Effects of Salinity and Ca2+: Mg2+ Ratio on Growth Performance and Survival of Penaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) Reared in Inland Saline Ground Water

Background: A 60-day experiment was conducted to evaluate the combined effect of salinity and Ca2+: Mg2+ ratio on the growth performance and survival of Penaeus vannamei reared in inland saline ground water (ISGW) at ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Rohtak Centre, Haryana, India. Methods: The study used three different salinities viz. T1 (5 ppt), T2 (10 ppt) and T3 (15 ppt) with four different level of Ca2+: Mg2+ rations such as 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4. juveniles of P. vannamei with average body weight of 3.70±0.02 g, were stocked in 100 L capacity of circular plastic tanks. Total 36 experimental tanks were used as experimental unit. The stocking densities were 20 animals in each tank and each treatment were kept in triplicate followed the factorial design (3×4). Result: P. vannamei expressed better growth performance in terms of SGR, FCR, FER and PER in the T2 and T3 fortified Ca2+: Mg2+ ratio of 1:3. Lowest growth observed in T1 fortified with Ca2+: Mg2+ ratio 1:1. The study found 100% survival in T2 and T3 fortified with Ca2+: Mg2+ ratio of 1:3 compared with other treatment groups, which showed less than 80% survival. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the better growth performance, survival of P. vannamei observed in 10 and 15 ppt salinities of ISGW fortified with 1:3 ratio of Ca2+: Mg2+.