Activity pattern of the marine shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone 1931) in laboratory as a function of different feeding frequencies

Management practices on most Brazilian shrimp farms have resulted in high expenses for producers and damage to the environment. Applied ethology could provide information on the pattern of shrimp activity, enabling more efficient feeding frequencies. Behavioural activities of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei were recorded during different feeding frequencies. The shrimp were kept in aquariums on a 12:12 h light/dark cycle. They were fed commercial ration three (at 6:00, 12:00 and 18:00 hours), four (at 6:00, 10:00, 14:00 and 18:00 hours) or seven times per day (at 6:00. 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00 hours). We observed animals at 15 min^?1 aquarium^?1 time periods, recording feeding, substrate exploration, swimming and inactivity. Feeding and exploration were the highest for shrimp fed three times per day, swimming was greatest when animals received four feedings, whereas inactivity was higher for shrimp fed seven times per day. There was greater food ingestion between 12:00 and 14:00 hours for animals fed three and four times per day, whereas swimming was high mainly at 18:00 hours for shrimp fed three and seven times per day. The results indicate higher forage‐related activities (exploration/ingestion) when feed was offered three or four times, suggesting optimization in the pattern of shrimp activities based on these feeding frequencies.     

Compensatory growth and digestive enzyme activity of Litopenaeus vannamei submitted to feeding restriction in a biofloc system

Feeding restriction is a strategy in shrimp farming management that may promote compensatory growth after feeding is re‐established. This study aims to evaluate the effects of two feeding restriction regimens on the compensatory growth and digestive enzymes activity of Litopenaeus vannamei reared in biofloc system. Juvenile shrimp (0.46 ± 0.18 g) were stocked (320 individuals/m³) in 310 L tanks. The experiment comprised two phases: (a) Feeding Restriction (30 days) when shrimp were submitted to three feeding regimes, Control (fed daily), R1F1 (repetitively fasted one day and fed one day) and R2F1 (repetitively fasted 2 days and fed 1 day); and (b) Refeeding (28 days) when shrimp were fed daily. In the restriction phase, shrimp growth and digestive enzyme activities were reduced in R2F1 and R1F1. However, during the refeeding phase, enzyme activities and feed conversion improve significantly in R2F1 and R1F1. Control group attained higher final weight, but its final biomass was similar to R1F1. Litopenaeus vannamei exhibited partial compensatory growth, probably due to improved feed conversion efficiency driven by increased enzyme activity. It is possible to reduce feeding by 50% (R1F1) in biofloc systems for 28 days, without compromising the biomass produced at the end of a 30‐day refeeding period.     

Pirarucu growth under different feeding regimes

In order to assess the most suitable feeding schedule for pirarucu, Arapaima gigas, we placed groups of seven fish in 12 1-m³ cages and investigated various feeding variables in a 2 × 2 factorial design. The feeding variables analyzed were one feeding (OC) or two feedings (TW), feeding daily (1D) or every other day (2D), and their interactions: one feeding once per day (OC/1D), two feedings per day (TW/1D), one feeding every other day (OC/2D) and two feedings every other day (TW/2D). The experiment lasted for 45 days, and the fish were maintained on a commercial extruded diet. The results showed similar final weights between fish maintained on feedings OC and TW, but higher ones in fish fed 1D than 2D. Weight gain was higher when the fish were fed TW and 1D. Apparent feed conversion was not affected in fish fed OC or TW and 1D or 2D. Daily feed consumption was also higher for the feeding schedules of TW and 1D. The combination of feeding schedules produced higher final weights and weight gains for fish fed OC/1D and TW/1D. The apparent feed conversion value was higher only in fish fed TW/1D. Daily feed consumption values were significantly higher in fishes fed TW/1D. The lowest value was recorded for OC/2D.     

Effects of Feeding Frequency and Handling on Growth and Mortality of Cultured Walking Catfish Clarias fuscus

Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of feeding frequency on growth, and of handling stress on growth and mortality, in intensive tank culture of the walking catfish Clarias fuscus . In the first experiment, fish were grown from an initial weight of 37 g for 34 d. A fixed ration of 3.0% body weight per day was divided into either 1, 2, or 3 feedings per day, and fish were either handled weekly or left unhandled for the entire experiment. Fish given 3 feedings per day experienced 19% faster growth ( P < 0.05) than fish given the same ration in a single feeding per day. These differences in growth reflect differences in assimilation efficiency, assuming all other metabolic costs were constant among treatments. Handling of individuals caused decreased growth; however, there was no effect on mortality.
In the second experiment, fish were grown from an initial weight of 78 g for 29 d. Fish were fed either 1 or 2 satiation feedings per day and were either handled weekly or left unhandled for the entire experiment. Fish fed 2 satiation feedings per day experienced 47% faster growth ( P < 0.05) than fish fed 1 satiation feeding per day, which was assumed to reflect a higher level of food consumption. No effect of handling on either growth or mortality was observed for fish in experiment 2. Multiple meals per day also reduced depensatory growth among individuals in both experiments.     

