Whiteleg Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)
From The Aquarium Wiki
Whiteleg Shrimp
Litopenaeus vannamei
114 Litres (30 US G.)
20.3-23.1cm (8-9.1 ")
8.2 - 8.4
22.2-25.6°C (72 -78 °F)
8-12 °d
1:1 M:F
5-7 years
This animal is available captive bred
Contents
Additional names
Additional scientific names
- Penaeus vannamei
Alternative names[edit | edit source]
- King Prawn, Pacific White Shrimp
Origin[edit | edit source]
- Widespread From Sonora, Mexico to Peru. Widely farmed worldwide.
Sexing[edit | edit source]
- Females are larger than males.
Tank compatibility[edit | edit source]
- An avid predator. They will eat invertebrates, and fish.
Diet[edit | edit source]
- Eats a wide range of foodstuffs.
Feeding regime[edit | edit source]
- Daily.
Environment Specifics[edit | edit source]
- It will not tolerate copper or high levels of nitrates in the aquarium, but will require correct levels of iodine in the water to promote proper moulting.
Behaviour[edit | edit source]
- A predatory shrimp, may try to eat tankmates unless fish are too large to pick.
Identification[edit | edit source]
- A grey shrimp with a greyish-brown overall hue.
Notes[edit | edit source]
- This species is widely farmed for seafood, being the most farmed. This makes it easy to obtain them from seafood suppliers that sell live shrimp. As these are farmed for food, be diligent of potential diseases that can spread to other invertebrates in the aquarium.