Assessment of growth dominance of females over males in earthen ponds of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931)

Abstract

Sexual growth dimorphism is an evident in white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, Boone, 1931 with females grows faster than the males. A study was carried out at private shrimp farm, Navsari, Gujarat to ascertain the growth superiority of females over the male populations in earthen pond of L. vannamei. Five earthen pond of 0.75 ha stocked with PL-20 (post larvae) at 32 m-2 were selected for study. Date viz., age of sex identification, average body weight (ABW), feed conversion ratio (FCR), sex ratio (M:F) and water quality parameters were recorded. First external sex differentiation was possible at sizes of above 7 g at 45-50 days of rearing. In earthen pond, female shrimps attained higher growth rate around 11% compared to male populations at same rearing period. Result of the present study revealed that all female culture of L. vannamei can makes better enterprise.