Increasing concerns over the environmental impact of shrimp farming and the incidence of disease have led to a progressive

reduction inwater exchange up to the development of nearly static systems with no water exchange, where euent discharge and the introduction and dissemination of pathogens are signicantly reduced (Burford,Thompson, McIntosh, Bauman & Pearson 2003). Moreover, outdoor culture systems with nowater exchange have been proven to be benecial for shrimp culture as higher growth and nal weights have been attained with the Pacic white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) (Browdy& Bratvold 2001; Tacon, Cody, Conquest, Divakaran, Forster & Decamp 2002). These favourable results have been explained by the large availability of food organisms such as bacteria, phytoplankton, zooplankton and nematodes that developwithin the system by reutilizing dissolved nutrients from uneaten feed, faeces and nitrogenous wastes (Burford, Preston, Glibert & Dennison 2002). They can be used as additional food sources by shrimp (Tacon et al. 2002; Decamp, Cody, Conquest, Delanoy & Tacon 2003) and may allow a reduction in the protein content and other nutrients in balanced feeds (Tacon et al. 2002). Thus, the establishment of the protein requirement of shrimp raised in static systems is of great interest as protein is themost expensive dietary component and a key limiting nutrient for shrimp growth (Kureshy & Davis 2002). Low water exchange systems will not only reduce the costs of water usage and pumping, but may also reduce feed costs, as natural productivity is higher. Waste products of the cultured animals as well as uneaten nutrients are retained in the system and drive primary production. These nutrients are incorporated by bacteria, phytoplankton and zooplankton, and, in turn, they serve as additional food sources for shrimp (Tacon, Cody, Conquest, Divakaran, Forster & Decamp 2002). Nitrogen inputs into shrimp ponds aremainly supplied in the form of protein in balanced feeds, but many systems are cient in transforming this nitrogen into shrimp biomass. Briggs and Funge-Smith (1994) estimated for intensive systems that 95% of the nitrogen input was in the formof feed and fertilizers while harvested shrimp accounted for only 24% of this nitrogen. As protein is a major limiting nutrient for shrimp growth, one of the most expensive components of the diet, and a potential pollutant, it is critical that protein retention is maximized by the shrimp (Kureshy & Davis 2002). Protein retention by animals is dependent on a number of factors including food intake, level of protein in the feed, protein to energy ratio, amino acid balance as well as environmental factors. Research on protein requirements for shrimp, especially for L. vannamei, has focused on nding optimumdietary levels. Under laboratory conditions, reported levels have ranged from as low as15% to as high as 46% of the diet (Aranyakananda & Lawrence 1994; Kureshy & Davis 2002). Hence, it is clear that a range of dietary protein can be used; however, there are limited data on the ciency of retaining protein in the shrimp aswell as the eect of various levels of dietary protein onwater-quality parameters. Dietary protein that is

not retained by the shrimp is either excreted as solid wastes (faecal matter and uneaten feed) or as soluble nitrogen, primarily in the form of ammonia. Both forms then add to the total loading of the culture system and can have detrimental eects on the culture environment. If low-salinity zero-water exchange systems are to be supported and improved, a good understanding of nitrogen dynamics and their interaction with the feed is necessary. This is important to assess not only from the nutritional viewpoint but also from a waste management perspective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the eect of dierent dietary protein levels on the growth and survival of juvenile L. vannamei cultured in a lowsalinity zero-water exchange system, develop a nitrogen budget and determine ammonia efflux rates. Information on the mineral requirement for shrimps has expanded considerably. Our under standing of mineral requirement of shrimp under different salinities has also improved over years. Minerals are important not as growth improver it is rather much more important as a nutrient for increasing survival of the young shrimps. Decapod crustaceans posses the Copper based respiratory pigment, hemocyanin, in their hemolymph.This copper containing pigment is analogous to Haemoglobin in red blooded animals.Depledge (1989) estimated that on a fresh weight basis 40% of the whole body copper load in shrimp is found in Haemocyanin. The essential role played by Copper is important and cannot be ignored.Dietary Cu(Copper) deficiency in shrimp leads to lower weight gain, Cu plays an important role as a part of respiratory pigment, also Cu level is low in seawater, and if you increase Copper in water it is toxic to the shrimps, this mandates supplementation of Copper as feed additive. Hepatopancreas is the site for secretion of digestive enzymes, absorption of nutrients and storage of metabolis reserves, the hepatopancreas functions in absorption, detoxification and excretion of minerals and has been found to be organ richest in iron stores. Gills play an active role in Iron metabolism. Iron as a mineral salt or soluble salt in Ferrous form ( example: Ferrous Sulphate) destroys the shrimp fat (HUFA) by producing Hydroperoxides, so it is recommended to use non reactive bioavailable form in the supplementation diet. Mangnese functions as a cofactor in several enzymes involved in protein metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, fatty acid incorporation and neuromuscular functions. Because Manganese content in sea water is very low shrimps do not absorb significant quantitie from the sea water,. Thus a dietary source of Manganese is necessary for shrimp. Selenium is a trace element that functions as a very import ant antioxidant trace mineral, shrimp bogy fat being rich in HUFA it is necessary to have a effective antioxidant mechanism in place . Selenium functions complimentarily to Vitamin E (Tocopherol) in doing this antioxidant job effectively.

