Method and apparatus for rearing post-larvae shrimp

A system for rearing post-larvae shrimp comprising;

• a plurality of rearing tanks for retaining shrimp for a plurality of consecutive post-larvae periods of growth extending from an initial post-larvae period of growth which begins when the shrimp are of an initial post-larvae size to a final post-larvae period of growth which ends when the shrimp are of a mature size, each of said rearing tanks retaining shrimp for a different one of said consecutive post-larvae periods of growth and each rearing tank having a common wall with the rearing tank which retains shrimp for the immediately preceding post-larvae period of growth;
• a plurality of habitat means, each of said habitat means locatable within each one of said rearing tanks and each habitat means including
• a plurality of vertically-spaced substrate means arranged in individual groups, each of said substrate means providing a surface area to which shrimp can cling and having openings therein for permitting the passaage of fluid therethrough, and
• frame means for supporting the individual groups of said substrate means,
• the substrate means of the habitat means of each one of said rearing tanks having a combined total surface area which is greater than the combined total surface area of the substrate means of the habitat means of the rearing tank which retains shrimp for the post-larvae period of growth immediately preceding the post-larvae period for which said one rearing tank retains shrimp;
• and
• means for moving said habitat means into and out of said rearing tanks.

A system for rearing post-larvae shrimp comprising:

• an enclosure for receiving a medium;
• habitat means disposed within said enclosure for providing habitats for said shrimp;
• and
• platform means disposed above said habitat means for providing a temporary habitat for molting shrimp, including:
• a plurality of nets arranged above preselected areas of said habitat means and entering into said medium;
• and
• flotation means and sinker means attached to preselected first and second areas respectively, of each of said nets for causing said first areas to be above said second areas.

A method of rearing post-larvae shrimp comprising:

• providing a first rearing tank;
• providing first habitat means locatable within said first rearing tank for providing habitats for said shrimp, said first habitat means including
• a first plurality of vertically-spaced substrate means arranged in individual groups, each substrate means providing a surface area to which shrimp can cling and having openings therein for permitting the passage of fluid therethrough, said first plurality of substrate means having a first combined total surface area, and
• frame means for supporting the individual groups of substrate means of said first plurality of substrate means;
• providing means for moving said first habitat means into and out of said first rearing tank;
• operating said moving means to move said first habitat means into said first rearing tank;
• retaining each of said shrimp in said first rearing tank for an initial post-larvae period of growth;
• providing a second rearing tank having a common wall with said first rearing tank;
• providing second habitat means locatable within said second rearing tank for providing habitats for shrimp, said second habitat means including
• a second plurality of vertically-spaced substrate means arranged individual groups, each substrate means being of the same construction as the substrate means of said first habitat means, said second plurality of substrate means having a second combined total surface area which is greater than said first combined total surface area, and
• frame means for supporting the individual groups of substrate means of said second plurality of subdstrate means;
• providing means for moving said second habitat means into and out of said second rearing tank;
• operating said moving means to move said second habitat means into said second rearing tank;
• retaining each of said shrimp in said second rearing tank for a period of growth subsequent to said initial growing period.