Use of freeze-dried embryos and Artemia flakes in the post-larval culture of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v30i1.1424

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the growth and survival of Litopenaeus vannamei post-larvae fed with freeze-dried embryos and Artemia flakes as feeding supplements to a microparticulate diet (DMP). In treatments T1, T2 and T3, the shrimp were fed with DMP and after 2 hours, received supplements of FLO (T1); EMB (T2); and the same DMP previously offered (T3). In T4, post-larvae were fed with DMP but without additional supplementation. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in shrimp survival after the experimental period of 21 days. On the other hand, the absolute weight gain (mg of dry weight) of post-larvae whose diet was supplemented with EMB (T2) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than growth found in the other experimental groups (T1, T3 and T4). Shrimp fed with DMP and EMB obtained a significantly higher absolute weight gain (6.7 mg) than those found in treatments that used DMP and FLO (5.4 mg) or DMP alone (5.8 mg in T3 and 5.7 mg in T4). These results underline the nutritional value of freeze-dried Artemia embryos and recommend their inclusion in the post-larval diet of Litopenaeus vannamei