几种陆、海生植物源对仿刺参幼参生长指标的影响

使用鼠尾藻、亨氏马尾藻、石莼、浒苔、马齿苋、羊栖菜、海带等7种植物源单独投喂仿刺参幼参,一种商品饲料作为对照组,各试验设3个平行,每平行20头幼参(体质量2.5~3.5g/头),试验周期60d,之后通过对比体长、特定生长率、质量平均增加率、蛋白质表观消化率、存活率、饲养水质等指标,得出可能适宜作为幼参人工配合饵料的配料成分。试验结果表明,以体长为考核指标,各种植物源对其影响依次为:马尾藻海带200目浒苔粉鼠尾藻马齿苋石莼粉400目浒苔粉羊栖菜添加海泥400目浒苔,部分组别之间差异极显著(P0.01);以幼参特定生长率、质量平均增加率、表观消化率、饵料系数为考核指标时,鼠尾藻、马尾藻、石莼、浒苔各项数值优于其他植物源,差异显著(P0.05);马尾藻的蛋白质表观消化率高于其他植物源,羊栖菜的表观消化率值最低;浒苔、石莼、鼠尾藻、马尾藻较其他植物源更有利于幼参生长,可作为幼参人工配合饲料组分。     

浒苔营养成分分析与投喂刺参试验

进行了浒苔(Enteromorpha prolifera)的营养成分测定及投喂刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)的生长试验观察。营养成分检测结果显示,浒苔是一种高蛋白、低脂肪、矿物元素含量丰富的安全藻类食品。另外,分别以浒苔、海泥、浒苔∶海泥(质量比3∶7)、配合饵料∶海泥(质量比3∶7)4种饲料投喂刺参30 d。试验结果:浒苔∶海泥(3∶7)组既有最好的增重率,也有良好的成活率和健康状况;配合饵料∶海泥(3∶7)组次之;而单独投喂浒苔组或海泥组则表现较差。研究结果表明,浒苔具有良好的营养作用,可替代马尾藻、鼠尾藻、海带等作为一种优质的刺参养殖用饵料源。     

两种饲料对海上筏式吊笼养殖仿刺参生长的影响

以福建冬季海上筏式吊笼养殖的仿刺参为对象,采用传统海带饲料和市面销售的凝胶状海参配合饲料对三种规格的仿刺参幼参(平均体质量分别为105.57、73.15和52.89 g)进行了为期60 d的投喂试验,比较了两种饲料对仿刺参幼参生长的影响。结果表明,传统海带饲料投喂组大、中、小三种规格仿刺参的特定生长率分别为(0.69±0.04)、(0.87±0.05)和(0.99±0.02)%·d-1,凝胶状海参配合饲料投喂组的特定生长率分别为(0.65±0.03)、(0.86±0.05)和(0.81±0.10)%·d-1。传统海带饲料投喂组小规格仿刺参的平均个体增重率和特定生长率均显著大于凝胶状配合饲料投喂组(P0.05),而两种饲料投喂组大、中规格间的差异不显著。因此,传统海带饲料可用于仿刺参海上筏式吊笼养殖生产,而凝胶状海参配合饲料可作为传统海带饲料的辅助饲料。     

刺参配合饲料可代替性的研究

通过对刺参投喂纯配合饲料以及拌有不同比例的花生秧、浒苔配合饲料，来对比刺参的生长和增重率。旨在研究用廉价原料代替高价原料，降低刺参养殖成本，并通过不同成分之间的合理搭配，来促进刺参快速生长。实验结果表明，投喂添加10％花生秧和20％浒苔的饲料能够显著促进刺参的生长。     

