Effectiveness of cassava dregs ferment (CDF) to accelerate biofloc formation during the intensive farming of whiteleg shrimp, Penaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931)

Abstract Cassava dregs are a byproduct of processing cassava into tapioca. These ingredients possess a simplified carbohydrate structure after fermentation, which also serves as an essential carbon source to support bacterial growth. This research aims to examine the utilization of cassava dregs ferment (CDF) in accelerating biofloc formation for intensive whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) culture. The research was carried out over 60 days in two HDPE-lined ponds. Treatment A (with CDF) was stocked with 200 shrimp/m2. Treatment B (without CDF) was stocked with 300 shrimp/m2. Treatment A accelerated the formation of biofloc at DOC 26, whereas the biofloc formation in Treatment B started at DOC 38. Weight growth of shrimp was similar to Treatment A, averaging 6.21 ±1.27 g as compared to 6.21 ±1.73 g in Treatment B. Survival rates were significantly different, with 99.1% in Treatment A and 75.3% in Treatment B. Feed conversion ratio and total biomass were 1.4/1,153 kg (Treatment A) and 1.49/1,263 kg (Treatment B). Based on these findings, it appears that CDF can be used as an alternative source of exogenous carbon in biofloc technology and improve the productivity of intensive whiteleg shrimp culture.