01 · AquaGrow
What it is
Some luminescent bacteria are associated with shrimp hatchery losses. Glow alone does not prove the cause, and absence of glow does not exclude bacterial illness. Laboratory investigation is needed before selecting a response.
Signs to watch for
- Larval activity, feeding or survival declines.
- Unusual luminescence is reported in the production system.
- Problems recur in tanks sharing broodstock, water, equipment or live feed.
Common causes
- Bacterial contamination enters through animals, water, equipment or feed.
- Poor sanitation or persistent dirty surfaces allow contamination to recur.
- Other water or health problems may produce similar weak larvae.
How to confirm the cause
- Ask a qualified laboratory about suitable animal, water and feed samples and bacterial investigation.
- Interpret culture or other test results with the tank history; a bacterial count or glow is not a complete diagnosis.
What to do immediately
- 1
Check DO and water while contacting the hatchery health professional.
- 2
Keep the affected lot and its equipment separate; pause dispatch of unresolved suspect seed.
- 3
Trace shared live feed, water and recent inputs. Collect samples as directed before treatment.
- 4
Do not self-prescribe antibiotics or assume a probiotic or phage product guarantees recovery.
Prevention: your practical checklist
- Control broodstock and live-feed contamination pathways.
- Use documented water treatment and equipment cleaning.
- Investigate recurring problems across batches instead of repeatedly masking signs with inputs.
When to call an expert
- Escalate to emergency support if losses rise or larvae become severely weak.
- Seek review for repeated positive bacterial findings with declining performance.
Farmer questions
Does glowing water prove vibriosis?
No. Luminescence is a clue for investigation, not proof that a specific bacterium caused the losses. Check water and animals and obtain suitable laboratory interpretation.
Does no glow mean no bacterial problem?
No. Not every bacterial problem is visibly luminescent. Assess changes in activity, feeding and survival rather than glow alone.
Can I use antibiotics from an old advisory?
Do not self-prescribe antibiotics or reproduce historical treatment recipes. Use current, legally permitted options only under qualified professional direction.
Sources & further reading
AI-assisted educational content and translations, source-checked 17 October 2026. Not an individual diagnosis or prescription. Independent aquaculture-health and native-language specialist approvals have not been supplied. Sources do not endorse AquaGrow.
- Luminescent bacteria in shrimp hatcheries — better management advisory ↗ICAR-CIBA Technical Advisory 1; historical 2009/2010 publication, not current outbreak surveillance
- SHAPHARI hatchery operating guidelines — production, biosecurity and records ↗MPEDA; linked guideline, not AquaGrow certification or a legal-compliance audit