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Shrimp farming is a profitable business. Growing shrimp at home as a business Shrimp at home

Many aspiring entrepreneurs today are increasingly thinking about opening a profitable business related to the breeding of crustaceans. After all, there is a great demand for this seafood because they are healthy, tasty and have an optimal price in comparison with other marine life that a person can eat. In this article we will talk about shrimp farming at home as a business. You will be surprised how, with a relatively small start-up capital, you can turn into a successful entrepreneur in a few months.

Is activity registration required for this business?

Shrimp farming as a business cannot be considered a new trend in entrepreneurial activity. People first took up such fishing in the 70s of the twentieth century. It was then that the demand for these crustaceans increased sharply, and in connection with this, shrimp farms began to appear in Europe, the United States and Asia. Of course, the primacy in freshwater shrimp farming as a business belongs to Asian countries - China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Latin American countries. However, in Russia, where the climate is suitable for this business, there are also farms for breeding giant freshwater shrimp.


Each of us can also start fishing, but on a more modest scale. Today, home shrimp farming can bring decent profits to entrepreneurs who have dedicated their lives to this activity. Moreover, in order to start farming shrimp at home for sale, it is not necessary to register a private enterprise with the tax office and undergo regular inspections by supervisory authorities. All this must be done if you plan to open an industrial shrimp farm in Russia. Without the appropriate documents confirming your right to enter into transactions with legal entities for the supply of crustacean seafood, you simply will not be able to carry out legally large-scale business activities.

What kind of shrimp should I breed?

If you are in search of a solution to the issue, and have settled on the fact that you want to breed and keep shrimp, then you need to decide which species to grow:

  • Decorative dwarf crustaceans or filter-feeding shrimp (those that are not eaten by people, they are purchased to decorate home aquariums);
  • Or those species that people are used to eating (breeding king or tiger shrimp can bring great benefits, since there is the greatest demand for them, especially among restaurateurs and owners of large grocery stores. Breeding aquarium shrimp will not bring much profit in Russia if you cannot find target audience, which mainly includes oligarchic circles of Russians).

Having decided which crustaceans you want to breed, carefully study the technology of their cultivation and life support features. It is extremely important to find a quality retail outlet where you can buy shrimp for farming. It is advisable that it be located close to your location, so that you do not have to overpay for transporting expensive seafood in special mobile containers that will maintain their viability. Newcomers to fish farming should consult with experts who can check the good condition of the crustaceans.

There is another, better option - you can buy shrimp fry for breeding. But it should be noted that it is suitable only for those people who are experts in the field of breeding freshwater shrimp at home or other types of these marine inhabitants. After all, in order to raise a larva, you need to provide it with special conditions and have large financial resources.

Where to breed shrimp?


Those who have decided for themselves that farming crustaceans is for them need to decide not only on a supplier of live shrimp for breeding, but also on a place to grow them. Let us immediately note that breeding marine life in reservoirs, as is done in Asian and Latin American countries, will not work in Russia, because the climatic conditions in this state are completely unsuitable for this.

Beginning entrepreneurs can breed king prawns at home in two forms:

  1. In a pool with a depth of 1–1.5 m. To do this, it does not have to be installed outdoors; a pool for breeding giant freshwater shrimp at home can be located right in the house. Experts say that room temperature water is preferable for crustaceans than outdoor water temperature. However, the main thing is that the temperature of the green water in it does not fall below 13 degrees, and the pH is above 9. It is recommended to lay either tiles or broken stones at the bottom of the pool, which will act as a shelter for crustaceans and create more water for them. comfortable living conditions. It is advisable to install a closed water supply system in the pool, which will automatically regulate the optimal water temperature, lighting and oxygen. If you follow all of the above recommendations, you will be able to sell seafood all year round.
  2. In aquarium. Breeding shrimp in an aquarium as a business is the best technology, which is practically no different from a full-fledged fish farm. The main difference is the volume of the aquarium and the amount of products that can be sold. It will not be possible to grow many individuals in a home aquarium, so your main consumers will be individuals who feed the inhabitants of their aquariums with seafood.

Features of shrimp farming at home

  1. In order for shrimp to grow normally, you need to maintain the temperature of the water in which they will live (the best option is + 22–28 ° C, because they are very heat-loving creatures);
  2. You can’t keep many individuals in one pool, especially river ones, because they will start eating each other, and this, of course, will only negatively affect your business (it will reduce your income several times);
  3. Shrimp, especially their larvae, need to be constantly fed; they should not feel hungry. You need to buy special, balanced food for them, because it is in your interests that the crustaceans you breed actively grow and gain weight;
  4. You cannot skimp on purchasing a system to maintain the temperature of the water, since it, if configured correctly, will prevent the massive death of the marine life you are raising at the moment when they begin to actively moult.

If you do not neglect all these features of growing crustaceans at home, then in 12 months, each individual will reach large sizes (one shrimp will weigh 100 g), and you will be able to get rich.

Advantages and disadvantages of shrimp farming business

An aspiring entrepreneur who has just decided should also know about all the disadvantages and advantages of his chosen entrepreneurial activity.

