Why Daily Records Matter in Shrimp Farming
Your shrimp are eating, the pond looks normal, and growth appears satisfactory. But if feed consumption starts falling or mortality gradually increases, how quickly can you identify when the problem began?
Without daily records, farmers often depend on memory and visual observations. This makes it difficult to compare pond conditions, understand changes in shrimp performance or identify unnecessary expenses.
According to the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), farm records help identify water quality problems, monitor daily activities, learn from previous mistakes and minimise production costs. Its recommended records cover feed, water quality, water exchange, treatments, aeration, shrimp health and harvest performance.
7 Things Every Shrimp Farmer Should Record
- Feed Quantity and Feeding Response
Record the quantity of feed given at each feeding, the total feed used during the day, and observations from feed trays where applicable. Also note the feed brand and batch number.
These records help farmers compare actual feed consumption with previous days. If shrimp suddenly eat less, checking the feeding history can help establish when the change started. Recording feed consumption also supports feed conversion ratio (FCR) calculations at harvest.
- Water Quality Parameters
Record the date, time and readings for the water quality parameters you monitor, including:
- Dissolved oxygen (DO)
- pH
- Water temperature
- Salinity
- Transparency
Depending on the farm's monitoring programme, records may also include alkalinity, ammonia and nitrite.
Always note the time of measurement. A pH reading taken in the morning cannot automatically be compared with an afternoon reading without considering normal daily variation. Consistent records make it easier to recognise changes and investigate unusual readings.
- Shrimp Behaviour and Mortality
Record unusual swimming, reduced feeding response, visible abnormalities, dead shrimp and changes in activity.
If mortality occurs, note when it started, how it changes and where it is observed. These details help establish a timeline for investigation. Records alone cannot diagnose a disease, but they provide useful information for an aquaculture professional or laboratory assessment.
- Aeration and Water Exchange
Record aerator operating hours, any equipment failures, water exchange activities and the volume or proportion of water exchanged where known.
This information helps explain changes in water quality and operating expenses. If a pond experiences low dissolved oxygen, for example, the aeration log can help establish whether equipment was operating as expected.
- Shrimp Growth and Biomass
Growth measurements are generally recorded during scheduled sampling rather than necessarily every day. Record the average body weight (ABW), sample date, days of culture (DOC) and estimated biomass whenever assessed.
These measurements help farmers evaluate growth trends and make more informed feeding decisions. Regular sampling also provides the data needed to estimate production and calculate FCR.
- Treatments, Inputs and Pond Observations
Record every fertiliser, probiotic, approved chemical or other input used, including the date, quantity and reason for application.
Also note water colour, pond-bottom observations, weather changes and any unusual events. These details can help farmers connect management decisions with subsequent changes in pond conditions.
- Daily Expenses and Operational Costs
Record spending on feed, labour, electricity, fuel, seed, inputs, testing and other farm activities.
Without expense records, good production figures can create a misleading impression of profitability. Tracking costs throughout the crop makes it easier to calculate total production expenses and cost per kilogram at harvest.
Daily vs Weekly: What Should You Record?
| Frequency | Key records |
| Daily | Feed, water quality checks, mortality, aeration, water exchange, treatments and expenses |
| Weekly or scheduled | Shrimp growth, ABW, estimated biomass, health assessment and pond-bottom condition |
| At harvest | Total production, survival rate, average harvest size, FCR, revenue and profit |
MPEDA's Better Management Practices recommend daily records for key management activities and weekly monitoring of shrimp health, growth and pond-bottom condition.
Conclusion
A shrimp farm record book does not need to be complicated. A notebook, spreadsheet or farm-management app can work, provided entries are accurate, consistent and maintained separately for each pond.
The goal is not simply to collect numbers. It is to understand what changed, when it changed and what that means for the crop. Consistent records help farmers make better-informed decisions during the current crop and learn from the results before the next one.
