Shrimp Culture Planning: Pond and System Preparation, Water Quality, Health, Feeding, Survival and Harvest

Plan backwards from the harvest

Start with the market: target shrimp size, harvest date, quantity and buyer requirements (for example certification or traceability). From there estimate the cycle length, the stocking number you can support with your aeration and water management, and the feed you will need. The shrimp farm calculator helps test harvest, feed and margin scenarios with your own inputs.

Step 1 — Prepare the pond or system

• Ponds: drain, dry and clean the bottom where possible, remove sludge, repair dikes and liners, check gates and screens, and prepare water following local good practice.
• Lined ponds, tanks and RAS: clean and disinfect according to your biosecurity plan, check aeration, pumps, filtration and the biofilter before stocking.
• Test that aeration and backup power work before stock arrives. Calculate volume with the pond volume calculator.

Step 2 — Biosecurity and postlarvae selection

Buy postlarvae (PL) from a hatchery that supplies the health certificates or test results your national authority requires, and record the batch, stage and origin. Screen incoming water, control access of people, birds, crabs and equipment, and keep separate tools per pond where possible. The WOAH Aquatic Code lists notifiable crustacean diseases; follow your country's rules.

Step 3 — Stocking and acclimation

Match temperature, salinity and pH gradually between transport water and the pond, following the hatchery's written guidance for that stage. Count samples to confirm the number stocked and record early mortality separately.

Step 4 — Water-quality management

Monitor dissolved oxygen (especially before dawn), temperature, salinity, pH and alkalinity, and ammonia and nitrite according to your protocol, more often as biomass grows. Safe ranges depend on species, stage and system, so use species guidance such as the FAO vannamei fact sheet and local expert protocols. The shrimp oxygen-risk calculator highlights high-risk biomass levels.

Step 5 — Feeding and sampling

Sample growth regularly with a consistent method, estimate survival and biomass, and set rations from feed tables adjusted by feed-tray response, temperature and oxygen. Track FCR with the FCR calculator. See the growth and feed efficiency guide for diagnosis.

Step 6 — Health watch

Watch feeding, behaviour, colour, moulting and mortality every day. If you see unusual deaths or signs, check oxygen and water first, then contact a qualified aquatic animal health professional. This guide does not diagnose disease or recommend treatments. The shrimp mortality investigation checklist lists the records to collect.

Step 7 — Harvest

Before harvest	Why
Confirm size and quantity by sampling	Matches buyer specification
Agree date, logistics and ice/cold chain	Protects product quality
Stop or reduce feeding per buyer and local practice	Empties the gut, improves quality
Record weighed harvest by pond	Calculates real survival, FCR and cost per kg

Using the results for your next project

Cycle records show whether aeration, water treatment, nursery capacity or pond design limit results. If an upgrade or new farm is needed, use the project intake; FishMatch reviews it and contacts suitable suppliers for you.