几种常用饵料对稚幼参生长影响的初步研究

用鼠尾藻干粉、鲜海带磨碎液、鲜石莼磨碎液和两种海参专用饲料对体长2.90±0.04cm,体重0.49±0.02g的稚幼参进行了为期40d的喂养试验。实验结束时,投喂鲜石莼磨碎液的海参体长为5.15±0.25cm,体重为2.76±0.39g,其体长和体重的增长都显著高于投喂鼠尾藻干粉、鲜海带磨碎液和其中一种配合饵料组,但与另外一种配合饵料差异不显著。投喂鲜石莼组海参的成活率达到85%,高于其他各组,但与其中大部分差异不显著。     

饲料中浒苔添加量以及处理方法对幼刺参生长、消化率、消化酶和非特异性免疫酶的影响

采用单因素实验设计,先配制6种浒苔含量(0、5％、10％、15％、20％和25％)饲料饲养初始体质量(1.44±0.01)g幼刺参49 d,然后根据浒苔含量实验结果配制20％含量、3种方法处理的浒苔[干燥粉碎(DC)、纤维素酶酶解后干燥粉碎(DCC)和蛋白酶酶解后干燥粉碎(DCP)]饲料饲养初始体质量(4.58 ±0.23)g幼刺参60 d,以研究饲料中浒苔添加量以及处理方式对幼刺参生长、消化率、消化酶和非特异性免疫酶的影响.实验每组饲料设3个重复,每个重复饲喂35头刺参.结果显示:(1)浒苔对提高刺参特定生长率(SGR)、肠道淀粉酶(AMS)活性和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和降低饲料系数(FCR)有显著作用(P＜0.05),其中20％浒苔含量最好,浒苔能显著降低饲料干物质表观消化率(ADCd)和粗蛋白质表观消化率(ADCp)(P＜0.05),对刺参摄食率(FI)、成活率(SR)、肠道胃蛋白酶(PP)活性和酸性磷酸酶(ACP)无显著性影响(P＞0.05).(2)3种方法处理的浒苔中,DCC和DCP浒苔对提高刺参SGR、ADCd、ADCp、肠道AMS、PP、SOD和ACP活性和降低FCR有显著作用(P＜0.05),其中DCC浒苔最好,3种方法处理的浒苔对刺参FI和SR亦无显著性影响(P＞0.05).在本实验条件下,幼刺参饲料中浒苔适宜含量为20％;纤维素酶酶解后干燥粉碎浒苔是一个理想的浒苔处理方法.     

人工饲料对刺参幼参生长贡献的碳稳定同位素法分析

为了解不同养殖密度下刺参对人工饲料的吸收利用情况,实验采用碳稳定同位素法研究人工饲料对刺参幼参生长的食物贡献率.实验采用室内水族箱与刺参养殖池塘内围隔相结合的方法,刺参幼参的初始体质量为(4.78 ±0.58)g,水族箱(100 cm ×60 cm ×60 cm)内10头幼参用人工饲料按5％刺参初始体质量(湿重)连续喂养60 d；参池围隔(长8.0m×宽8.0m×高1.9m)内,投喂的实验组幼参在5、10、15、25和35 ind/m2的养殖密度下经人工饲料驯化后按5％刺参初始体质量(湿重)连续喂养6d,同时设不投饲的对照组,各4个重复.结果显示,水族箱内的刺参幼参的体质量经人工饲料饲喂60 d后均显著增加,其特定生长率(SGR)为(2.73±0.57) ％/d,其稳定碳同位素比值(δ13 C值)由初始时的-18.633‰±0.552‰显著变化为-19.466‰±0.316‰(P =0.032).围隔实验中,实验组和对照组刺参的最终体质量都呈现不断减小的趋势,但同一密度的实验组刺参最终体质量均高于对照组；实验组刺参幼参的δ13C值随着养殖密度的增大由-13.262‰±0.183‰减小为-15.102‰±0.189‰,人工饲料对幼参的食物贡献在最低密度5 ind/m2下为最小值3.78％ ±2.98％,在最高密度35 ind/m2下达到最大值为29.48％±3.31％.研究表明,利用碳稳定同位素法可有效分析刺参幼参的生长与摄食,人工饲料对刺参生长的贡献率随着养殖密度的增大显著增大(P＜0.01),但比常见鱼虾等水产养殖品种要低得多,这与刺参自身摄食生理学特点、饲料质量、养殖模式及环境等多种因素相关.     

