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How to Start a Shrimp Farm

Basics of Shrimp Culture


Summary: Shrimp are grown largely in Asia. In the U.S., they are raised under conditions that are highly controlled. What does intensive shrimp farming require? What conditions should be met? What equipments are needed? What can you expect under this type of shrimp farming? Find out the answers to these questions from our guide.

Much of the world’s demand for shrimp worldwide is supplied by farms from Asia, where they are grown in ponds, near a coast, in mangrove areas and rice paddies.

Shrimp farms in these regions can be grown in small tanks using low technology. In the U.S., shrimps are grown in highly controlled conditions.

Shrimp Farming Basics

Shrimp are typically grown in brackish water. A female shrimp lays thousands to millions of eggs, which hatch after about a day. The nauplii, as the hatched shrimp is called, are fed algae and brine shrimp nauplii. The nauplii develop into young shrimps after about 12 days. Some farms put the nauplii or postlarvae in nurseries before transferring them to grownout ponds, others use acclimation tanks to prepare the shrimp for transfer to grownout ponds. The transfer usually occurs around the 25th day. The young shrimp stays in the pond until they are harvested after about three to six months after hatching. Shrimp are harvested by net fishing or by draining the pond. Harvests are done once a year, but in tropical climates, where water temperature is higher, a farm could harvest two to three times a year.

Shrimps can be grown using minimum intervention or with the use of ultra-high technology. In low-technology farming, natural saltwater is used by situating the farm in coasts or mangrove areas. Shrimp density is kept low, which is 2-3 shrimp per square meter. No pumps are employed, and water exchange is left to tidal action.

Intensive Fish Farming

To hasten the shrimp growing cycle or to produce shrimp that are of uniform size, conditions must be controlled (size uniformity is one criteria with which shrimps are graded). A farming technology developed in Texas, called Galveston or “clear water” hatchery employs intensive control to breed shrimp in industrial scale. Large-scale hatcheries like this usually augment young shrimp diet of algae with commercial feed. They use big tanks that could hold up to 30 tons.

As conditions are highly controlled, it is possible to produce seedstock whole year round and to stock shrimp at higher densities. As it is possible to stock more shrimp per unit area, the pond used could be smaller. In this setup, aeration is needed to keep oxygen supply at the desired level. High water exchange is also necessary to clean the water of wastes. And so is twenty-four hour monitoring. Survival rates and yield are higher for this kind of farming. Understandably, production cost is also higher.

For resources, visit the Web site of the US Marine Shrimp Farming Program.

46 Responses to "How to Start a Shrimp Farm".

1. Partha Roy on 4/23/2009 12:40:46 AM

I am interested in INTENSIVE SHRIMP FARMING in KOLKATA, 24PGS(S), INDIA, Please send me the details for the same. Regards, Partha Roy

2. elias on 5/2/2009 5:41:30 AM

i am interested in shrimps farming, i am from Lebanon, please help me.

3. alfred awai on 5/9/2009 2:16:24 PM

I am interested in shrimp farming in florida... please send me details for the same thank you...alfred

4. Sarah on 5/26/2009 3:58:30 PM

I am interested in raising shrimp in Florida. We live on the river and would like to raise them so we don't have to constantly buy them for bait. Can you help me?

5. Ramzi Tatanaki on 5/30/2009 4:57:13 PM

I'm seriously planing to start a shrimp farming business in Libya. I've been doing many researches but still not satisfied with what i know. if its no trouble i'd like a lot of help from an expert.

6. Gustavo Vasquez on 5/31/2009 2:14:58 PM

I have a farm in North Carolina and would like to know if I am able to start a shrimp business. Please contact me via email at gstv_vasquez@yahoo.com

7. Richard James on 6/8/2009 5:19:22 PM

I live in the Caribbean which has perfect temperature for shrimp. Please send more details.

8. mukhtar on 6/10/2009 4:45:14 AM

Respected Sir/ MAM, I am interested in fish farming in KOLKATA, INDIA.. can u please guide me? regards, Mukhtar

9. vic on 6/11/2009 5:50:50 PM

i am in fish farming business, i am interested in shrimp farm in nigeria. please help out.

10. Hanes on 6/17/2009 10:17:53 PM

i am interested to start a shrimp farm in Philippines, please send details on how to start the business and what are the conditions that i need to take note of. thanks.

11. john on 6/18/2009 4:40:33 AM

I want to start a large jumbo size shrimp farming business and sell the shrimp to make a living. What do I do? thanks, john

12. aju on 6/27/2009 5:58:49 AM

Hi, I want to breed shrimp in tanks (at home) in freshwater Help.

13. KT on 7/4/2009 7:34:02 AM

I want more information to raise shrimp in my greenhouses in NJ, freshwater

14. Bindhu on 7/18/2009 11:50:38 PM

I would like to start shrimp farm in tanks at home on small scale basis. Please advise

15. mohsin khan on 7/21/2009 1:00:15 PM

i want to start a large fresh water prawn business in the midwest. start small & grow from there where do i start. how much land, what kind of water source, what kind of tanks to build size depth etc? thank you mohsin khan

16. tamer on 7/25/2009 9:23:41 AM

hello, i'm interested to get more information and help. please send me more details.