Comparison of live food organisms and prepared diets as first food for paddlefish, Polyodon spathula (Walbaum), fry

Abstract. A feeding experiment was conducted in aquaria to evaluate growth, survival and food consumption by paddlefish, Polyodon spathula (Walbaum), fry fed live Daphnia pulex, brine shrimp nauplii, Artemia sp. (L.), from two different geographical sources, or one of three commercial dry diets. Fry were fed from first feeding (day 8 post-hatch) to day 17 post-hatch. All diets had similar percentages of crude protein and lipid. Fatty acid composition was similar in all diets except for Great Salt Lake brine shrimp nauplii which had a higher percentage of linolenic acid, 18:3 (n-3), and a lower percentage of eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5 (n-3). Paddlefish fed live food organisms were significantly (P<0·05) larger than those fed non-living diets. Survival was significantly higher (P<0·05) for fish consuming live Daphnia (95·3%) than all other treatments. Percentage of fish with food in the digestive tract did not significantly differ (P>0·05) among treatments. Poorer growth and survival by fish fed prepared diets may have been due to limited digestibility of the dry diets by paddlefish.     

凡纳滨对虾亲虾繁殖期间适宜投喂频率的研究

在饱食投喂条件下,选用鲜活饵料沙蚕(Nereis succinea)对凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)亲虾进行营养强化培育60 d,通过比较不同的投喂频率2次/d(F2组)、3次/d(F3组)、4次/d(F4组)对亲虾摄食、生长、繁殖性能、虾体组成和肝胰腺的消化酶活力的影响,旨在探究亲虾繁殖期间营养强化的最适投喂频率。结果显示,随着投喂频率的增加,亲虾的日摄食量逐渐增大,F2组显著低于F4组(P0.05),但与F3组差异不显著(P0.05);亲虾的增重率和体长增长率呈先升高后降低的趋势,但无显著性差异(P0.05)。不同的投喂频率对各组亲虾的单次产卵量、相对产卵量、无节幼体I期个体数、无节幼体孵化率、蚤状幼体I期个体数、无节幼体变态率、性腺指数、初产时间和产卵间期均无显著影响(P0.05)。亲虾全虾主要体组成分水分、粗蛋白、粗脂肪、灰分含量也不受投喂频率增加的影响(P0.05);F2组的胰蛋白酶和脂肪酶活力显著低于F3、F4组(P0.05),而不同实验组的胃蛋白酶和淀粉酶活力无显著性差异(P0.05)。结合本研究的结果和生产实际情况,建议在饱食投喂条件下,凡纳滨对虾亲虾繁殖期间营养强化的适宜投喂频率为2次/d。     

Comparison of different types and levels of commercial soybean lecithin supplemented in semipurified diets for juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei Boone

Two 6-week growth trials were conducted to determine the dietary phospholipids (PL) requirement of Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles and to compare the effect of different types of soybean lecithin on shrimp growth and survival. In the first trial, a basal diet and diets containing 1.5, 3 or 5% (dry-weight basis) of Type I lecithin (97.6% PL) and 1.5 or 3% of Type II lecithin (71.4% PL) were evaluated. In the second trial, the basal diet and diets containing 1, 2 or 4% of either Type I or Type II lecithin and 1 or 2% of Type III lecithin (48.4% PL) were evaluated. Results showed that there was no interaction between lecithin type and PL level on shrimp growth or survival. Shrimp growth increased with PL levels up to 3–5% of diet. No significant differences were observed for instantaneous growth rate (IGR) of shrimp fed the different types of lecithin at the same inclusion level, and no effect of PL level and lecithin type on shrimp survival was found. Thus, the recommended level of PL supplementation in diets for L. vannamei juveniles ranges from 3 to 5% of diet.     

