Screening three finfish species for their potential in removing organic matter from the effluent of white leg shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei) farming

White leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) farming effluent contains pollutants that include high levels of organic matter (OM) nutrients and growth- promoting substances. This study investigated the effects of varied concentrations of white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) farm wastewater 0, 50, 75 and 100%, on the survival rate (SR) of three finfish species: tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) and rabbit fish (Siganus guttatus) as part of screening their potential in removing organic matter from the effluent of white leg shrimp farming. The different initial levels of shrimp wastewater from 50% to 100% had no significant effect on the survival rate of tilapia and mullet; but the survival rate of S. guttatus significantly decreased with increasing shrimp wastewater (P < 0.05). The results showed that the removal of BOD, COD and TSS occurred in the range of 66-83, 68-81 and 30-54%; respectively and the removal efficiency of OM by mullet was higher than Tilapia in all treatments. The study also indicated that the reduction highest removal of BOD, COD and TSS was achieved being 83.1%, 80.7and 53,7% respectively, at the medium stocking density (25 fish/m²) of mullet.