17. Saleem Haq on 7/26/2009 8:50:14 AM

i want to start a shrimp farming in small tanks at my home, please advise the size of the tank and other things what should i do to begin?

18. Cloyd Waite on 7/29/2009 1:02:02 AM

i'm interested to get more information and help. please send more details.

19. samir das on 7/30/2009 2:52:53 PM

let me know details

20. Larry on 8/11/2009 3:19:08 AM

i'm interested in shrimp farming and i'm in nigeria. can you send me details on how to start and how to get post larvae and conditions for starting a shrimp farm

21. Ranjan Pandit on 8/16/2009 5:38:35 AM

Please help me in starting a small shrimp farm in India.

22. Mohammad Kamali on 8/17/2009 9:56:55 PM

I am very serious about shrimp farm in United Arab Emirates ( Dubai). I would like to know the whole idea and the cost, So please let me know, I will be very grateful.

23. Mario on 8/18/2009 11:03:04 PM

I would like to start a shrimp farm in the Bahamas, need some info on getting started pleas.

24. Sa'ad on 8/20/2009 12:43:21 AM

i am planning to start a shrimp farm in Qatar, and i need to have the right person with good experience to start such business, or joint venture. please contact me at s2uni@yahoo.com

25. Prasad Batavia on 8/22/2009 3:38:57 AM

Hi, I want to start Shrimp farming In thane, Maharashtra. Can you guys please help.

26. Remedios on 8/24/2009 12:51:30 AM

I am interested in shrimp farming business? Is it possible in fresh water? Please give me some tips or guide to start a basic business. I have a pool which is idle, hence, my interest. thanks and more power!

27. nikki on 8/26/2009 8:54:10 PM

i would like info. on starting a shrimp farm for my mom she is really interested in it thank you

28. Scott Smith on 8/30/2009 7:06:11 PM

I am interested in converting 3 large catfish ponds into shrimp ponds. Please send me more information and tips on the conversion of freshwater shrimp ponds.

29. Ely on 8/31/2009 9:48:56 AM

I'm planing to make a fresh water shrimp farm in country with 4 seasons-spring, summer, autumn, winter. Please send me information for the size of the tanks, for the water condition, for everything... And is it possible to keep in touch with you? We would like to see a real working farm in USA, Florida, Texas or California. THANK YOU SO MUCH

30. Rabi on 8/31/2009 6:23:50 PM

I am interested in shrimps farming in Lebanon; please provide me with further details

31. manzer uldey on 9/4/2009 11:24:38 PM

I am interested in sea water prawns farming in maharashtra. where i do have land closed to sea.

32. ranjit on 9/7/2009 5:20:54 AM

I am planning to start a shirmp farm. Please help. thanks, Ranjit

33. mouawad on 9/12/2009 12:14:55 PM

i am interested in shrimps farm in lebanon. can you send details please

34. Neelesh on 9/16/2009 1:01:14 PM

wanna know about prawn farming. can you give the details.

35. Brian on 9/24/2009 10:08:01 PM

I would like info on starting out small and cheap

36. Nagarajan on 9/27/2009 11:10:10 AM

I have 14 years of shrimp farm management experience both in India and abroad, If any big concern wants consultancy or offering employment I am ready to serve..

37. viju on 9/30/2009 6:39:53 AM

i am interested in prawns farming and i would like to know more about it

38. benson on 10/7/2009 10:51:37 AM

i would like information on starting a prawn farming business in st lucia. i would love to get all the details possible

39. brittney curry on 10/7/2009 12:32:50 PM

I have a friend who wants to start a shrimp farming business i needs some ideas. I want to start as well.

40. Jimmy Sutherland on 10/8/2009 3:26:01 PM

I am interested in starting a small indoor shrimp farm. Can you direct me to some websites.

41. selva on 10/10/2009 2:33:32 AM

I'm thinking of starting a small prawn farm. Since I am new to this, any guidance will be appreciated. Anyone who have idea and information about it can email me at selva.kumar@itsmychoice.in. Thank you.

42. power on 10/10/2009 11:28:39 PM

I'm seriously considering starting shrimp, fish and pig farms in my homeland of jamaica any form of consultation on this would be very appreciated. Any information on these 3 projects can be e-mailed to me at ppow005@aol.com. If possible please include all financial cost including estimated venture capital on maximizing size of product and volume

43. shakir mohammed on 10/19/2009 1:43:21 PM

i am interested to start a shrimp farming project in goa. please send me the details, it is urgent.

44. Larry on 11/7/2009 11:13:38 PM

looking to start a shrimp farm in nigeria and need costings on how to go about it usd preferred

45. geetha on 11/14/2009 2:27:32 AM

I am seriously interested in starting a prawn farm in tamilnadu, please send me details on the complete project or direct me to training programs conducted or where i can get the complete details of the same. contact me at drgeethavet@gmail.com

46. Igbagiri Ibbo Patrick on 11/19/2009 9:21:52 AM

I am seriously interested in starting a prawn farm in Rivers State Nigeria. please send me detail information on how to go about this project or direct me to training programs conducted or where i can get the complete details of the same. contact me at oworodo@yahoo.com

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