Increasing the appetite for vannamei shrimp poses a challenge for farmers. This is because shrimp that lack appetite can have an impact on their health and growth, directly affecting pond productivity.

Feeding vannamei shrimp is a key factor in supporting their growth and development. Feeding should be done efficiently to avoid overfeeding.

Decreased appetite in vannamei shrimp is a common obstacle for farmers, especially when shrimp are moulting. So, what factors influence this and how can they be overcome? Find out in this article!

Also Read: How to Overcome and Prevent Floods in Shrimp Ponds

Signs of Vannamei Shrimp Not Eating

To determine whether shrimp are eating well or not eating at all, you can check by feeding them. If the shrimp food is left uneaten or barely touched, it’s a sign that your shrimp are not eating. Here are the complete signs:

1. Decreased Activity

The first sign of vannamei shrimp not eating is decreased activity in the pond. Shrimp that are not eaten tend to be less active and sluggish. They may move more slowly or lack enthusiasm in searching for food.

2. Weight Loss

If shrimp aren’t eating enough, they can experience significant weight loss. You may notice a decrease in body size or loss of body mass from checking the average body weight (ABW) of shrimp that aren’t eating well.

3. Ignoring Food

Shrimp that lack appetite may not be interested in the food provided. They may ignore the food they usually consume eagerly. When shrimp aren’t eating, they tend to ignore the vannamei shrimp feed provided, resulting in more leftover feed on the water’s surface.

4. Empty Shrimp Intestines

Another sign of shrimp not eating is that their intestines appear empty. Empty intestines occur because no food enters the shrimp’s body to be digested.

Causes of Decreased Shrimp Appetite

Decreased shrimp appetite can be caused by several factors, including:

1. Poor Pond Water Quality

Poor pond water quality can cause decreased shrimp appetite. This is because shrimp will feel uncomfortable in a poor environment, leading them to refuse food.

Additionally, poor pond water quality can trigger stress in shrimp and slow down their metabolism, making them more susceptible to disease. Therefore, it’s important for farmers to regularly change the water and ensure that water quality parameters are always optimal.

2. Shrimp Stress

Stressed shrimp usually lose their appetite. The main stress triggers come from sudden and drastic changes in environmental conditions. To ensure this, farmers can observe the signs of shrimp stress.

To prevent stress in shrimp that can lead to decreased appetite, farmers can prevent it by routinely monitoring water quality parameters and creating a safe and stable environment.

3. Extreme Weather

Extreme weather changes can also affect shrimp appetite. Drastic changes in weather within a short period can alter pond temperature, which in turn affects shrimp body metabolism. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that pond temperature remains stable during cultivation.

4. Shrimp Infected with Disease

When shrimp lose their appetite, farmers should be alert. Early symptoms of disease infection caused by bacteria or viruses can be seen in shrimp behaviour, such as refusing to eat. Examples of bacterial diseases that can affect shrimp appetite include Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) and White Feces Disease (WFD).

On the other hand, viral diseases like White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), Taura Syndrome Virus (TSV), Infectious Myonecrosis Virus (IMNV), and Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV) can also affect shrimp appetite.

To prevent various diseases, it’s important to maintain water quality and pond environment regularly and ensure pond cleanliness.

5. Poor Feed Quality

Vannamei shrimp require nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, and ash to grow optimally and reach maximum weight. Lack of one or more of these nutrients can disrupt shrimp body metabolism, leading to decreased shrimp appetite.

Moreover, adjusting the type of feed given according to the shrimp’s age is also important. For example, shrimp under 16 days old are given powder feed, while shrimp aged 16-45 days are given granule feed, and shrimp over 45 days old are given pellet feed.

Also Read: The Use of Dolomite Lime in Shrimp Farming: Benefits and Implementation

Ways to Increase Shrimp Appetite

1. Feed According to Needs

The first way to increase vannamei shrimp appetite is to feed them according to their needs. To grow optimally, shrimp need balanced nutrition, including protein, fat, fibre, and ash in optimal amounts. Additionally, ensure that the feed provided is suitable for the shrimp’s age and moulting phase.

2. Conduct Regular Health Checks on Shrimp

Conduct periodic physical examinations to determine the health condition of the shrimp. Signs of health can be seen in their physical appearance, such as a full stomach, spread tail, active movement, normal body colour, and bright eyes.

If shrimp show abnormal behavior such as swimming on the surface or staying at the bottom of the pond for a long time, this may indicate that the shrimp are unhealthy.

3. Ensure Good Water Quality

The last way to increase vannamei shrimp’s appetite is to ensure their living environment is always in good condition. This includes maintaining water quality parameters and conditions around the pond.

Additionally, ensure that you regularly change the water to reduce shrimp stress levels, thus maintaining normal shrimp appetite.

Also Read: 5 Important Aspects in Vannamei Shrimp Farming that Must Be Known

Vannamei Shrimp Farming is More Productive with DELOS!

Increasing the appetite for vannamei shrimp is not too difficult. You just need to ensure that the pond environment conditions are always optimal, provide feed according to the needs, and conduct periodic health checks on shrimp.

If you want optimal vannamei shrimp harvest results, you can entrust your vannamei shrimp farming to DELOS! DELOS is the best aqua-tech company based on science, technology, and operational management that can help you explore new opportunities and increase your pond productivity.

DELOS Farm Management is also integrated with the AquaHero application, making it easier for Farm Owners and Technicians to monitor pond conditions daily.

Contact the DELOS Team via contact@delosaqua.com or submit through the contact column on our website at www.delosaqua.com for further discussion. Vannamei shrimp farming is more productive with DELOS!