In our opinion, the absolute advantages of breeding arthropods at home include:

  • The demand for crustaceans never falls, but on the contrary, is constantly growing. This is due to their pleasant taste, healthy properties and affordable price for everyone, despite the fact that shrimp are considered a gourmet food;
  • Growing arthropods at home is... In a year of active work, you can quickly recoup your investment and start earning decent money;
  • Lack of competition. This is paradoxical due to the fact that shrimp is a very popular product. You can become an entrepreneur who will sell high-quality, cheap domestic products;
  • You need to research all the outlets where you can buy shrimp for farming in order to be able to grow and distribute healthy specimens.

As for the disadvantages of business related to fish farming, in our opinion, there is only one obvious disadvantage - you must definitely spend time studying the nuances of arthropod breeding in order to be aware of all the problems that may arise. Although this is not even a minus, but a tiring necessity.

Financial investments and profits

In order to become a successful entrepreneur in the fishing industry, you need to assess how much money you will initially need to invest and what you need to buy:

  • First of all, you will need capacious aquariums. Their cost will depend on the volume and quality of glass that the manufacturer used during their manufacture;
  • In addition to a habitat for crustaceans, special soil will also be required. Its quantity must be calculated based on the following ratio: for a 50-liter aquarium - 9 kg of soil;
  • Naturally, you need to purchase a separate oxygen circulation system for each aquarium. They are expensive, but experts do not recommend saving on their purchase, because the purity of the water and the viability of the inhabitants of the aquarium will depend on them;
  • Of course, you need to buy the arthropods themselves, preferably several species on the basis that you need four females for one male. Please note that representatives of different species must live separately from each other.

Based on all of the above, we get the following business plan for shrimp farming (for those who want to start a registered large-scale business). Initially, you need to have an amount of approximately 1,395,000 rubles, which you need to spend on:

  1. Purchase of special equipment – ​​700 thousand rubles;
  2. Purchase of one ton of arthropods or their larvae – 25–35 thousand rubles;
  3. Feed – 120 thousand. rubles;
  4. Rent of premises – 150 thousand. rubles;
  5. Utility costs – 100–200 thousand. rubles;
  6. Salary to employees – 300 thousand. rubles

One cannot but agree that the amount of initial investment is quite impressive.

What to do if you don’t have that kind of money to develop your business?

  • Take a loan. The option is not the best and not always justified. It is suitable only for experienced entrepreneurs who know a lot about their chosen business and use credit funds to invest and scale an already successfully existing business;
  • Find investors. Shrimp farming is a profitable business. If you can competently draw up a business plan that outlines all the nuances, calculates the amount of financial investments, payback periods and profitability of the business, perhaps your project will be of interest to people with money. It's definitely worth a try;
  • Start small. The easiest way out is to start shrimp farming on a small scale. Having thoroughly studied the technology, you can turn your small business into a full-scale farm for growing and breeding shrimp.

Sales market

As statistics show, there are no problems finding shrimp consumers in Russia, because, as we have already mentioned, shrimp is a seafood product that is in wide demand. The target audience will always be wholesale buyers, which include:

  • Large shopping centers with grocery stores;
  • Specialized fish sales points;
  • Restaurants, cafes and other catering establishments.

It goes without saying that from the first days no one will be able to establish contacts with large buyers. For some time you will have to work with small private buyers and small retail outlets. If within a year you manage to establish your business to a decent scale, you can even think about opening your own company store, for example, selling king prawns.

Shrimp have a very delicate taste. They contain a large number of useful microelements. This seafood is low in calories and is included in all kinds of diets. Breeding shrimp at home is not difficult. In addition, you can build a fairly profitable business on this, because the demand for the delicacy is always high. A shrimp can also become an aquarium resident, but this species should not be eaten.


In this article you will learn how to breed shrimp

Decorative types

Such individuals can decorate any underwater world. To keep shrimp in an artificial habitat, you will need a water filter, lighting and a compressor for oxygen enrichment. With the help of such equipment you can create conditions similar to natural ones. Crustaceans feel comfortable in them, so they begin to multiply intensively.

You need to change the water in the aquarium at least once a week. Moreover, it cannot be replaced completely; only 10% of the total volume is enough. The decapod crustacean does not need to be fed daily. The procedure should be carried out 1-3 times a week. Overeating leads to infertility and death.

There are many types of shrimp

Shrimp eat everything. In an aquarium they should eat the same food as in the wild. In nature, their diet consists of carrion and a variety of plants. Experts recommend feeding arthropods with filament that covers the walls of the container. This way you can get double benefits: you can feed your pet and clean the aquarium.

Shrimp carrion is considered a delicacy, but preparing such food at home is problematic. Therefore, industrial products created for fish can be used as food. These can be fiber-containing flakes, tablets and granules. A ready-made diet is also produced for shrimp, but it is difficult to find in pet stores.

In this video you will learn more about this shrimp:

Edible individuals

Containers should be equipped in the same way as for their decorative counterparts. Moss, ferns and other plants need to be placed in them. Vegetation for an aquarium has a small price. Before buying livestock, you need to prepare an aquarium or pond by landscaping it.

Types of meat arthropods:

  • freshwater;
  • royal;
  • brindle;
  • Malaysian.

Each type of shrimp has its own conditions

For breeding king prawns and other species, it is important to maintain the temperature regime, because these creatures are thermophilic. It is unacceptable to cool the water below +22°C. But if crustaceans are kept in an equipped pool, which is located indoors and maintained at temperature, they can be propagated all year round. Such a pool costs from 20 thousand rubles.

