Shrimp Stocking & From Post-Larvae to Harvest
Stocks vannamei
Enter pond area, stocking density, survival rate and harvest weight to get the post-larvae to stock, expected harvest number and harvest biomass — for vannamei, tiger and more.
Stock your shrimp pond
Next: order 121,406 healthy PL; with 70% survival expect 84,984 shrimp at 25 g — about 2,125 kg.
Survival and growth depend on PL quality, water quality, aeration and feed; higher densities need more aeration and tighter management.
Shrimp stocking — key facts
- Post-larvae
- area × density
- Harvest number
- PL × survival %
- Harvest biomass
- harvest number × weight
- Density
- PL per m² of water
- Stocked as
- post-larvae (PL10, PL12…)
- Survival
- ~70–85% well-run
- High density
- needs aeration & water mgmt
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser; nothing uploaded
Plan the whole crop before you stock a single PL
Shrimp are stocked as post-larvae at a density per square metre, so the number you need is simply pond area times density. From there, survival turns post-larvae into an expected harvest number, and harvest weight turns that number into biomass — the kilos you can plan to sell. Push the density higher and you grow more in the same pond, but only if your aeration and water management can carry the extra oxygen demand and waste; over-stock a pond you can't aerate and the crop crashes.
This tool gives the post-larvae to stock, the expected harvest number, the harvest biomass and the density from your pond area, survival and target weight. Use it to order the right number of PL, forecast the harvest, and pick a density that matches your system. Pair it with the Fish Feed Requirement and Feed Conversion Ratio tools to plan feed and run the pond by the numbers.
Order the right PL
Post-larvae from area and density, no over-buying.
Forecast the harvest
Survival gives an honest harvest number.
Plan the biomass
Know the kilos before you stock the pond.
Match the density
Stock only what your aeration can carry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does shrimp pond stocking work?+
Shrimp such as vannamei and tiger are stocked as post-larvae (PL) at a chosen density per square metre. Post-larvae needed = pond area × density. Expected harvest number = PL stocked × survival %, and harvest biomass = harvest number × harvest weight. So from area, density, survival and target weight you can plan the whole crop before you buy a single PL.
What are post-larvae (PL)?+
Post-larvae are the young shrimp stage bought from a hatchery and stocked into the grow-out pond — usually counted as PL10, PL12 and so on by their age in days. They are stocked at a density per square metre, and the count you need is simply the pond area multiplied by that density.
What stocking density should I use?+
Density is post-larvae per square metre and depends on the system and your water management. Extensive ponds run low densities, semi-intensive ponds moderate ones, and intensive vannamei systems can run high densities — but higher density needs much stronger aeration and water management. Pick a density your aeration and water exchange can actually support.
Why does higher density need better aeration?+
More shrimp per square metre means more oxygen demand and more waste in the same water, so dissolved oxygen falls faster and ammonia builds up. Without enough aeration and water management at high density, oxygen crashes and disease spread, killing shrimp. That is why intensive stocking only works with aerators, monitoring and good pond management.
How is survival rate used?+
Not every post-larva reaches harvest, so survival % converts PL stocked into expected harvest number: harvest number = PL × survival %. A survival of 70–85% is common in well-run ponds, lower if disease or water problems hit. Using a realistic survival keeps your harvest-number and biomass estimates honest.
How is harvest biomass calculated?+
Harvest biomass = harvest number × average harvest weight. So if survival leaves you 700,000 shrimp and you grow them to 25 g each, that is 17,500 kg of shrimp. Choosing a higher harvest weight means fewer animals per kilo and a longer grow-out, which the biomass figure lets you plan against.
Does it work for vannamei and tiger shrimp?+
Yes — the area × density, survival and biomass maths is the same for vannamei (Litopenaeus vannamei), tiger (Penaeus monodon) and freshwater prawns. Just enter the density, survival and harvest weight that suit your species and system; the calculator handles the arithmetic.
How do I measure pond area for stocking?+
Use the water-surface area of the grow-out pond in square metres (or convert from hectares, acres or other units). Stocking density is applied per square metre of water, so use the actual ponded area, not the total plot including bunds and channels, or you will over-order post-larvae.
Are the figures guaranteed?+
No — they are planning estimates. Real survival and growth depend on PL quality, water management, feed, disease and weather, all of which vary. Use the calculator to set stocking and forecast harvest, then track actuals through the crop and adjust feeding and aeration as you go.
Does it run privately in my browser?+
Yes. Everything is computed in your browser; nothing about your pond, stocking or harvest plans is uploaded or stored. Change any input and the post-larvae, harvest number and biomass update instantly.