A study was conducted using a bioenergetics approach to generate information on energy requirement and feed utilization of Litopenaeus stylirostris. Animals (initial mean weight 21 +/- 1 g were fed ad libitum six experimental diets, ranging from 25 to 58% crude protein (CP), for 50 days. Weight gain increased from 21 to 30 g with increasing dietary protein level. Survival rates averaged 80%. Basal metabolism (HeE) and heat increment of feeding (HiE) were monitored using respirometry. HeE was on average I U shrimp(-1) day(-1) or 47 U kg live weight(-1) day (22 kJ/kg(0.8). d(-1)), slightly more than what is observed in fish. HiE averaged 0.2 W/sbrimp(-1) day(-1) or 10 W kg live weight(-1) day(-1) (4 kJ/kg(0.8) d(-1)). It represented 3 1 % and 12% digestible energy intake (DET) for shrimp fed on 58% CP and 25% CP diet respectively. Non-fecal (UE + ZE) energy calculated on the basis of N-ammonia excretion averaged 0.2 jig N-ammonia/g dry wt./ mn or 25 J live shrimp(-1) day(-1) in fasting stage and increased to 40 J in post-prandial stage. Ammonia production increased with increasing dietary crude protein (CP). The O:N ratio indicated that protein was increasingly used as an energy substrate as CP increased. The information was used to construct an energy budget for shrimp fed a protypical 40% CP diet. Gross energy intake (IE) was estimated at 6.5 W live shrimp(-1) day(-1); digestible energy intake (DEI) at 5, urinary and branchial excretion (UE +ZE) at 1.2, total heat production (HE) at 3.2; recovered energy (RE) at 0.6 (or 11% DEI). L. stylirostris adults issued from domesticated strain appeared to be more efficiently utilizing (i.e. converting into carcass energy) protein than carbohydrates. This preliminary energy budget can be used to construct theoretical feed requirement and waste outputs model for L. stylirostris. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.