Don't put too many shrimp in one bucket. Free space is important for their comfortable living. In addition, some species do not get along with each other. Therefore, you will have to settle on one variety or purchase several containers.

Malaysian giants

Crustaceans are best suited for farming in Russia. They are very large, can reach a length of up to 33 cm, grow quickly and reproduce rapidly. In addition, they are unpretentious in care and nutrition.

Development to an adult organism occurs in several stages. The most difficult period is the molting period. Throughout its existence, the shrimp molts 13 times, each time becoming larger. Adult organisms undergo molting once every 8 weeks. During this period, most of the individuals may die. Therefore, at this difficult moment you need to carefully monitor the living conditions of the shrimp.

Crustaceans are purchased as young animals. The females are immediately placed in a separate container, in which the water temperature for the first 3 weeks is kept within +20...+22°C. After 21 days it is increased to +30°C.


These shrimp eat food crops

Favorable water temperature for reproduction is +20°…+27°С. Stones, pieces of wood and pipes are used at the bottom of an aquarium, pool or pond. They are needed for shelter. The number of shrimp in one container should not be excessive, otherwise the individuals will begin to devour each other, which brings huge losses to the business.

Malaysian shrimp are offered grass and feed crops. They are also very fond of waste that is generated as a result of processing animal products. Crustaceans can remember where they eat. If individuals get hungry, they begin to gather there. When breeding, they need to be fed generously. Individuals are ready to breed at 6 months.

Benefit for the entrepreneur

Shrimp farming does not require large expenses. The easiest way is to have a well-equipped aquarium in your apartment. It is also important to learn about the market before starting.


Shrimp farming can be very profitable

It is up to an SMM specialist to make advertising on the Internet easier. His services cost an average of 15 thousand rubles. If it is not possible to pay for his work, you can learn how to promote yourself; in the age of information technology, such training will not be difficult. Many budding entrepreneurs do this themselves.

Production for aquarists

Decorative shrimp are easy to care for, and their breeding is very profitable. Some entrepreneurs grow them in ordinary buckets. For any container with a volume of 50 liters there are 100 individuals, of which 70 should be females. In good living conditions, one female gives birth to about 20 fry monthly, and 70 - as many as 1400.

List of necessary equipment, except for the container:

  1. Water filter. Its price varies from 400 to 1400 rubles.
  2. Oxygen compressors. Cost – 100−600 rubles.
  3. Lamps - from 300 rubles.
  4. Soil that softens water. It costs about 2,000 rubles for a 9-liter package.

Don’t forget to prepare all the conditions for their breeding

Businessmen negotiate with pet store owners and promote themselves on social networks. This will help you build a customer base. By establishing a sales market, you can get good money. The inhabitants of the aquarium cost differently, from 10 to 150 rubles apiece. The price is directly related to what class the mollusk belongs to, which can be of different types:

  • red crystals;
  • tigers;
  • yellow;
  • blue;
  • snowflakes.

The price of shrimp depends on its type

Cultivation as food

Breeding meat shrimp at home does not require large expenses, as is the case with ornamental specimens. The demand for them is incredibly high, but there is also considerable competition in this area. Despite this, there are always enough buyers.

It is better for a novice entrepreneur to stop at an aquarium. If the business suddenly goes bankrupt, the financial losses will not be so noticeable. The scale of production in this case is small, and the main clients will be individuals.

Businessmen most often choose to grow Malaysian shrimp. You can keep them in ponds at your own dacha. Grown-up fry are sorted by length and weight. This allows you to set the correct price to sell the product.

It is difficult to buy fry in Russia, their price is very high, but for breeding at home you need very little. For starters, 3 females and one male will be enough. One small fry costs 150 rubles, while an adult 10-15 cm in size can be sold for 1,100 rubles.

When purchasing fry, it is important to check whether they are male or female. It is ideal to purchase a female with eggs: this will prove the gender of the individual. It is worth considering that shrimp can change gender throughout their existence.


To start with, about 3-4 shrimp will be enough.

Profit and sales market

Shrimp is a very popular product. It rarely stays on the shelves, so it’s easy to sell such a product. To calculate sales income, it is recommended to look at prices in markets and stores. The cost of shrimp changes annually. Now it varies from 600 to 1000 rubles per kilogram depending on the type and size of seafood.

You can sell shrimp not only in stores, but also offer them to catering establishments. They are especially popular in beer bars. At first, it will not be possible to conclude an agreement with large buyers; the goods will have to be sold to private individuals. But if the demand is high, you can open your own store.


Don't forget to obtain the appropriate permissions

Small investments in business will pay off after 2 seasons. The initial capital is approximately 40 thousand rubles. It includes the purchase of an aquarium, equipment for it, individuals and food. No documents are required to start activities. In this case, it is recommended to register an individual entrepreneur, because no organization will cooperate with an individual.

Obtaining a license to operate is required only when concluding contracts with representatives on a large scale. It requires permission from the SES and Rospotrebnadzor: These authorities will check that the quality of the product meets the standards.

Having decided to grow shrimp at home for sale, an entrepreneur must approach the issue responsibly. Don't give up if difficulties arise. It can be difficult for new breeders. You need to find your niche by propagating both ornamental and meat species.

Few people know that in the southern regions of Russia there is an interesting business in growing an exquisite delicacy - giant freshwater shrimp. It is in these parts that the heat-loving crustacean delights enterprising breeders with its abundance.

