%0 Journal Article
%T Polyculture of white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei and milkfish, Chanos chanos as a strategy for efficient utilization of natural food production in ponds
%A Cecilia J. Jaspe
%A Christopher M. A. Caipang
%A Bessie Joy G. Elle
%J Animal Biology & Animal Husbandry
%D 2011
%I Bioflux Society
%X Both shrimps and milkfish are important aquaculture species in the Philippines. In the presentstudy, we described a modified extensive polyculture method for white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannameiand miklkfish, Chanos chanos in ponds during the wet months. This particular culture system uses two ormore species in a particular production area with the purpose of maximizing the utilization of theavailable natural food present in the system. Two 1-hectare earthen ponds were prepared and addedwith organic and/or inorganic fertilizers to enhance natural food production. The ponds were stocked withwhite shrimp postlarvae (PL) at a density of 1 PL m-2 and milkfish at 750 juveniles ha-1. There was nowater exchange during the first two months of culture followed by a bi-weekly water exchange untilharvest. No artificial feeding was provided during the culture period, instead, the ponds weresupplemented with inorganic fertilizers every month to ensure stable production of natural food. Bothshrimps and milkfish appeared healthy and no disease outbreaks were observed during the productioncycle. The physico-chemical parameters of the water in the ponds were within the optimum levels thatare required for both shrimp and milkfish farming. The phytoplankton population was stable andpredominantly composed of Chlorella sp., a green microalga (Chlorophyta). The cultured stock wereharvested after 100 days of culture at sizes of 13-15 for white shrimp and > 250 g for milkfish. Therewas high survival rate of milkfish but low for white shrimps, and this could be affected by the prevailingclimatic condtions during culture and the age and size of the species during stocking.
%K polyculture
%K shrimp
%K milkfish
%K Litopenaeus vannamei
%K Chanos chanos
%K natural food
%U http://www.abah.bioflux.com.ro/docs/2011.3.96-104.pdf