Comparison between kuruma shrimp, Marsupenaeus japonicus, Bate (1888) cultured in monoculture system and polyculture system with red tilapia Oreochromis spp fingerlings

Post larvae of Kuruma shrimp, Marsupenaeus japonicus (PL25) were stocked at 10shrimp/m2 (MC) in nine concrete ponds (4.0mx6.0mx1.25m, total area 24.0m2) filled up with seawater at a salinity of 38ppt. Kuruma shrimp were stocked with Red tilapia Oreochromis spp fingerlings (4.0g±0.5) collected from the marine hatchery of MRC. Red tilapia were stocked at 0.25g (PC1) and 0.5g (PC2) fingerlings/m2 in the polyculture treatment ponds with shrimp larvae. Results showed significantly differences (P<0.5) in body weight of M.japonicus cultured in MC system in comparison with PC1 and PC2 systems. The best food conversion ratio FCR (wait/gain) was for those shrimp cultured in MC. No significantly differences were observed in PER and PEP between shrimp cultured in the three evaluated systems. The juveniles cultured in MC system had significantly (P>0.05) higher survival values than juveniles cultured in PC1 and PC2. Final BW, weight gain WG and weekly growth rate WGR of Juveniles cultured in PC1 system were higher than Juveniles cultured in PC2 system. Survival rate of red tilapia cultured in PC system was 100% in both PC1 and PC2 systems.