The effect of different carbon sources (molasses and spoilage date palm fruit juice) on water quality, growth performance and body composition of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) culture in biofloc system

In the current study, the effect of spoilage date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit juice and molasses on Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) cultured in a biofloc technology (BFT) surveyed. Four bioflocs were managed: BFT fed diets of 25% CP and palm juice (P25), diets of 25% CP and Molasses (M25), diets of 15% CP and palm juice (P15), diets of 15% CP and Molasses (M15) and clear water  without biofloc fed with 38% CP (Control) that were performed in triplicate. A 35-day study was conducted with 35 juvenile (average 5.37±0.33 g) shrimp randomly stocked in fifteen 300 L tanks at a stocking density of 175 shrimp m−3. The highest zootechnical performance (weight gain, significantly better feed conversion ratio (FCR), growth rate, survival and biomass increases) of the shrimps was rated in P25 and the lowest in the control (P <0.05). Moreover, the highest body weight index, efficiency feed, and specific growth rate shrimp both in P25 and the lowest in the M15 (P<0.05). P15 treatment with 72% profit was in the first step. Present results demonstrated that palm date juice biofloc appear to be more suitable and with a 15% - 25% CP feed could provide economy in fish meal and reduce production costs.