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The present study was done to establish the lethal salinity (LC₅₀) and the effects of an abrupt change in the salinity on the oxygen consumption and the growth of postlarvae (PL10-PL21) of Litopenaeus setiferus, and their integration as assimilated energy. Postlarvae of L. setiferus presented a mean LC₅₀ at 8‰, and a time of response of 2 h. Thereafter, LC₅₀ remained constant for the next 96 h. The effect of salinity on oxygen consumption and growth rate changed with the age of postlarvae. From PL10 to PL15, the highest oxygen consumption was obtained at 10‰ and the lowest at 40‰. During this time, growth rate increased with salinity with the maximum value in 40‰ and lowest at 10‰. From PL15 to PL21, the highest oxygen consumption was obtained at 30 and 40‰. In 30 and 40‰, the growth rate was lower than that observed in animals maintained in 10‰. The assimilation-salinity relationship …