Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of biofloc technology (BFT) and clear water (CW) on water quality physiological and productive performance of juvenile freshwater Northern River shrimp, Cryphiops caementarius under three stocking densities (100, 200, and 400 shrimp m(-2)). Shrimp with an initial body weight of 0.44 +/- 0.07 g were stocked in 18 rectangular fiberglass tanks with a water volume 150 L for 290 days. During the experiment, water quality parameters stayed within acceptable ranges for shrimp growth. The highest survival rate was recorded in BFT treatments; however, the growth performance of shrimp in the treatments with the lowest stocking density was higher than that with the highest stocking density, regardless of whether BFT or CW was used. Transcriptional levels of heat shock protein (Hsp70) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between treatments, particularly in BFT. These results indicate that an initial stocking density of 200 shrimp m(-2) appears to be appropriate for shrimp juveniles cultured in a BFT system. Thus, this technology emerges as an effective tool for river shrimp farmers looking to increase their stocking densities and improve the efficiency of their production systems in arid zones.