How should soft-shell white shrimp be handled?

I. Causes of Soft Shells in White Shrimp

First, nutritional imbalance.

Shrimp lack essential nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus, which are critical for shell formation and calcification. If the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in the feed is imbalanced or if the feed quality is poor, shrimp may suffer from nutritional deficiencies, compromising the hardness of their shells.

Secondly, issues such as changes in water quality and infectious diseases…

These include changes in pH, insufficient dissolved oxygen, and elevated ammonia nitrogen levels—factors that can all impair the normal growth and molting of shrimp. Poor water quality can prevent shrimp from properly absorbing calcium, leading to soft-shell conditions.

Bacterial and parasitic infections can also prevent shrimp from molting properly, leading to mortality. These infections directly compromise the health of the shrimp, impairing their ability to harden their exoskeletons as usual.

Finally, stress should be minimized during water discharge.

Improper medication or sudden changes in water quality can both induce stress in shrimp, leading to abnormal molting. Under such conditions, shrimp struggle to return to normal within a short period, resulting in soft-shell syndrome.

II. The Effects of Calcium Deficiency on Whiteleg Shrimp

It is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Effects on shrimp shell hardness and integrity: Calcium deficiency can lead to a fragile, easily shed, or incomplete shell, and may even result in shell cracking or premature molting. This reduces the shrimp’s locomotor ability and restricts its range of movement, thereby impairing its normal life processes.

It affects the coloration and intestinal health of shrimp: when calcium is deficient, the shrimp’s body color becomes lighter, often appearing pale. Furthermore, calcium deficiency can cause reddening of the shrimp’s intestines, reduce their ability to absorb calcium, and compromise their overall health.

Effects on shrimp growth and molting: Calcium is the most essential component of shrimp shells. During growth, shrimp must molt repeatedly to increase in size; calcium deficiency can result in incomplete molting, soft shells, or slow molting, all of which impair normal growth and development.

Increased risk of disease: Calcium-deficient shrimp are more susceptible to pathogen invasion, as molting failure and soft-shell conditions weaken their immune defenses, thereby elevating the likelihood of disease outbreaks.

In summary, calcium deficiency has multifaceted effects on Pacific white shrimp, impacting both their body condition and health while also increasing the risk of disease. For farmers, calcium supplementation is one of the key measures for improving the success rate of shrimp farming.

III. Product Details

1 [Product Name]

Common Name: 2% Compound Premix Feed

Product Name: Polysaccharide-Active Ionic Calcium

[Ingredients] Vitamin C, calcium gluconate, glucose.

[Sensory Characteristics] This product is a slightly yellowish powder, free from mold, spoilage, caking, and any off‑odors or foreign smells.

[Features]

(1) Accelerates the hard-shell formation process in crustaceans, prevents incomplete molting and soft-shell conditions, rapidly replenishes energy, and swiftly restores physical condition.

(2) This product can alleviate stress responses in crustaceans caused by adverse weather conditions such as typhoons, heavy rainfall, and large temperature fluctuations, promote physical recovery, and enhance stress resistance.

(3) This product effectively regulates water quality, promoting the stabilization and balance of algal and microbial communities in aquaculture waters.

(4) When applied to cultured species such as prawns and crabs prior to harvest, this product can enhance the vitality of the farmed organisms, promote a smooth, glossy appearance, and improve both market size and quality.

[Scope of Application] This product is suitable for various aquatic animals, including shrimp, crabs, fish, shellfish, sea cucumbers, and more.

[Instructions for Use] Dilute with at least 50 parts water before application, and evenly distribute throughout the entire pond. Each bag is sufficient for 20–40 mu (with a water depth of 1 meter); adjust the dosage as needed based on the specific requirements of the cultured species.

2 [Product Name]

Common Name: 0.02% Liquid Vitamin Premix Feed

Product Name: Hard-Cover Ionized Calcium

[Ingredients] Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Calcium Gluconate, Stabilizer.

[Sensory Characteristics] This product is a golden-yellow liquid.

[Functions and Applications] This product is manufactured using a scientifically optimized production process. It has been specially developed to address common challenges in aquaculture, such as imbalanced feed formulations, excessive stocking densities, adverse farming conditions, deteriorating water quality, and calcium deficiency in the environment—factors that align with contemporary aquaculture needs. This nutritional calcium‑supplementing formulation rapidly replenishes calcium and is characterized by high bioavailability and swift efficacy.

[Scope of Application] Applicable to crustaceans such as whiteleg shrimp, crayfish, and crabs.

3 [Product Name]

Common Name: 1% Aquaculture Vitamin Premix Feed

Product Name: Stress C+E

[Ingredients] Vitamin E, Vitamin C, antioxidants, excipients, etc.

[Sensory Characteristics] This product is a white powder, free from mold, spoilage, caking, and any off‑odors or foreign smells.

[Product Features] (1) Vitamins C and E play crucial roles in biological oxidation–reduction reactions and cellular respiration, and they promote nucleic acid synthesis and cell proliferation. However, commonly used forms of vitamin C and vitamin E are poorly absorbed by aquatic farmed species and exhibit low bioavailability. This product undergoes a specialized processing method that integrates rapidly degradable vitamin C and vitamin E with stress‑resistance active ingredients. During dissolution, its active components are evenly dispersed throughout the water, thereby enhancing absorption efficiency.

(2) This product provides long-lasting release, with an active ingredient release rate exceeding 90%.

The combination of the aforementioned polysaccharide‑active ionized calcium and hard‑shell ionized calcium, together with stress‑relieving C+E, is primarily designed to address issues such as shrimp failing to maintain their shape after molting, developing a cottony or slimy texture, low survival rates, dull body coloration, and thin, weak shells.