Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) cause shrimp mortality - How to handle it

H2S is 100 times more dangerous than ammonia and 1,000 times more dangerous than
nitrite! By Soraphat Panakorn.

“Losses from hydrogen sulfide toxicity in shrimp farms override mortality from other
causes and it is time farmers realized this.”

H2S is a silent killer. It increases production costs by reducing average daily growth and
survival rates and increasing feed conversion ratios and susceptibility to diseases. Often,
farmers encounter H2S problems but don’t know how to manage them.

H2S is always present in the pond, possibly killing shrimp slowly every night. Farmers
may have experienced losses of about 10% per crop and generally have accepted this as
the norm when they do not know the real cause of the mortality or how to handle it. As of
now, an estimated 4 million metric tons of shrimp could have been lost to H2S toxicity.

What is Hydrogen Sulfide? H2S is generated when sulfate consuming bacteria digest
organic matter under anaerobic conditions (no oxygen) in water or under wet conditions.
In a shrimp pond, the bottom layer of mud, sludge and bioflocs produce H2S.

How Does H2S Harm Shrimp? The first action of H2S is to block shrimp from taking up
oxygen. When H2S levels are low, this weakens shrimp, makes them sluggish and
increases their vulnerability, even when exposed for a short period. When H 2S levels are
high, mass mortalities occur, even when exposed for a short period. H 2S can also cause
tissue corrosiveness by irritating soft tissues in the gills, gut, stomach walls and
hepatopancreas. H2S also stresses shrimp, lowering their resistance to infection.

A safe level for H2S in giant tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) ponds is 0.033 parts per
million (ppm). White shrimp (P. vannamei) postlarvae can tolerate up to 0.0087 and
juveniles up to 0.0185 ppm.

Detection Methodology: The detection of H2S is quite complicated and more difficult
than detecting ammonia or nitrite. Most shrimp farmers don’t test for H 2S despite the fact
that the safe level of H2S is much lower than ammonia and nitrite. At the same
concentration, H2S is 100 times more dangerous than ammonia and 1,000 times more
dangerous than nitrite!

H2S Toxicity: Toxicity of H2S is dependent on three key parameters: pH, temperature and
dissolved oxygen. H2S interferes with the shrimp’s oxygen transfer processes. Dissolved
oxygen levels above 3 ppm helps to block H2S production. A combination of low pH,
oxygen and temperature makes H2S more dangerous. Therefore, monitoring these three
parameters is key to mitigating H2S toxicity.

How to Check for H2S: Check bacterial count by TCBS agar plate in water samples
collected 2-5 cm from a sludge area. Normal Vibrio will show up as green or yellow
colonies; sulfate reducing bacteria will show as a black colony. If you see a black colony,
it means H2S is being generated. Immediate action should be taken.

What Causes H2S?

- In ponds with clear water before stocking, algae grow on the bottom of the ponds.
Then, when phytoplankton blooms in the pond water, it blocks the light for the
algae on the bottom, causing it to crash, which, in turn, leads to the generation of
H2S.
- Ponds with sandy or loose soils.
- Very deep ponds with insufficient oxygen create anaerobic conditions that lead to
the production of H2S.
- Ponds containing high concentrations of suspended organic matter. When the
organic matter settles to the pond bottom, it creates conditions that favor H 2S
production.
- Ponds with leaky, high- The symptoms of shrimp affected by H2S toxicity
density polyethylene
liners. When organic
matter seeps under
these liners, into an area
that is devoid of
oxygen, H2S is
generated.
- Ponds with high levels
of feed wastes that
experience a plankton
crash.
- Acid sulfate ponds with
low pH, and high loads
of organic matter
support the release of
H2S.
How to Prevent H2S:

- Always make sure the dissolved oxygen levels in your shrimp ponds are above 3
ppm three meters from the edge of any sludge and 30 centimeters above the pond
bottom.
- Feed on demand.
- Monitor organic matter.
- Avoid farming in loose or sandy soil or in acid sulfate areas.
- Keep pH between 7.8 to 8.3 during the entire crop. The daily pH range must be
less than 0.4.

What to Do During Heavy Rain

- During heavy rains, water parameters change that encourage H 2S production.

Rains cause low temperatures, dissolved oxygen and pH, as well as lower
alkalinity and mineral levels. Sounds and waves created by wind also stress
shrimp and cause them to crowd together on pond bottoms and in sludge areas,
places where H2S is generated. When this happens, farmers should do the
following:
o Stop feeding during rainy conditions.
o Check your pH and apply lime if necessary to maintain optimal pH levels.
o Keep aerators running all the time.
o Remove fresh water from the pond, if possible.
o Don’t allow floodwaters to enter ponds.
o Following the rains, have mineral and salt solubles ready to mix into your
shrimp feed.
o Apply H2S consuming bacteria.

What to Do During a Plankton Crash: Once there is a plankton crash, pH will

immediately drop. Organic matter concentrations will increase suddenly, resulting in a
sudden uptake of oxygen. Toxic gases will be released and bacteria will bloom. The
farmer must take the following steps:

- Cut feed amounts by 50-60%.

- Apply fine lime to maintain pH and to flocculate the dead plankton.
- Run aerators to force organic matter into the center of your pond.
- Exchange water by siphoning out center-of-the-pond sludge.
- Apply H2S consuming bacteria.
 What to Do When H2S Is Detected

- Immediately cut feed amounts by 30-40% for at least 3 days until conditions
return to normal.
- Increase aeration immediately (but be aware of sludge disturbance during
installation of a new aerator).
- Exchange water to make sure it remains clear and apply probiotics.
- Apply lime immediately to increase pH to over 7.8.
- Apply microorganisms that can consume H2S, Paracoccus pantothrophus, for
example.

When H2S appears in the shrimp pond, it will be harmful and damage to the shrimp. It
can lead to head-floating status and mortality in shrimp reply on the concentration
presence. Beside the solutions mentioned above, Minh Tan C.L has already produced a
product which can help to eliminate and reduce the concentration of H 2S in the shrimp
pond. BEST CLEANER from Minh Tan Company can function in reducing H2S
concentration in shrimp pond. How to apply: Equally spread BEST CLEANER with a
dose of 1 kg BEST CLEANER/ 1,000 m3, variable based on the nutrition load and
organic compound presence in the pond.

Moreover, during culture period, probiotic should be applied for water treatment to limit
the concentration of toxic gas such as H2S, NH3, NO2 …

Source: Aquaculture Asia Pacific (Editor/Publisher, Zuridah Merican, email:

zuridah@aquaasiapac.com). H2S Toxicity–The Silent Killer. Soraphat Panakorn.
Volume 12, Number 2, Page 14, March/April 2016.