筒柱藻对仿刺参稚参和幼参生长的影响

在五触手幼体、附板稚参和幼参阶段的养殖水体中添加筒柱藻液，探讨筒柱藻对刺参养殖水质及生长性能方面的影响。试验设1个对照组和5个筒柱藻不同添加密度组，每组3个平行，进行150天。结果表明，筒柱藻投喂密度为20亿个／m3组的稚参附板率及总成活率显著高于对照组（P〈0．05），且投喂此密度组对于早期幼参的特定生长率和表观消化率影响显著，投喂筒柱藻对幼参中后期的生长性能影响不大；投喂筒柱藻较小程度增加刺参养殖水体中的氨氮含量（P〉0．05），较大程度增大刺参养殖水体的亚硝态氮含量，但投喂筒柱藻各试验组水体均符合刺参养殖水质标准。因此，筒柱藻较适合附板稚参及幼参前期添加，且最适添加密度为20亿个／m3。     

饲料中添加浒苔对仿刺参幼参生长、消化酶活性和免疫力的影响

在水温17~18℃和盐度30条件下,将初始体质量为(4.09±0.26)g的仿刺参饲养在15个循环水玻璃缸(容积100L)中,投喂在基础饲料中添加0%、3%、6%、9%和12%浒苔的饲料,于投喂后第7、14、28d和42d分别检测仿刺参的生长指标、消化酶(蛋白酶、淀粉酶、纤维素酶和褐藻酸酶)和体腔液免疫酶(溶菌酶、酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶和超氧化物歧化酶)的活性。试验结果表明,投喂试验饲料后第14、28d和42d:(1)饲料中添加6%和9%浒苔组仿刺参的特定生长率显著增加(P0.05),在不同取样时间其他添加组仿刺参的的特定生长率与对照组差异不显著(P0.05);(2)饲料中浒苔添加量为6%和9%试验组仿刺参的4种消化酶比活力显著高于对照组(P0.05),其中6%组仿刺参的消化酶比活力最高;(3)饲料中浒苔添加量为6%时,仿刺参溶菌酶活力显著高于对照组及其他试验组(P0.05);饲料中浒苔添加量为6%和9%时,仿刺参碱性磷酸酶活力和超氧化物歧化酶活力显著高于对照组及其他试验组(P0.05);添加浒苔可以显著提高酸性磷酸酶活力,至第42d,试验组酸性磷酸酶活力高于对照组(P0.05),且浒苔添加量为6%时活力最高。在本试验条件下,饲料中添加浒苔可以提高仿刺参的特定生长率、消化酶活力及免疫力,浒苔的最适添加量为6%~9%。     

5种海藻在刺参幼参饲料中的应用研究

本研究通过分析刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)幼参[(10.02±0.03) g]生长性能、体组成、肠道消化酶活性及非特异性免疫性能的变化，评价鼠尾藻(Sargassum thunbergii)、铜藻(Sargassaum horneri)、海带(Saccharina japonica)、海带渣、石莼(Ulva lactuca L.)及混合藻粉在刺参幼参养殖中的应用效果，在室内循环水系统中进行了为期56 d的养殖实验。结果显示，1) 鼠尾藻和混合藻粉组刺参的增重率(WGR)和特定生长率(SGR)极显著高于其他各藻粉组(P<0.01)，海带渣组刺参的WGR和SGR最低，肠体比(IBR)和脏体比(VBR)均显著低于其他各组(P<0.05)，藻粉对刺参存活率(SR)影响不显著(P>0.05)；2) 不同藻粉对刺参体壁水分、粗灰分、粗蛋白和粗脂肪影响不显著(P>0.05)；3) 鼠尾藻和混合藻粉组肠道胰蛋白酶活性极显著高于海带、海带渣和石莼组，海带渣组最低(P<0.01)；藻粉对α-淀粉酶和脂肪酶活性无显著影响(P>0.05)，但对刺参粪便的酸不溶性灰分具有极显著影响(P<0.01)；4) 鼠尾藻组和混合藻粉组刺参肠道超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)和碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性极显著高于其他各组(P<0.01)，海带渣组丙二醛(MDA)含量极显著高于其他各组(P<0.01)。研究表明，在本实验条件下，综合考虑刺参的生长性能及非特异性免疫性能，添加任一海藻均未达到替代鼠尾藻的饲喂效果，但多种海藻混合添加，其生长性能及非特异性免疫性能与单独添加鼠尾藻效果一致。     

