White shrimp, primarily Litopenaeus vannamei, are a significant species both ecologically and commercially. These crustaceans are widely recognized for their role in coastal ecosystems and as a leading product in global aquaculture. Understanding their dietary habits is key to appreciating their natural function and optimizing their growth in farmed environments.
Natural Diet of White Shrimp
White shrimp are omnivorous scavengers, consuming a variety of food sources. Their diet largely consists of detritus, decaying organic matter found on the seafloor. They also feed on algae, including benthic algae that grow on surfaces and planktonic algae suspended in the water column.
Small benthic invertebrates are also consumed. These include worms, small crustaceans like amphipods, nematodes, isopods, and copepods. Diatoms and other microorganisms also contribute to their diet. The specific composition of their diet can vary depending on the shrimp’s age, size, and the availability of food in their particular estuarine or coastal environment.
White Shrimp Diet in Aquaculture
In aquaculture settings, white shrimp are provided with formulated pellet feeds designed to support rapid growth. These feeds contain a high percentage of protein, ranging from 36% to 44% for grow-out stages, and up to 42% for starter feeds. Key components include protein sources like fishmeal and soy protein, along with lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
Aquaculture increasingly incorporates sustainable protein sources into these formulations. Alternatives to fishmeal include plant-based proteins, rendered animal meals, microalgae, and copepod hydrolysates. These specific formulations are necessary because, unlike in the wild, farmed shrimp do not have access to natural foods, and the controlled environment requires precise nutritional management to optimize production.
Feeding Behavior and Adaptations
White shrimp use specialized mechanisms to acquire and process their food. They primarily rely on chemoreception, a sense similar to smell and taste, to detect and locate food. When food is sensed, they exhibit antennule flicking behavior, orienting towards the source.
Once near the food, shrimp use their dactyls, located at the ends of their walking legs, to grasp the food. They are external masticators, meaning they chew their food outside their mouth using specialized mouthparts. These mouthparts include mandibles for crushing, maxillae, and maxillipeds, which help in manipulating and processing food items. Shrimp often nibble on pellets and select palatable pieces, discarding unpalatable pieces.