Giant freshwater shrimp

One of the most important factors for shrimp farming is temperature. 22-28 degrees Celsius is considered optimal for reproduction and comfortable existence. Temperatures below these values ​​lead to a slowdown in the vital activity of crustaceans, and in cooler conditions (less than 13 degrees) the shrimp dies. In this regard, breeding shrimp outdoors in winter cold conditions is impossible.

Expert opinion

Roman Efremov

Particular importance should be given to water for shrimp habitat. Its hardness should be in the range of 5-10, acidity - 6.5-8.5. Recommended oxygen level is 4-6 mg/l. The level of nitrates should not exceed 50 mg/l, nitrites - 0.1 mg/l, chlorides - 10 mg/l.

Let's consider the features of a reservoir for crustaceans. Ideally, a small pond should be located near a river, because... This will eliminate the hassle of constantly having to fill the tank. The depth of such a pool can vary from 0.5 to 1.5 meters. It must be remembered that shrimp are poor builders, so the breeders themselves will have to take care of shelter for them at the bottom of the reservoir (tiles, slate sheets, pipe fragments, etc.).

Expert opinion

Roman Efremov

Work experience: 5 years. Specialization: all areas of jurisprudence.

At the bottom of the pool you can put river sand of dark shades with a fraction of 2-4 mm. Shrimp need a place to hide, so you need to take care of creating different places. This is necessary in order to protect the shrimp from its relatives. The giant freshwater shrimp is characterized by frequent molting. During this period, she is completely defenseless and can be eaten by her relatives.

Shrimp feed on food of animal and plant origin. At the same time, they develop a conditioned reflex to the place where food appears. So they try to stay close to him because they are hungry. It must be taken into account that before breeding, they are fed in excess, using mainly live food, so that the shrimp receive at least 30% protein.

Expert opinion

Roman Efremov

Work experience: 5 years. Specialization: all areas of jurisprudence.

As a special treat for shrimp, you can use lettuce (pre-scalded), dandelion stems, nettles, burdock and plantain.Aquarium plants in a pool with freshwater shrimp will not take root; they will be instantly eaten. As flora, you can use cryptocoryne or ophiopogen, which shrimp do not perceive as a food source.

Features of reproduction

So, the house is equipped, you can purchase young animals, which are purchased from special farms. All females must be kept in trays at a lower temperature (20-22 degrees) for three weeks, and then raised to 28-29 degrees for three days. In this way, synchronized spawning can be achieved.

Expert opinion

Roman Efremov

Work experience: 5 years. Specialization: all areas of jurisprudence.

Sexual maturity occurs in shrimp at 4-5 months of life. If the shrimp is inactive, damaged or sick, spawning becomes impossible.

The larvae develop in several stages, each of which ends with molting. This is a critical period because... At this time, many shrimp die. Due to their high sensitivity to any, even the smallest, changes in the environment, during this period their conditions should be as favorable as possible.

Shrimp grow quite quickly, after about a year their weight reaches 100 grams. But they reach sexual maturity in less than six months; their weight during this period is 6-12 grams at 75-100 cm.

Expert opinion

Roman Efremov

Work experience: 5 years. Specialization: all areas of jurisprudence.

Giant freshwater shrimp are characterized by their aggressive nature and omnivorous nature. That is why, in order to obtain offspring, it is better to place females in other reservoirs where conditions for spawning will be created. Otherwise, the newborn shrimp runs the risk of being eaten by its relatives in the first days after birth.

Sales of products

So, after catching grown shrimp, they need to be sorted by weight and size, because the price of the product will depend on this. On average, stores and restaurants offer from 6 to 12 dollars per kilogram, which pays for the investment in a relatively short time.

  • How much can you earn
        • Similar business ideas:

The most profitable species for farming is the giant freshwater shrimp. To be more precise - Macrobrachium rosenbergii. This shrimp lives in Southeast Asia and gains up to 250 grams in its natural environment. The Rosenbergs are very prolific. One female can bring up to 200 thousand eggs. The shrimp grows very quickly and by 6 months it gains a weight of up to 100 grams, if there is enough food and the temperature is optimal (+ 25 degrees).

Shrimp cultivation technologies

Shrimp farming is exactly the type of business that can be considered low-competitive. As a product, shrimp is very popular and is not cheap (from 600 rubles/kg), but there are no successful examples of its cultivation in our country. More precisely, they exist, but they are still in their “infancy” and it is too early to talk about success. One thing is for sure - the sale of shrimp will be guaranteed, all that remains is to make the growing process profitable, which turns out to be not so easy... There are a lot of subtleties in growing shrimp. For example, the problem of cannibalism can lead the organizer of an aqua farm to a dead end. Eating their own kind may be due to a simple lack of food in the pool or a small living space. For growing giant shrimp, the most preferred option in our country is the use of RAS. The installation of a closed water supply makes it possible to obtain a seafood product even in harsh northern regions, since the production modules-pools are located in a heated room. The RAS on a shrimp farm is a system of pools, pumps, storage tanks, oxygen saturation units, ultraviolet units, biological and mechanical filters, and a water control unit. According to some calculations, if you follow the technology, you can get “clean” up to 8,000 euros per year from one hundred square meters. That is, a small family farm on 10 acres will bring about 96,000 euros of net profit. The profitability of a shrimp farm will largely depend on how expensive one kilowatt is. The fact is that maintaining the optimal growing temperature requires constant energy supply. For shrimp, the water temperature in the pool should be +25 degrees. all year round. If you pay for electricity at the general tariff, you can go broke. It is for this reason that almost all successful aquafarms are built near hydroelectric and thermal power plants. It is most profitable to grow shrimp in the southern regions. And it's not just about saving on heating costs. During the warm season, the broodstock can be kept in an open reservoir, which has a positive effect on the growth and reproduction of shrimp. The main difficulty in this business, according to experts, is the purchase of planting material - shrimp larvae. If the equipment can be found at home, then the fry are purchased exclusively abroad, since the development of the larvae requires warm sea water (salinity 15 - 35 ppt). Most often, the larva is purchased in Thailand, which makes delivery expensive.