Effect of feeding frequency on growth and food conversion of Cyprinus carpio fry

Cyprinus carpio fry (173 ± 38 mg) were fed 6 times a day, 3 times a day, 2 times a day, once a day, once in 2 days, once in 3 days or given no food at all for a total period of 21 days. Food consumption by the group fed 3 times a day was maximum (45.6 gcal^*/meal) and the level of consumption per meal was very low in the remaining groups.

Feeding rate increased to a maximum (598.2 gcal g⁻¹ day⁻¹) in fry fed 3 times a day; a further increase in feeding frequency reduced the feeding rate. Feeding frequency influenced all bioenergetic parameters except absorption efficiency which remained constant at 97.7%. Although the growth efficiency did not change significantly in the groups fed very frequently (2 times a day or more), the growth rate was maximum in the group fed 3 times a day. With regard to both feeding and growth, a feeding schedule of 3 times a day seemed to be optimum and was suggested for practical nursery culture of Cyprinus carpio.     

The food and feeding of tropical marine fishes in floating net cages: Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), and brown-spotted grouper, Epinephelus tauvina (Forskal)

Abstract. A 156-day cage feeding trial was conducted with fingerling seabass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), and grouper, Epinephelus tauvina (Forskal), so as to test six different dietary feeding regimes, namely no exogenous feeding (NF), frozen fish (FF), commercial shrimp finisher pellet (SP), in-house prepared dry pellet RDI (RDI) and RD2 (RD2), and an in-house prepared moist pellet (frozen fish: diet Rd1, 40:60 mixture w/w — code MP). Seabass fed FF and MP displayed the best growth response, with fish (30/m³) growing from an initial weight of 8·9g and 8·5g to a final weight of 285·5g and 257·5 g in 156 days, with a food conversion ratio of 3·77–5·10 (dry matter basis 1·15 – 1·95), and with a survival of 93·3 and 93·3% respectively. Similarly, grouper fed FF and MP also displayed the best growth response, with fish (30/m³) growing from an initial weight of 23·8 g and 25·8g to a final weight of 471·7g and 388·7g in 156 days, with a food conversion ratio of 3·53–4·16 (dry matter basis 0·89–1·06) and 1·73–2·96 (dry matter basis 1·06–1·80), and with a survival of 90 and 98·3% respectively. The results are analysed from an economical viewpoint and discussed on the basis of other published studies.     

Nutrient values of dietary ascorbic acid (l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate) on growth, survival and stress tolerance of larval shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

l -ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (ApP) was used as a vitamin C source to investigate the ascorbic acid (AsA) requirements on growth performance and stress resistance of the larval white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei . Five isoenergetic and isonitrogenous fish meal-fish protein hydrolysate-based diets with five levels of ApP, AsA equivalent to 91.8, 188, 271, 360 and 436 mg kg⁻¹ diet were fed to triplicate groups of L. vannamei (mean initial wet weight 1 mg) for 32 days. The diet with AsA 91.8 mg kg⁻¹ showed high cumulative mortality after 10 days of feeding. After the 32-day trial, the shrimp that fed the diet had significantly lower survival and weight gain (WG, %) than those that fed 188, 271, 360 and 436 mg AsA kg⁻¹ diets. Specific growth rate (SGR, % day⁻¹) and final body wet weight (FBW, mg) showed the same pattern as WG (%). There were no significant differences in growth performance (FBW, WG and SGR) among the groups that fed 188, 271, 360 and 436 mg kg⁻¹ of AsA at the termination of feeding trial. Broken-line regression analysis on WG indicated that 191 mg AsA kg⁻¹ in the diet was the optimum for larval L. vannamei . On the contrary, dietary level of more than 360 mg AsA kg⁻¹ was needed to ensure high resistance to stressful conditions such as low dissolved oxygen stressors.     

Effects of feeding frequency on the growth of young estuary grouper, Epinephelus tauvina (Forskål), cultured in floating net-cages

Studies on the effects of feeding frequency on the growth of young estuary groupers (Epinephelus tauvina) with initial size ranging from 16.2 to 16.9 cm in total length were conducted in floating net-cages. Seven feeding frequencies in the order of one feeding in 5 days, 4 days, 3 days, 2 days, 1 day, two feedings daily and three feedings daily were studied. Optimal growth and good food conversion ratio as well as higher survival rate were obtained in groups fed to satiation with one feeding in 2 days. Weight gains were substantially reduced in groups fed to satiation with one feeding in 5, 4 or 3 days and were not enhanced when the feeding frequencies were increased to two or three feedings daily. The fact that food conversion ratios were similar in fish fed to satiation with one feeding in 5, 4, 3 and 2 days suggests food intake to be important as a growth limiting factor. Total food intake per feeding was appreciably higher in fish fed once in 2 days. The intake of food was found to be closely related to the amount of food remaining in the stomach, intake being maximal when the stomach was empty. The food deprivation time in estuary groupers was found to be about 36 hours at which over 95% of the food was digested and less than 0.5% body weight of food remained in the stomach. Hence, feeding the fish at 48-hour intervals, i.e. once in 2 days, greatly enhanced maximum intake and efficient utilization of the food.     

