Abstract: We analyzed the nutrient composition (moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude ash), amino acids and fatty acid contents in muscles of Pacific white shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei) cultured in floating cages and ponds. The crude protein content of the cage group was significantly higher than that of the pond group (P < 0.05), but the contents of the moisture, crude fat and crude ash of the two groups were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Eighteen kinds of common amino acids were detected in two groups, and the contents of total amino acids (TAA), aspartic acid (Asp), isoleucine (Ile), arginine (Arg) and proline (Pro) of the cage group were significantly higher than those of the pond group (P < 0.05), but the contents of the essential amino acids (EAA), half-essential amino acids (HEAA), delicious amino acids (DAA) and prawn flavor amino acids (PFAA) of the two groups were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Thirty kinds of common fatty acids were detected in two groups, and the contents of saturated fatty acids (SFA), mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), poly-unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and n-3 PUFA (EPA and DHA) of the cage group were significantly higher than those of the pond group (P < 0.05). The contents of palmitic acid (C_16:0) of two groups were both the highest, and the content of EPA+DHA of the cage group was 1.90-fold of the pond group (P < 0.05). The results indicate that the nutrient composition of shrimps cultured in floating cages is superior to those cultured in ponds, having higher nutritional value.