How much money do you need to open a shrimp business?

The shrimp business is an extremely expensive project. So, in order to create optimal conditions for growing and breeding, you will need to invest about 30,000 euros per hundred square meters. That is, a small farm on 15 acres will require an investment of at least 450,000 euros. For investors, this is a lot of money, and it is easier to invest your hard-earned money in real estate than to invest in a dubious business.

How to start a shrimp farming business

Before you organize a business, you need to decide what kind of shrimp you want to reproduce: decorative ones, which are used to decorate aquariums, or for consumption? The second option is the most profitable. And, if you want to make good money, it’s better to stick with it.

How much can you earn

The shrimp business is not a fast-paying business, since the first shrimp will grow no earlier than in a year. But the business has high profitability, which can reach up to 70%.

What documents are needed to open a shrimp farming business?

If you are starting a business from scratch, then you can try to work without paperwork. If things start to improve, you should think about registering a business. It is better to start with registering an individual entrepreneur and prepare a standard package of documents for this. You also need to select the OKVED code and taxation system.

Which OKVED code should I indicate when growing shrimp?

OKVED code - 02/05/12 “Reproduction of fish and aquatic biological resources by non-agricultural producers”

Which tax system to choose

The taxation system is UTII, you can switch to a simplified system.

Do you need a permit to open a shrimp business?

You will need permits from the SES and Rospotrebnadzor. In addition, it will be necessary to send the products for examination.

Freshwater shrimp farming technology

For growing freshwater shrimp, including giant
freshwater (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), suitable for small-
water discharge reservoirs (ponds) in the south of Russia (Krasnodar
and Stavropol Territory, Rostov and Astrakhan Regions, Republic
public Dagestan) with a long (until September) growing season
ny period.
The most stable results are obtained by the “green water” method,
which made it possible to achieve success in the mass cultivation of shrimp.
With this method, part of the water in the container with the larvae is regularly
is replaced by “green water” with a high content of phytoplankto-
on (about 1 million cells per 1 l), consisting mainly of green
algae, in particular marine chlorella. To cause color
water, it is fertilized with superphosphate, urea and feces
fish or add four parts of urea to one part of complex
th mineral fertilizer (nitrogen: phosphorus: potassium 15:15:15), possibly
Other methods of fertilization are also possible. Sometimes a monocule is used
ture of marine chlorella, in this case to prevent the development
adding other algae once a week to a container with larvae
add a 0.5% solution of copper sulfate. Usage
"green water" allows you to improve water quality by quickly
absorption of ammonium by algae, even if it is present in
concentrations dangerous for the larvae (0.6 mg/l).
Shrimp larvae cannot digest phytoplankton, even
if they swallow it, but algae can serve as food for naupli-
artemia pits on which the larvae feed. It is assumed that
"green water" can promote better food absorption
repairs. The addition of diatoms does not affect the content
reduction of ammonium, nitrates and nitrites, but significantly increases
survival and accelerates the development of larvae.