Optimum feeding rate, and energy and protein maintenance requirements of young Clarias batrachus (L.), a cultivable catfish species

Abstract. Protein and energy maintenance and optimum feed requirements are reported in the catfish, Clarias batrachus (L.), fed a purified diet (40% CP; 1487·1kJ/100g) at 0 to 8% (BW/day) ration levels. Linear (r = 0·985) increase was observed in daily average growth increment up to a ration level of 4% (BW/day), corresponding to 6·03g protein/(kg^0·8BW/day) and 224·26 kJ energy/(kg^0·8 BW/day). Maintenance requirements, obtained by regressing daily average growth increment to zero, were 0·942 g/(kg^0·8 BW/day) for protein and 36·02 kJ/(kg^0·8BW/day) for energy. Net gains in muscle protein and energy also depicted linear increase (r = 0·975) with feeding levels up to 6·03g protein/(kg^0·8 BW/day) and 224·26kJ energy/(kg^0·8 BW/day). On fitting the above data to regression equations, giving the amount of dietary protein and energy required to maintain a constant amount of body protein and energy, values of 1·005g/(kg^0·8 BW/day) and 42·11 kJ/(kg^0·8BW/day) were obtained for protein and energy respectively. The optimum feeding rate for this species, as evident from specific growth rate and conversion efficiencies, appears to be 3% (BW/day) at 30 ± 2°C. Moisture and lipid contents in muscle were found to be significantly ( P < 0·05) affected by the ration levels.     

The effect of dietary lipid and lecithin levels on the growth, survival, feeding efficiency, production and carcass composition of post-larval Penaeus monodon Fabricius

Abstract. Eight semi-purified diets were formulated to investigate the effects of dietary lipid and lecithin levels on the performance and carcass composition of post-larval Penaeus monodon Fabricius.
Supplementary soyabean lecithin levels from 0 to 9% and total dietary lipid (cod liver oil:soyabean oil at a ratio of 3:1) levels from 3·5 to 12·5% at 3% increments were tested in diets that were isonitrogenous and isoenergetic. The diets were fed for 50 days to triplicate groups of post-larval P. monodon held in a laboratory marine recirculated water system.
Despite poor overall performance due to the purified dietary ingredients, the absence of basal lipids and/or lecithin was found to result in the poorest performance. Optimum production was obtained with a diet containing 3% basal lipid and 3% lecithin at a total lipid level of 6·5%. The addition of dietary lecithin (particulariy at 46·63% of the total lipid) at up to 3% in terms of growth, feeding efficiency and production or 6% in terms of survival significantly ( P < 0·05) increased shrimp production. Lecithin was therefore probably acting as a growth, survival and/or phago-stimulant in P. monodon.
The total lipid requirements are consistent with those reported by other workers for penaeid shrimp, and are probably a result of the requirement for essential fatty acids, the stimulant properties of lecithin and the calorigenic effects of high dietary lipid levels.     

Effects of feeding frequency on metabolism of juvenile walleye

The effects of feeding frequency (1, 2, 3, or 15 times daily) on oxygen consumption (OC, mg O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹) and ammonia excretion, (AE, mg TAN kg⁻¹ h⁻¹) of walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) are described. Walleye were reared at a practical culture density of 35·4 kg m⁻³ in a single-pass system at 23·2°C. Diurnal variation in metabolic rates were related to feeding, not to photoperiod. Minimum OC rates occurred 30 min before the first feeding of the day, which was the longest average time since the last feeding. Metabolic rates increased immediately after feeding. The maximum rates for OC were 36–49% higher than the minimum rates, and 14–22% higher than the 24-h mean rate. Maximum rates for AE were 137–409% higher than the minimum rates, and 39–87% higher than the mean rates. There was a highly significant difference in the mean metabolic rates related to feeding frequency. The mean OC rate for 1 feeding day⁻¹ (222·0 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹) was greater than the mean rates for 2, 3 and 15 feedings day⁻¹. The OC rate for 1 feeding day⁻¹ was 50·6% greater than the rate for 15 feedings day⁻¹ (147·4 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹), the lowest mean rate. Mean and maximum oxygen/feed ratio (OFR, kg O₂ kg⁻¹ feed fed day⁻¹), varied inversely with feeding frequency. The mean ammonia/feed ratio (AFR) was similar for all but the 3 feedings day⁻¹ treatment, but the maximum AFRs for 2 and 15 feedings day⁻¹ were lower than the AFRs for 1 and 3 feedings day⁻¹. AE was directly proportional to OC; the regression equations were highly significant, but specific for feeding frequency.     

