Abstract:Salinity, calcium and magnesium play key roles in the survival and growth of Litopenaeus vannamei. In the present study, two experiments were conducted to test the effect of salinity, calcium and magnesium on survival, growth and flavor of the shrimp, L. vannamei. The first experiment designed using the Taguchi method with three factors (Ca2+, Mg2+ and salinity), each with 7 levels (L49), was run for 60 days to analyze the independent role of Ca2+, Mg2+ and salinity on the survival, growth and flavor of L. vannamei. Additionally, a L8 test of three factors, each with two levels, was conducted to analyze the interaction of Ca2+, Mg2+ and salinity on the survival, growth and flavor of L. vannamei. The results showed that Ca2+, Mg2+ and salinity significantly affect the survival and flavor amino acids of L. vannamei, and Ca2+ and Mg2+ significantly influence the growth. The highest survival rate was observed at Ca2+ of 100 mg/L and 400 mg/L, Mg2+ of 1200 mg/L, and salinity of 10; The growth did not significantly change at Ca2+ of≥200 mg/L, and Mg2+ of ≥300 mg/L. The highest length and weight gains were found at Ca2+ of 100 mg/L, Mg2+ of 150 mg/L and salinity of 10-20; The content of flavor amino acids increased with the increase of Ca2+, Mg2+ and salinity, and the highest content of flavor amino acids occurred at Ca2+ of 400 mg/L, Mg2+ of 750 mg/L, and salinity of 20 and 35. Low salinity and concentration of Ca2+, Mg2+ significantly reduced the growth and survival of the shrimp. The interaction between Ca2+ and Mg2+ was significant on survival and daily weight gain of the shrimp, and the combined effect of Ca2+ and salinity was significant on survival of the shrimp. However, the interaction between Mg2+ and salinity was not significant on any of the three parameters.