The main function of “green water” is purification from harmful substances.
substances, if this purification is carried out in a different way, it is possible
dispense with the use of phytoplankton. For example, in Hawaii
In most nurseries, farmers use “semi-flow”
larval rearing system. There are separate containers for
clean water, green water and larval rearing, salinity
water is maintained at 10-15%o. Immediately after hatching
102
the larvae are placed in containers (planting density - 160 pcs/l),
then, after approximately half of the larval period has passed
development, they are thinned out (planting density up to 40 pcs/l). In one
from nurseries daily in containers with larvae half of the water
are replaced with “green”; in others, part of the water is replaced with
“green” on certain days in the early stages of lychee development
nok, and then add clean water. For example, between 3 and 6 days
30% of the water is replaced with “green”, then between 7 and 9 - 40, between 10
and 13 - 50% of water is replaced with clean water, after which more is added
100% "green water". Thus the total volume increases
by half, and the planting density decreases on the 14th day after planting
transfer of larvae from one container to two of the same (planting density
decreases by another half), the water level in the containers decreases by
50%, and they are topped up to full volume with clean water. Such substitutions
Our water flow continues until the end of the larval period. For one more
new farm uses a constant small flow - in one
About 50% of water is exchanged per day. Thus, the high level
Water quality is maintained in shrimp hatcheries
farms in Hawaii in several ways: substitution
water, siphoning and adding phytoplankton.
With such a water purification system, no dangerous levels are observed.
containing inorganic toxins, pesticides or heavy metals.
Also the main metabolic toxins: ammonia, nitrates and
nitrites do not have time to accumulate to dangerous levels (corresponding
exactly 10 and 2-3 mg/l) due to timely water changes and
vital activity of phytoplankton. Moreover, in this way
pH is maintained within optimal limits for larvae. Survive
The yield with this method of cultivation is usually 50-
70%, for every 100-500 postlarvae raised, used
about 1 m3 of water, the average production of postlarvae is 30 pcs/l.
Currently, in many countries, the “clean water” method is replacing
nil "green water" method. This usually happens in two cases:
or the larvae are grown using a simpler and cheaper method in non-
large volumes, or use more intensive purification methods
ki of water using mechanical and biological filters
high power and strictly control all parameters of its quality.
The larvae are kept in pools where the water level is
is 25-75 cm, salinity is 12%. From the tenth day of cultivation
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change 10-50% of water daily. The survival rate of larvae is
puts 10-50%.
The method of intensive rearing of larvae in clean water develops
developed at the Oceanology Center in Tahiti based on technology
rearing sea shrimp larvae. Compared to usual
methods used for rearing giant larvae
freshwater shrimp, this method makes it possible to keep
larvae at a density of 100 pcs/l and a postlarvae yield of 60 pcs/l
versus no more than 50 and 30 pcs/l, respectively, with traditional
methods. This technology requires strict control of all important
the highest growing parameters - temperature, illumination, ka-
water quality, feeding conditions, disease prevention and maintenance
keeping them at the optimal level regardless of fluctuations
external environmental conditions. Growing larvae
found indoors, where containers are located in the
well lit places. Brackish water is prepared and stored
in four polyethylene tanks with a capacity of 10 m3. Swimming pools
for growing larvae in the early stages they have cylindrical
nic shape, volume - 2 m3, for later stages of application -
V-shaped long pools with a capacity of 5 m3 are available. All
the pools are made of fiberglass and stand on metal
racks and painted in a dark color, which is necessary to improve
larval nutrition. Air nozzles are located at the bottom,
to mix water and food particles to reduce
cannibalism. Each pool is supplied with air in a volume
2.6 m3/h, outlet filter mesh size matches
larvae. The larvae could be collected at the exit of the pool at
storage tank with a capacity of 10 liters.
For keeping producers and postlarvae they are used
cylindrical containers with a capacity of 2 m3 with a flat bottom. For
mechanical and biological filtration in closed operation
systems with a capacity of 5 m3 use the following components:
1) mechanical filter - plywood box (1.3x0.7x0.5 m) with sand
sand layer 0.1 m thick (diameter of sand grains 0.1 mm) and the system
return flow for daily sand washing; 2) biological
gical filter - partitioned box (1.3x0.65x0.6 m) with ob-
broken corals 0.15 m thick (∅ 3-5 cm), which, when
cabbage soup of bacteria utilize waste products (effectively
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the use of this material in biofilters is very high due to its strength
no porosity and buffer qualities).
Water circulation is ensured by a pump, which
supplies water through a sand filter to a biological one, and into a container with
The water flows by gravity to the larvae. The salinity of the water is 12%.
In an open system, the water is renewed at the end of the day to ensure
to obtain its best quality at night, when the larvae molt and are at their best.
more vulnerable. The temperature is maintained within 30-31°C.
Salinity is adjusted by adding seawater, which is chlorinated
ried, settled and passed through a silicate filter
sand. Since there are no chemical discharges in Tahiti, the water does not contain
harmful substances such as pesticides, heavy salts remain
metals, etc. Before changing the water, the ammonium concentration in the water
kah reaches 1.5, NН3 - 4 mg/l, but this level does not affect
significant effect on the growth and survival of larvae.
It is important to ensure that all free chlorine evaporates from
water, since even a small concentration of it is harmful
influence on larvae.
In a closed system, water turnover occurs no more than once
once an hour. The residual concentration of ammonium and nitrites in this case
is less than 0.1 mg/l. At the end of the growing period the level
nitrates should be no more than 5 mg/l N-NO2, and pH changes
very insignificant (7.8-8.2). Adverse effects
these factors were not observed in the larvae.
For feeding the larvae, Artemia nauplii and dry
food prepared using technology developed for marine
shrimp. The first ten days, granulated food is given 2 times
per day and its amount is regulated according to apparent consumption.
Newly hatched Artemia nauplii are given in the late afternoon with
second day. During feeding with Artemia in a closed system
water circulation stops.
The number of Artemia nauplii (Table 26) is calculated as follows:
way to ensure the fastest and most complete metamorphosis
Phosis (any decrease in the amount leads to a slowdown in meta-
morphosis and subsequently to low survival). Granulated
feed cannot completely replace brine shrimp, but it helps
save some of it.
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Table 26
Changing the daily amount of feed
per larva during the growing period
Day
cultivation Number of Artemia Granules
in dry weight, mcg
3 5 0
4 10 0
5-6 15 0
7 20 0
8 25 0
9 30 0
10-11 35 0
12 40 70
13-14 45 80-90
15-4 50 100-180
25-30 45 200
35 40 200
An improved version of this technology is used on
shrimp farms in French Polynesia. The larvae are grown
are in a closed system, the yield of postlarvae is 80 pcs/l.
Thus, maintaining water quality at the proper level
is the most important and difficult moment in growing
freshwater shrimp larvae.
Another equally important problem is feeding. The larvae are not
capable of actively searching for food, but can only grasp
food objects in direct contact with them, and
the size of food particles should not be less than the distance between
grasping legs of the larvae. Therefore, in a container with larvae
a high concentration of food must be maintained at all times
of particles of suitable size and quality. Best of all this
Artemia nauplii meet the requirements. Most often, during industrial
In long-term cultivation, the larvae are fed 3-4 times during the day,
personal non-live food and once in the evening, after a change of military
Yes, Artemia nauplii. The latter are given in a concentration of 1-
15 pcs/ml, depending on the growing system, or calculated
are based on the number and age of larvae.
106
Feeding with non-live food is simpler and cheaper.
and most maggot producers use different types
such feeds for partial replacement of live feeds. It has been proven that the combination
feeding with brine shrimp and artificial feed gives the best results
cultivation than feeding only brine shrimp. Most often it is used
uses pureed fish meat, the particle size of which increases -
grow as the larvae grow. This food is given to the larvae from the second
third day. Other suitable foods are cephalopod meat, caviar
fish, egg paste or powder, wheat or soy flour, dry
skim milk. The larvae are fed 4 times a day every 3-4 hours,
reducing minced fish and egg paste. At night, on the fifth feeding,
produce artemia nauplii. Non-living food is prepared once every two or three
days and stored frozen. They are given by diluting them with water in proportion to
ratio 1:1 and concentration 0.042-0.21 ml/l of feed per day. In the nursery
In Tahiti, larvae, except for Artemia nauplii, are fed with
artificial granulated food. Granules are prepared from fresh
raw materials (Table 27).
Table 27
Composition of granulated food for larvae
Ingredients Dry matter, %
Flour:
squid 27.6
shrimp 6.9
from fish roe 6.9
Egg powder 14
Fish oil 2
Vitamin and mineral supplements
ki 1
Algae meal 15
Crude protein (protein) 54.9
Crude fat 19.7
Minerals 7.7
Raw carbohydrates 7.7
The wet mixture is finely ground to achieve a one-
native paste, then add seaweed, dry the mixture,
grind and sift, obtaining dry, well-stored and
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easy to use granules. These granules are given throughout the day
several times, and in the evening feeding - Artemia nauplii. Bye-
It has been shown that adding vitamin C to feed at a dose of 175 mg per 100 g increases
reduces the survival rate of larvae by 40%.
Most of the diseases of larvae are explained by their crowding,
poor water quality, low temperature, insufficient co-
oxygen retention, unsuitable food.
Rearing of postlarvae
The first shrimp postlarvae usually appear on day 25
cultivation, and within about a week 90% of the larvae pass
metamorphosis. When grown commercially, it is not profitable to keep
larvae longer than this time, and on the 30-35th day of fer-
measures collect postlarvae.
The separation of larvae and postlarvae is based on differences in their
behavior - larvae swim in the water column, and postlarvae
spend most of their time at the bottom. The larvae usually disappear
emerge from the upper layers of water, and postlarvae merge with
bottom layers of water (Fig. 14).