Effect of culture system on the nutrition and growth performance of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) fed different diets

Two 8-week feeding trials were conducted with juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) to compare the growth and performance of animals fed a series of experimental and commercial pelleted shrimp and fish feeds and dietary feeding regimes within an indoor running-water culture system and an outdoor zero-water-exchange culture system. The best overall shrimp growth performance was observed for animals fed the experimental shrimp diet and all-day feeding regime under outdoor zero-water-exchange culture conditions. Final body weight and average weekly growth rate under these conditions were 2.8 and 3.4 times greater, respectively, than animals of similar size fed with the same diet under indoor running-water culture conditions. Although direct comparison between indoor and outdoor culture systems is difficult because of the lower indoor water temperatures, and consequently lower mean daily feed intake of animals, it is believed that the higher growth and feed performance of animals reared under outdoor `green-water' culture conditions was primarily due to their ability to obtain additional nutrients from food organisms endogenously produced within the zero-water-exchange culture system. The most promising features of zero-water-exchange culture systems are that they offer increased biosecurity, reduced feed costs and water use for the farmer, and by doing so provide a potential avenue of moving the shrimp culture industry along a path of greater sustainability and environmental compatibility.     

Effects of feeding frequency and feed type on the growth,feed utilization and body composition of juvenile olive flounder,Paralichthys olivaceus

A factorial (3 × 4) feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding frequency and feed type on the growth performance, feed utilization and body proximate composition of juvenile olive flounder. Three feed types including a sinking moist pellet (MP), a sinking dry pellet (DP) and a floating extruded pellet (EP) were used. Fish (average weight, 11.1 ± 0.4 g) were randomly distributed in thirty‐six 300 L tanks in a flowthrough system. Triplicate groups (30 fish per tank) of fish were fed each feed type to visual satiation at three meals per day, two meals per day, one meal per day and one meal every 2 days for 7 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, the survival of fish was not significantly different among the treatments. Weight gain was affected by the feeding frequency. The highest weight gain was observed in fish fed the EP at three meals per day. The daily feed intake of fish fed the MP and DP tended to be higher than that of fish fed the EP at each feeding frequency. The feed efficiency and the protein efficiency ratio of fish fed the EP were higher than those of fish fed the MP and DP. The body proximate composition of fish was altered by the feeding frequency. The crude lipid content increased with the increase in the feeding frequency. The present findings suggest that three feedings per day at visual satiation of the floating EP may be sufficient for the maximal growth performance of olive flounder grown from 11 to 60 g.     

饲料中补充蜡样芽孢杆菌(Bacillus cereus)生物膜对凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)生长、抗病力及其肠道微生物组成的影响

为了研究外源补充蜡样芽孢杆菌(Bacillus cereus)生物膜对凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)生长、抗病力及对其肠道微生物组成的影响,以基础饲料为空白组,在基础饲料中添加蜡样芽孢杆菌游离态活菌作为游离态组(活菌含量为108 CFU/g);在基础饲料中添加蜡样芽孢杆菌活菌生物膜作为生物膜组(活菌含量为108 CFU/g);每组8个平行.在养殖大棚暂养7d后,对凡纳滨对虾进行40 d的养殖实验.在第17天进行白斑综合征(White Spot Syndrome Virus,WSSV)攻毒实验;第22天进行副溶血弧菌(Vibrio parahaemolyticus)攻毒实验.期间在第1、5、10、15天采样,称重并测量体长计算生长速率.在第1、5、10、15、20、25天采样,并取其肠道内容物提取DNA,用16S rDNA序列V3+V4区高通量测序方法检测对虾肠道内微生物群落的结构及变化情况.结果显示,生物膜组和游离态组对虾体重、体长增长速率高于空白组,生物膜组与游离态组对虾体重、体长差异性不显著,生物膜组和游离态组对虾体重、体长与空白组相比差异性显著.实验中凡纳滨对虾肠道微生物由变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)等组成,其中,变形菌门平均占到总量的94.0％.变形菌门中主要以弧菌属(Vibrio)、发光杆菌属(Photobacterium)、Octadecabacter等为主,生物膜组、游离态组、空白对照组弧菌属平均含量分别为34.65％、39.27％、58.00％.在WSSV攻毒实验中,生物膜组、游离态组、空白对照组平均累积死亡率分别为80.0％、77.0％、92.0％,各组差异性不显著(p＞0.05).在副溶血弧菌攻毒实验中,生物膜组、游离态组、空白对照组平均累积死亡率分别为61.3％、75.0％、77.3％,生物膜组与游离态组和空白对照组相比差异性显著(P＜0.05).研究表明,饲料中添加蜡样芽孢杆菌生物膜和游离态蜡样芽孢杆菌投喂凡纳滨对虾后,可改变对虾肠道的微生物组成,提高凡纳滨对虾生长速度、增强抗病能力,而且添加蜡样芽孢杆菌生物膜效果最明显.     