Zinc is an integral part of the shrimp, it plays important role in calcium incorporation in the exoskeleton, it is a component of large number metalloenzyme complexes like carbonic anhydrase, lactate dehydrogenase alkaline phosphatase, Super Oxide Dismutase , DNA polymerase. Deficiency of Zinc leads to poor body mass improvement in shrimp. Reduction in Fishmeal also adversely affects the Zinc in feed, so supplementation becomes advisable. Apart from this, supplementation of trace mineral supplement ,during initial days of culture leads to favorable microflora establishment quickly and the excretion of trace elements in the shrimp faecal matter leads to healthy development of Zooplanktons. Current inclusion of high amount of vegetable protein and reduction of animal protein in the diet makes the feed deficit in biovailable iron and copper, this has to be met with supplementation of the practical diets with stable bioavailable Iron and Copper. With all these supplementation recommendation it is important to understand that a) supplementation cannot be done and should not be done as pond additive b) supplementation can be given as feed additive which is cost effective c) supplement should no be in free ionic form as they tend to degrade fast with all these limitation it is finally converging to a technology that supplement should be cost effective, is not in free ionic form, is not toxic and the formulation of feed supplement is such that the minerals are well preserved and it reaches the shrimp mouth in an unaltered stable state in biomineral form. Salem microbes Pvt Ltd has been working with nutritional supplement for a long time since 2001, our experience, knowledge and commitment has been well reflected in the quality of the product we produce. On these lines Our product AQUA ONE is a formulation which incorporates all the essential goods described above with a latest technology of formulation and nutrient preservation. BurfordM.A.,Thompson P.J., McIntosh R.P., Bauman R.H. & Pearson D.C. (2003) Nutrient and microbial dynamics in high-intensity, zero-exchange shrimp ponds in Belize. Aquaculture 219,393^411. Davis, D.A., Lawrence, A.L., 1997. Minerals. In: D'Abramo, L.R., Conklin, D.E., Akiyama, D.M. (Eds.), Crustacean Nutrition, vol. 6. World Aquaculture Society, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, pp. 150163. Kureshy N. & Davis D.A. (2002) Protein requirement formaintenance and maximum weight gain for the Pacic white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Aquaculture 204,125^143. Tacon A.G.J., Cody J.J., Conquest L.D., Divakaran S., Forster L.P. & Decamp O.E. (2002) Eect of culture system on the nutrition and growth performance of Pacic white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) fed dierent diets. Aquaculture Nutrition 8,121^137.

Mayra L. Gonza lez-Fe lix1, Nitrogen budget for a low salinity, zero-water exchange culture system: I. Effect of dietary protein level on the performance of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) Martin Perez-Velazquez1, Mayra L Gonza lez-Fe lix1, Silvia Gomez-Jimenez2, Donald Allen Davis3 & Noel Miramontes-Higuera1 Nitrogen budget for a low-salinity, zero-water exchange culture system: II. Evaluation of isonitrogenous feeding of various dietary protein levels to Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone)