Shrimp rearing in biofloc integrated with different mullet stocking densities

Abstract

This work compared the effects of different densities of Mugil curema integrated in the rearing of Litopenaeus vannamei in a biofloc system on the yield and ecological performance of the system. For that, an experiment lasting 55 days was conducted. Four groups were evaluated as follows: (a) T0: shrimp reared without mullet, (b) T10: shrimp reared with 22 fish per tank, (c) T20: shrimp reared with 43 fish per tank, and (d) T30: shrimp reared with 65 fish per tank, each treatment with four replicates. The sludge:biomass ratio was higher in the T0 treatment, while the T10–T20 treatments were more efficient, producing more biomass and less sludge. The use of water was 17% more efficient in all treatments with mullet. Mullet survival was higher in the T10 and T20 treatments (mean: 84 ± 8%) than in the T30 (61 ± 5%) treatment. The fish final biomass and yield limits of the system were 0.37 kg and 3.7 kg/m3 respectively. Finally, there was no increase in the total nitrogen output of the system up to the T10 density. In conclusion, it is possible to integrate mullet up to 3.7 kg/m3, increasing the yield in 20% and decreasing water use.