Atrophied, white or pale hepatopancreas in shrimp: causes and how to restore it
A shrunken, pale, white or swollen waterlogged hepatopancreas makes shrimp eat poorly, grow slowly and die sporadically. How to check it, common causes and liver support steps.
In this article
The hepatopancreas is the shrimp's digestive and energy storage "factory". When it is healthy, shrimp feed vigorously, grow fast and tolerate environmental fluctuations. When the hepatopancreas becomes atrophied, pale, white or swollen and waterlogged, shrimp absorb feed poorly, grow slowly, are prone to gut diseases and may suffer prolonged scattered mortality. Checking the hepatopancreas regularly is something farmers should do every week.
How to check the shrimp hepatopancreas
Catch 5–10 shrimp from the feeding trays or with a cast net and examine the cephalothorax against the light:
- Healthy hepatopancreas: yellowish brown to dark brown, evenly firm, with clear boundaries, taking up about one third of the head.
- Pale or white hepatopancreas: pale yellow or opaque white, soft and mushy when squeezed.
- Atrophied hepatopancreas: shrunken and pulled back towards the rear, leaving an empty space in the head.
- Swollen, waterlogged hepatopancreas: abnormally enlarged, watery, with uneven colour.
Shrimp with a weak hepatopancreas often also show an empty gut, loose faeces or white faeces, and progressively reduced feeding over successive meals.
Causes of a weak hepatopancreas
Vibrio bacteria and hepatopancreatic necrosis
Vibrio bacteria (especially V. parahaemolyticus strains carrying the pirA/pirB toxin genes that cause AHPND/EMS) attack the hepatopancreas, causing swelling, atrophy and necrosis; AHPND mostly occurs 10–35 days after stocking. See the article acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (EMS).
EHP microsporidian
EHP parasitises the hepatopancreas, causing slow growth and size variation. See EHP disease in shrimp.
Toxins from the environment and feed
High toxic NH₃, NO₂ and H₂S, toxic algae, mouldy feed contaminated with mycotoxins and overuse of chemicals all overwork the hepatopancreas, and over time it becomes atrophied and pale.
Overfeeding
Excess feed both fouls the pond bottom and overloads the hepatopancreas. Ponds fed beyond demand often have shrimp with an enlarged, pale hepatopancreas and long, loose faeces.
What to do when shrimp have an atrophied or white hepatopancreas
Step 1: Reduce the load on the hepatopancreas
- Reduce feed by 20–30% for 3–5 days, monitoring the feeding trays to adjust; increase aeration to keep dissolved oxygen ≥ 5 mg/L.
- Treat the pond bottom, absorb toxic gases, and stabilise pH and alkalinity. See treating toxic gases in shrimp ponds.
Step 2: Liver tonics and detoxification at label doses
- SORBEST: mix 10 g/kg feed, 2–3 times/day for 3–5 consecutive days; it can also be applied to the pond at 500 g per 1,000 m³ of water for 2–3 consecutive days (routine use: 500 g per 1,600 m³, every 5–7 days).
- The herbal product G7: for routine use, mix 7–10 ml/kg feed, 3–4 times/day; when the hepatopancreas looks abnormal, mix 10 ml/kg.
- HEPALIVER FS or ANTILIV: when the hepatopancreas is weak, mix 10 ml/kg feed, 3–4 times/day (ANTILIV: for 5 consecutive days).
- LIVER MAX: mix 7–10 ml/kg feed, 3–4 times/day; when the hepatopancreas looks abnormal, mix 10 ml/kg.
Choose only one main liver tonic per course; do not mix several products at the same time.
Step 3: Restore the gut
The hepatopancreas and gut always go hand in hand. After the liver tonic course, mix a gut probiotic such as AQUALAC FS at 5 g/kg feed, twice a day, so shrimp digest well again. See also probiotics for shrimp.
Step 4: Monitor and contact a technician
Check the hepatopancreas after 3–5 days. If mortality is still rising or the hepatopancreas is swollen and soft, send samples for testing or call a technician for a suitable treatment protocol.
Preventing a weak hepatopancreas from the start of the crop
- Choose disease-free postlarvae that have tested PCR-negative for EHP and AHPND (EMS).
- Give liver tonics periodically for 3–5 days per course, repeating after a 5-day break, especially during the period from day 10 to day 45.
- Feed according to demand and store feed in a dry place.
- Keep the pond bottom clean and toxic gases low with regular probiotic applications.
Frequently asked questions
What colour is a healthy shrimp hepatopancreas?
A healthy hepatopancreas is yellowish brown to dark brown, evenly firm and clearly separated from the muscle. A pale, white, shrunken or swollen watery hepatopancreas is a sign that it is weakening.
Can an atrophied hepatopancreas recover?
If detected early and caused by the environment or feed, the hepatopancreas can recover after 5–10 days of liver tonics and a reduced load. Atrophy caused by serious diseases such as EMS or EHP requires testing and treatment following a technician's guidance.
How often should shrimp be given liver tonics?
Usually 3–5 days per course, a 5-day break and then repeat, continuously while shrimp are under 60 days of culture or when the weather is unstable.
Does a swollen hepatopancreas mean the shrimp are eating a lot?
An enlarged, pale, watery hepatopancreas is usually a sign of an overloaded or infected hepatopancreas, not of healthy shrimp. Reduce feeding, treat the environment and give liver tonics.
