Whiteleg Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Profile

Litopenaeus vannamei, the whiteleg or Pacific white shrimp, is the dominant farmed crustacean globally, supplying well over half of world shrimp aquaculture output. Native to the eastern Pacific from Mexico to Peru, it tolerates a wide salinity range (roughly 5 to 40 ppt, and even near-freshwater in acclimated stocks) and temperatures of 24 to 32 °C, with growth stalling below about 20 °C. Typical intensive grow-out reaches 15 to 25 g in 90 to 120 days at stocking densities of 30 to 150 post-larvae per square meter, with FCR commonly 1.2 to 1.6 on commercial feeds. Its fast growth, year-round hatchery seed supply, tolerance of low salinity for inland farming, and the availability of Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) broodstock lines make it the default choice for new farms. Key production constraints are sensitivity to White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), early mortality syndrome, and dissolved oxygen swings, so farmers monitor DO above 4 mg/L and manage aeration aggressively. Compared with Penaeus monodon it grows slightly slower per degree of temperature but converts feed more efficiently and tolerates crowding better, which is why it displaced black tiger shrimp in most intensive systems.