Production of Freshwater Shrimp in Ohio Laura G. Tiu, Aquaculture Specialist OSU South Centers Bob Calala Calala’s Water Haven Inc.

What are they?

Malaysian Prawns– When is a prawn a shrimp?

Life Cycle– Hatchery (Feb-Mar)– Nursery (Apr-May)– Growout (June-Sept)

• Nursed juveniles (60 days old)

History 1960’s Research in Hawaii 1970’s Research in Florida 1980’s Research at Mississippi State

University 1990’s Research at Kentucky State

University 2001 Approved for culture in Ohio 2002 First research in Ohio 2003 Latitude Study 2004 Feed Study 2005 High density 2006 One acre pond 2007 ?

Where is this happening? Mississippi

– Commodity work Arkansas, Georgia Tennessee, Kentucky Illinois, Indiana Ohio Nebraska

– tanks Iowa

– heated effluent

What do you need to know

Business planningPermit (ODNR)

– Publication 61(Q&A)– $50.00/year

Pond ConstructionProductionMarketing

What to expect (Short Version)

Build pond/get permit/arrange seed/feed Lime/fertilize Stock Shrimp (1st week of June) Feed daily/test water weekly Aerate As Needed Worry daily, because you can’t see them Develop marketing plan Harvest in September

Pre-Season (January-February) Determine Stocking Density

16,000 – 24,000/acre 20,000-30,000/acre w/substrate

Order Shrimp– You pick up or delivered– Are they graded?– Nurseries

• Ohio (Calala’s Water Haven)• Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas

Order/Arrange Feed Plan Aeration Get Permit

– Ohio Department of Natural Resources– $50.00/year

Liming (April-May)

Prawns are very sensitive to low and high pH

Test water and soil– You want water alkalinity > 40 mg/L– You want soil pH > 6.5 at sunrise

Use Agricultural Limestone– Add to soil before filling pond– 1,000 – 10,000 lbs/surface acre

• Determined by soil quality

$77.00

Fertilization

Pros– Stimulates natural foods– Faster growth of juveniles

Cons– May increase predators– Creates oxygen demand– Can speed growth of filamentous algae– May contain antibiotics (manure)– May raise pH

$200.00

Fertilization (2 weeks before stock) Organic fertilization: plant or animal products

Animal manure200 pounds/acre in order to kick start things100-200 pounds of horse (or other) manure per week

for the first two weeks. Alfalfa meal. (Soybean meal, Distillers Grains)

200 pounds/acre/weekApply in the shallow areas to insure good mixing.

Inorganic fertilization: 28-0-0 liquid fertilizer (ammonium nitrate) available at

most farm supply stores spray it evenly on the pond with a backpack sprayer1-1.5 gallons per acre/per week.

0-49-0 phosphoric acid10 oz./acre/week. Take extra precautions as these chemicals can cause

burns on eyes and skin.

Stocking Shrimp (June 1-15)Fill pondMonitor pH

– No more that 0.5 pH units difference

Acclimate shrimp to temperature, pHCount shrimp

– shrimp numbers often underestimated– Count three samples and extrapolate– Graded shrimp will be uniform– Ungraded shrimp will not be uniform

Pond Maintenance (June-Sept) Aerate As Needed Control predators (screen water)

– Insects– Bullfrogs– Turtles– Birds

Monitor water quality Feed Keep records Develop a marketing plan

Feeding (June-Sept)Feed once or twice a day

– If once, before sunset

Distribute feed all over pond– Especially edges

Store feed in cool dry placeDo not feed moldy feedHold back feed if it’s building up in

pond

Feeding (June-Sept)

16,000 shrimp/acre

June = 25 lbs/dayJuly 1-15 = 30 lbs/dayJuly 16-31 = 40 lbs/dayAug 1-15 = 50 lbs/dayAug 16-31 = 60 lbs/daySept 1-15 = 60 lbs/daySept 16-30 = 50 lbs/day

Total = 5000 lbs feed/acre

25,000 shrimp/acre (with substrate)

June = 25 lbs/dayJuly 1-15 = 40 lbs/dayJuly 16-31 = 50 lbs/dayAug 1-15 = 65 lbs/dayAug 16-31 = 75 lbs/daySept 1-15 = 75 lbs/daySept 16-30 = 65 lbs/day

Total = 6300 lbs feed/acre

Sampling (June-Sept)

Can sample with a cast netCan see red eyes at night with

flashlightSometimes you will find molts

Harvesting

Time how long it takes pond to drain– Write this down!

Shrimp will follow water Have baskets and clean aerated water Have ice Have scale Keep notes (pounds, times, etc.) Get help

Questions ?