Intensive shrimp culture in Vietnam as well as in Southeast Asia has proven postlarvae's quality , water-quality management and high-quality diets are all important for successful crops:
PL quality in term of daily growth rate is considered the most important indicator to shorten the culture period as well as to resulted in large-size shrimp. There is a big difference in growth rate with an average daily growth rate varies less than 0.2g, around 0.25g and over 0.35g coming from three different sources of the genetic PL .
Water quality management is focusing on low salinity during the first 45 days (7ppt - 10ppt), high alkalinity (120 -250 ppm), stable pH of 7.6 to 7.9, and high dissolved oxygen (average of 20 HP per 1,000 m2) as well.
Nursery at high stocking density (1,000 PL up to 5,000 PL per m2 ) in small lined tanks or lined ponds in indoor system has been practiced with premium hatchery diets (ranging from 45% up to 60% protein). Shrimp farmers also do top dressing with different healthy products, including vitamin/minerals, probiotics, organic acids, and immune-stimulators (nucleotides, β-glucan/Mannan, etc.). In addition, astaxanthin has been promoted by shrimp feed millers and also being top dressed at several farms for not only pigmentation but also for healthier shrimp.