Preliminary Study of the Dietary α‐Tocopherol Requirement in Sea Cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus

This study was conducted to evaluate the dietary α‐tocopherol (vitamin E) requirement in juvenile sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. Sea cucumbers averaging 1.48 ± 0.07 g (mean ± SD) were randomly distributed into 18 rectangular plastic tanks of 20 L capacity in a recirculating system (20 animals per tank). Six semi‐purified experimental diets with average protein and crude lipid levels (dry matter) of 29.7 ± 0.36% and 4.39 ± 0.23% (mean ± SD), respectively were formulated to contain 0 (E4), 15 (E12), 30 (E23), 60 (E44), 120 (E77) and 600 (E378) mg α‐tocopherol/kg diet, supplied as dl‐α‐tocopheryl acetate. Diets were analyzed for α‐tocopherol content by HPLC and the α‐tocopherol levels were 4.01, 12.4, 23.1, 44.3, 77.4 and 378 mg α‐tocopherol/kg diet for E4, E12, E23, E44, E77 and E378 diets, respectively. Casein and defatted fish meal were used as the protein sources in the diets while wheat flour was the carbohydrate source. Sea cucumbers were fed each of the six experimental diets in triplicate groups. At the end of the 14‐week feeding trial, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed efficiency (FE) of sea cucumbers fed on E23, E44, E77 and E378 diets were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of animals fed on E4 and E12 diets. However, there were no significant differences in WG, SGR and FE among sea cucumbers fed on E23, E44, E77 and E378 diets or among those fed on E4 and E12 diets. Survival of sea cucumbers fed on E44, E77 and E378 diets were significantly higher than those of animals fed on E4, E12 and E23 diets. However, there were no significant differences among sea cucumbers fed on E4, E12 and E23 diets or among those fed on E44 and E77 diets. Whole‐body vitamin E concentration increased with α‐tocopherol content of the diets. Broken line analysis of WG showed an optimum dietary α‐tocopherol requirement of 41 mg α‐tocopherol/kg diet in sea cucumber. These results indicated that the optimum dietary α‐tocopherol requirement in sea cucumber in the form of dl‐α‐tocopheryl acetate could be higher than 23.1 mg α‐tocopherol/kg diet but lower than 44 mg α‐tocopherol/kg diet.     

Optimum Level of Dietary n‐3 Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids for Juvenile Sea Cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus

A feeding trial was conducted to estimate the optimum level of dietary n‐3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) for juvenile sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicas, based on growth performance and fatty acid compositions. Diets with five n‐3 HUFAs levels (0.15, 0.22, 0.33, 0.38, and 0.46%) were fed to sea cucumber juveniles (1.97 ± 0.01 g) once a day for 60 d. The sea cucumbers fed diets containing 0.22% n‐3 HUFAs showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher body weight gain, feed efficiency, and protein efficiency ratio than the sea cucumbers fed diets containing 0.15% n‐3 HUFAs, but not significantly different (P > 0.05) from those of sea cucumbers fed diets containing 0.33, 0.38, and 0.46% n‐3 HUFAs. The sea cucumbers fed diets containing 0.46% n‐3 HUFAs showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher eicosapentaenoic acid and saturated fatty acid than the sea cucumber fed diets containing 0.15% n‐3 HUFAs, but not significantly different (P > 0.05) from those of sea cucumbers fed diets containing 0.22, 0.33, and 0.38% n‐3 HUFAs. The results of growth performance and n‐3 HUFA compositions of body wall indicated that the optimum level of dietary n‐3 HUFAs for juvenile sea cucumber is between 0.22 and 0.46%.     