饥饿对凡纳滨对虾仔虾摄食行为和消化酶活力的影响

2004年5月,在中国海洋大学海水养殖教育部重点实验室内营造半精养、精养养殖模式,研究短期饥饿(0(对照组)、1、2、3、4、5、6d)对凡纳滨对虾仔虾摄食行为、摄食率及消化酶的影响。结果表明,两种模式中仔虾的摄食行为和摄食率都随饥饿天数的增加而呈现先上升后下降的趋势;半精养模式中,经饥饿再投喂后仔虾的胃蛋白酶、类胰蛋白酶和淀粉酶活力均随饥饿天数的增加呈现先上升后下降的趋势;精养模式中,胃蛋白酶活力也呈现以上趋势,但类胰蛋白酶和淀粉酶活力则在饥饿初期波动,然后下降。凡纳滨对虾仔虾遭遇饥饿胁迫后,通过提高摄食强度、摄食率及消化酶的分泌量来进行能量补充。但随着饥饿时间的延长,其应对饥饿胁迫的能力下降,各种消化酶活力呈降低趋势。实验表明,在半精养模式中,凡纳滨对虾对饥饿胁迫的承受能力高于精养模式。     

Effect of feeding frequency on growth and digestive enzyme activity in Litopenaeus vannameiduring the grow‐out phase in biofloc system

The present study evaluated the effects of feeding frequency during the grow‐out phase of Litopenaeus vannameiin biofloc system. The experiment comprised of four treatments with three replicates each, corresponding to the following feeding frequencies: one (8:00 a.m.), two (8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.), three (8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.) and four times a day (8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.). Zootechnical performance and digestive enzyme activity were monitored for 63 days. At the end of the experiment, the highest survival rates were found for the individuals fed three and four times a day. Wet weight gain (6.63 g) and specific growth rate (3.46% per day) of the individuals fed three times a day were significantly higher compared to animals fed one and four times a day, but did not differ significantly to the group fed twice a day (6.15 g and 3.46% per day, respectively). The digestive enzyme activities were not affected by the feeding frequency, but negative correlations were found between these activities and shrimp weight. It is recommended that L. vannamei should be fed three times a day during the grow‐out phase in a biofloc system under the conditions used in this study.     

Effect of feeding attractants on the behaviour and performance of juvenile Penaeus monodon Fabricius

Abstract. A study was conducted to obtain a measure of the potency of some potential and commercially used feeding attractants for Penaeus monodon Fabricius. Behavioural trials monitoring the feeding response of the shrimp were used to gauge the attractant qualities of the substances. A growth trial recording the feed intake, feed assimilation, growth, food conversion and survival rates of the shrimp was used to assess further the feeding stimulant properties of the substances.
Replicate groups of juvenile shrimp were fed semi-purified diets containing 1·5% by weight of a range of potential feeding attractants.
In the behavioural trial, diets containing taurine and a yeast extract were found to be significantly preferred to the control and all other diets. However, none of the substances appeared to act as potent feeding stimulants, producing statistically similar feed intake and assimilation rates to the control diet. However, taurine and an amino acid mixture designed to mimic a clam extract promoted the best performance of the attractants tested in terms of growth rate and feeding efficiency.
Overall, the behavioural response of the shrimp to the feeding attractants was found to show similarities to the effects of attractant supplementation of feed on subsequent ongrowing performance, but not significantly so.