During the molting period, shrimp become more vulnerable due to the absence of their exoskeletons which protect their body. Molting in vannamei shrimp can be sped up by maintaining ideal farm environment conditions to avoid stress in shrimp. What else can be done? Check out these five ways shrimp farmers can speed up molting in this article.
Causes of Molting in Shrimp
Molting or the changing of shell is a natural process which happens regularly in shrimp’s life cycle every 3-8 weeks. Molting occurs due to the production of certain enzymes and hormones during the pre-molting stage. These enzymes and hormones will cause the shrimp shell to soften in preparation of shedding it.
After the old shell has been shed, shrimp will be more susceptible to diseases until it gets its new shell. Thus, farmers need to understand how to speed up molting in shrimp.
How to Speed Up Shrimp Molting
1. Avoid stress in shrimp
The first step to speed up molting is by avoiding stress in shrimp. Stressed shrimp will have slowed growth and become more susceptible to diseases.
To avoid stress, ensure that pond water quality is well-maintained without extreme fluctuations, for example, temperature levels above 32°C due to hot weather and salinity levels below 15 ppt due to heavy rain should be avoided. Monitor water quality in the pond regularly to ensure each parameter is in the ideal range for shrimp growth. Also, maintain the cleanliness of the pond by siphoning out leftover feed and waste accumulating at the bottom.
2. Do regular sampling
The next step is doing sampling regularly to check the molting process. During sampling, you can observe whether some shrimp are starting to soften or shed their old shells, and which shrimp have already developed new ones. By conducting regular sampling, you can estimate the shrimp’s molting phase and make the necessary adjustments to ensure the molting process runs smoothly.
3. Adjust feed amount to the molting stage
Another important step is to adjust the feed amount according to the shrimp’s molting stage for a smooth molting cycle. If the shrimp are still in the pre-molting phase, with behavior changes such as reduced appetite, less movement and shrimp often finding a shaded place, reduce the feed quantity, as during this stage shrimp have decreased appetite and activity. After molting, shrimp require more energy to form new shells, needing a higher feed amount.
Read more: Moon Phases and How They Affect Shrimp Farms
4. Supply extra minerals for shrimp
Minerals are one of the most important nutrients that shrimp need for a smooth molting process, particularly calcium and phosphorus. These minerals aid in the formation of new shells. The faster the formation of new shells, the lower the risk of cannibalism in shrimp, increasing the survival rate (SR). To supply minerals for shrimp, treatment through pond water is more advisable as it is more effective than through feed.
5. Monitor water salinity
Last but not least, monitor water salinity to make sure that it is ideal for shrimp farms, at a range of 15-30 ppt. Salinity levels affect the availability of dissolved minerals in water. With higher salinity, shrimp can grow stronger shells. To overcome low salinity levels, farmers can add saltwater and discard surface water, especially during wet seasons.
Conclusion
Molting is a natural and important process that shrimp go through throughout their life cycle. To speed up molting in vannamei shrimp and make sure they quickly grow new, stronger shells, farmers need to:
- Avoid stress in shrimp
- Do regular sampling
- Adjust feed amount to the molting stage
- Supply extra minerals for shrimp
- Monitor water salinity
To help you monitor shrimp development during cultivation more easily, you can use JALA App. JALA App is a shrimp farm management application that lets you record 40+ cultivation parameters, monitor conditions in real time, and get analysis based on actual conditions in the pond. With JALA App, you can take the best step in your farm to reach your cultivation targets.
What are you waiting for? Start a better cultivation journey with JALA App. Register now at app.jala.tech and download the mobile version from Google Play Store or App Store!