Rice. 14. Device for separating postlarvae from larvae:
1 – dark inner container; 2 – light outer container,
3 – passages into the internal container; 4 – direction of water flow
After the postlarvae are separated from the larvae, they are usually within
12 hours adapted to fresh water, and then placed in earthen
ponds for cultivation or grown in special containers
stakh. It is necessary to ensure that the reaction of the environment in the pond is
same pH 9, and the density of postlarvae did not exceed
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10 thousand/m3. Excess density leads to high mortality due to
after the next molt. Postlarvae are transported in polyethylene
packages with a density of 300 pcs/l, if transportation lasts less
days, and 100 pcs/l - if longer than a day, while aeration is desirable -
tion or filling part of the package volume with oxygen.
Typically in tropical and subtropical hot countries
climate, postlarvae are placed directly in earthen ponds for
cooked cultivation, while at first there is a satisfaction
but high mortality, which can be reduced by co-
maintaining optimal growing conditions.
In temperate countries where the growing season is limited,
lasts for several months, postlarvae are raised in
under controlled conditions for one to three months. At
In this case, the initial planting density is usually 1000-
1500 pcs/m2, as the juveniles grow it decreases to 300-
500 pcs/m2. The optimal water depth for growth and survival is
trays containing shrimp, 30-40 cm. Significant
The problem with such a high planting density is canni-
balism. To reduce it, it is recommended to use excess
feeding with complete food, but the main thing is the presence of
housing Bunches of threads can be used as shelters,
green or brown fishing line. In a container with
rows of strips located vertically and horizontally
alternately, you can contain up to 220-260 pcs/m2, or 3580-
3719 pcs/m3.
Usually, young shrimp are raised for planting in ponds.
up to a weight of 1-3 g. With such sizes, mortality during growing
variation usually does not exceed 10%. In temperate climates
postlarvae can be immediately transplanted into ponds without prior preparation.
proper growing, provided that the water temperature is favorable
pleasant (not lower than 200 C), and the reservoirs are highly biological
ical productivity.
Growing in ponds and other containers
For commercial cultivation of shrimp, soil is usually used.
grass ponds with an area of ​​0.1-1 hectares and a depth of 0.7-1.5 m. It is advisable
for ponds to be sufficiently productive - this is necessary for
development of natural food supply and makes it possible to reduce
109
amount of feed and fertilizer. Higher aquatic vegetation is not
should occupy more than 20% of the pond area. Availability of shelter at
at the bottom of ponds in the form of bunches of branches contributes to better survival
shrimp. It is also possible to grow shrimp in ponds with solid
bottom, but in this case the natural food supply does not develop,
therefore the amount of artificial feed should be increased.
A small flow of water promotes better growth of shrimp, but
and cultivation in stagnant ponds while replenishing evaporated
water also gives good results. The water temperature should not
fall below 20°C, otherwise the shrimp stop feeding and may
various diseases may occur, and at temperatures below 13°C
Their mass death is observed. Upper temperature limit -
36°C, and the optimal temperature for the growth and development of shrimp is
28-32°C. The content of oxygen dissolved in water should be
not less than 5 mg/l, the level of nitrites and nitrates should not exceed
0.2-0.3 and 1-3 mg/l, respectively.
In addition to ponds, shrimp cultivation is possible in small
reservoirs, canals, on rice paddies with or without rice, as well as
in cages.
The giant freshwater shrimp is considered the most suitable
suitable species for growing in rice paddies, and the yield
is higher if it is grown simultaneously with rice and a suitable
living fish species. Thus, in a polyculture with Indian carp on
rice fields received a shrimp yield of 220-260 kg/ha without costs
to feed her.
The most intensive methods of shrimp farming in Russia
possible on farms when they are cultivated in the same
fruit farms using cooling ponds of thermal power plants
or warm waste water from thermal power plants and other
enterprises, as well as geothermal waters.
In tropical, subtropical, arid regions, chai shrimp
most often grown in monoculture at high density
cages - 60-100 thousand pcs./ha. The ponds are not drained; regular
selective catches and periodically replant post-larval
ki. Shrimp are fed with various artificial feeds with co-
keeping protein at least 30% and lipids at least 5%. Norm
feeding up to 30 kg/ha per day. Productivity increases during
second and third years of pond operation (compared to the first
110
year) due to increasing the fertility of the bottom soil and the development of natural
national food supply. The yield with this growing method
ranges from 500 to 4000 kg/ha.
In countries with temperate climates, systems are usually used
shrimp culture, similar to the system developed for
South Carolina (USA):
the broodstock is kept from October to May in a closed area
grooming;
from mid-January to May in a closed system with sea water
larvae are obtained and raised;
from mid-February to May indoors growing
there are postlarvae;
Intensive pond cultivation continues from May to October.
cutting shrimp to marketable size.
Thus, when the growing season is limited to
water temperature, already grown water is usually placed in ponds
lod with a planting density of 20-50 thousand pcs/ha. The hunt is carried out alone
once at the end of the season, while draining the ponds, but sometimes they practice
also selective fishing. The growing season can be extended
last from three to six months when using a landing pad
material 1-3 g. During this time it is possible to get shrimp
commercial size, but due to the inherent unevenness of this species
growth, some part of the population does not reach marketable mass
sy. Uneven growth is affected by short periods
cultivation and high planting density. There are several
to ways to achieve an increase in the number of cre-
large current.
One way is to increase the length of the season
rearing the fry under controlled conditions before placing them in
ponds. But keeping juveniles for more than three months becomes
too expensive, as it requires large volumes of water and
spars indoors, so planting material
grow to a weight of no more than 1-2 g.
Another way to increase the size of shrimp when caught is
decrease in planting density, but at the same time the overall yield also decreases
zhai, since biomass is directly linearly related to
planting density in a closed system (Table 28).
111
Table 28
Effect of stocking density on shrimp growth and survival
Indicators Growing time, weeks
growing
Density
landing in the bass
seine, pcs/l 0 2 4 8 12 16
Surviving - 15 N.a. 100 100 100 87 73
bridge, % 100 N.a. 100 98 87 60 45
15 0,12 0,33 0,97 4,67 8,50 11,94
Weight, g
100 0,12 0,40 1,04 2,91 4,93 6,67
For each specific case it is necessary to calculate
the most economically advantageous planting density, while
it is necessary to take into account factors affecting the profitability of production
farming (higher price for large shrimp, reduction
feed costs at low stocking densities, etc.). During
cultivation 104-118 days and when fed with artificial food
the most economically advantageous was the density
cages 20 thousand pcs./ha.
Sparse planting of shrimp is more beneficial for polyculture
with different types of fish. The actual planting density is decreasing
occurs when using additional substrate (shelters) in the thickness
water. So, in ponds where they were placed in the water at different levels
old nets, commercial shrimp yield was 24% higher, survival
prevalence - by 10, and the share of large specimens - by 18%, than
in the same ponds without additional substrate. This is explained
decreased social interactions and suppressed growth
small shrimp into larger ones. In the same way, it reduces
pressure of small individuals selective harvesting when from a population
The largest specimens are confiscated. The growth rate of the remaining
production increases, which leads to an overall increase in yield.
Polyculture
Ecological problems arise with shrimp monoculture.
instability in ponds - overdevelopment often occurs
planktonic algae and filamentous matter, resulting in deterioration
oxygen regime. When feeding, shrimp use only the bottom
112
pond, and the entire water column remains unoccupied. In addition, at high
planting density used in monoculture, significant
The body part of the shrimp does not reach marketable size. These pro-
problems can be largely resolved by growing
cultivation of shrimp in polyculture with fish of suitable species.
When selecting fish and invertebrates for this purpose, it is necessary
take into account their nutritional spectrum, occupied ecological niches,
size relationships and the need for their introduction into polyculture.