Conclusions
A sand-based recirculation system with a water exchange rate of 5–10% a day and a combination diet of high protein pellets (55% protein) and a fresh-food combination (75% squid and 25% of oyster and blood cockle) provide suitable conditions for the indoor rearing of the grow-out phase (juvenile stage) of P. monodon. In this study, a water salinity of 20–23 g·L− 1 with low stocking density of 10 animals per m2 produced the best growth rate during the grow-out phase of P. monodon. Survival of P. monodon in the grow-out phase was significantly higher (P < 0.05) at low salinity of 20–23 g·L− 1 as compared to high salinity of 32–33 g·L− 1 irrespective of stocking density. The results of this study may further improve the procedure to close the cycle of P. monodon during domestication process in Vietnam as the best growth condition and performance during juvenile stage possibly would benefit the overall reproductive performance of broodstock at later stage.