Acetes shrimp is a type of small shrimp that lives in various marine areas in Southeast Asia. One of the most popular and highly caught species of Acetes shrimp is Acetes japonicus.
Acetes shrimp lives in shallow and muddy coastal waters. This type of shrimp is a popular ingredient for terasi dish and thus has a high economic value in the market. What are the characteristics, protein content, and details about Acetes shrimp? Find out in this article.
An image of Acetes shrimp
Characteristics of Acetes Shrimp
Acetes shrimp are characterized by their small body size and the absence of the fourth and fifth pairs of pereiopods. They are only about 1-4 cm long, with a translucent color, black eyes, and red spots on their uropod. Here are more detailed characteristics of Acetes shrimp:
- Small in size
- Faster growth in length than weight
- Tend to cluster on water surface
- Have three complete sets of legs with short rostrum and telson
- Have an antennae 2-3 times longer than their bodies
- Have blackish purple bands on their body segments
- Have red legs
Acetes shrimp prefer soft seabeds, which usually consist of a mixture of mud and sand. Additionally, they show positive phototaxis characteristics, which is a behavior that shows attraction to light sources.
Acetes Shrimp Protein Content
Acetes shrimp have a significant protein content. Dried Acetes shrimp contain about 59.4 g of protein. Additionally, the fat content in the same amount of Acetes shrimp is relatively low, at 3.6 g. Besides protein, they also contain various minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron.
Acetes Shrimp Cultivation
Acetes shrimp are more popularly caught than cultivated due to the higher risk of cultivation failure. Acetes shrimp catch is usually done with small equipment such as stow nets, triangular nets, and lift nets.
Acetes shrimp is the main commodity in Cirebon. However, vannamei shrimp farming is also popular among the local community due to its easier cultivation process.
Differences between Acetes and Vannamei Shrimp
Although both of them are marine shrimp, Acetes shrimp and vannamei shrimp have several differences due to their physical characteristics, type of food, and ease of cultivation.
1. Physical characteristics
Vannamei shrimp have a larger body size than Acetes shrimp, and they have white legs. Moreover, vannamei shrimp have a gray translucent color while Acetes shrimp are translucent.
2. Type of food
As a smaller shrimp, Acetes shrimp feed on small organisms such as phytoplankton, zooplankton, plants, and decapods. Vannamei shrimp, on the other hand, eat animals, plants, plankton, benthic algae, detritus, and other organic materials. Cultivated vannamei shrimp are fed with feed containing protein, amino acids, and fatty acids.
3. Ease of cultivation
Although vannamei shrimp are marine shrimp, they are highly popular to be cultivated in farms. This is because vannamei shrimp can adapt well to living in ponds with ideal conditions. Moreover, vannamei shrimp can reach high economic value within a relatively short farming period of about 4 months. Unlike vannamei shrimp, Acetes shrimp are not commonly cultivated.
Read more: 5 Popular Types of Freshwater Shrimp that are Often Cultivated in Farms
Conclusion
Acetes shrimp is a type of marine shrimp with small size and the following characteristics:
- Have three complete sets of legs with short rostrum and telson
- Have an antennae 2-3 times longer than their bodies
- Have blackish purple bands on their body segments
- Have red legs
Acetes shrimp is also high in protein and minerals. This type of shrimp is more commonly caught than cultivated, unlike vannamei shrimp.
If you are interested to start cultivating shrimp in farms, you can use the shrimp farm management application, JALA App. This application is #HeretoHelp you record, monitor, and understand cultivation conditions more conveniently.
Haven’t joined JALA App? Register now on app.jala.tech and download the mobile version of JALA App from Google Play Store or App Store.