Preliminary Study of the Optimum Dietary Ascorbic Acid Level in Sea Cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka)

A 14‐wk feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the optimum dietary ascorbic acid (AA) level in juvenile sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. Sea cucumbers averaging 1.49 ± 0.07 g (mean ± SD) were randomly distributed into 18 rectangular plastic tanks of 20 L capacity in a recirculating system (20 animals per tank). Six semipurified experimental diets were formulated to contain 0 (l ‐ascorbyl‐2‐monophosphate [AMP]; AMP0), 30 (AMP24), 60 (AMP48), 120 (AMP100), 240 (AMP206), and 1200 (AMP1045) mg AA/kg diet in the form of AMP using casein as the main protein source. Sea cucumbers were fed each of the six experimental diets in triplicate groups. At the end of 14 wk of feeding trial, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed efficiency (FE) of sea cucumbers fed AMP100, AMP206, and AMP1045 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of animals fed AMP0, AMP24, and AMP48. However, there were no significant differences in WG, SGR, and FE among sea cucumbers fed AMP100, AMP206, and AMP1045 and among animals fed AMP0, AMP24, and AMP48. Whole‐body vitamin C concentration increased with AA content of the diets. Broken‐line analysis of WG showed an optimum dietary AA level of 105.3 mg AA/kg diet in sea cucumber. These results indicated that the optimum dietary vitamin C level in sea cucumber in the form of AMP could be greater than 100 mg AA/kg diet but less than 105.3 mg AA/kg diet.     

Effect of replacing dietary fish meal with silkworm (Bombyx mori L) caterpillar meal on growth and non‐specific immunity of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka)

The effect of dietary substitution of silkworm (Bombyx mori L) meal (SM) for fishmeal (FM) on the growth performance and non‐specific immunity of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) (initial weight: 12.8 ± 0.16 g) was determined. Four isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated: Diet 1, which served as the control diet, contained 5% FM; Diet 2 contained 3.75% FM and 1.25% SM; Diet 3 contained 2.5% FM and 2.5% SM; and Diet 4 contained 5% SM. Other ingredients in each of the four diets were kept in the same proportion. After 8 weeks of feeding, the results showed that sea cucumbers fed Diet 2 had 18.7% increases in weight over those fed the control diet, but no significant difference was observed. No obvious difference in body wall composition was detected among the sea cucumbers fed the four different diets. Immunity analysis indicated that phagocytosis and serum alkaline phosphatase activity were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected when FM was partially or completely replaced with SM. Serum lysozyme activity of sea cucumbers fed Diet 4 showed a significant (P < 0.05) growth increase compared with those fed control diet. The results revealed that SM could be an effective substitute for FM in sea cucumber diet.     

Effects of Jerusalem artichoke powder on the growth performance,nonspecific immunity,and gastrointestinal microbiota of sea cucumber

This study investigated how Jerusalem artichoke powder (JAP) affected the growth, immunity, and gut microbiota of the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus Selenka. Animals were fed diets containing antibiotic (1 ppm) or five levels of JAP (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 g/kg). After the feeding trial, three sea cucumbers were sampled per tank to assay for immunity and gut microbiota composition. Dietary supplementation of 2.5 g/kg JAP significantly improved the growth rate and phenoloxidase activity of sea cucumbers. The diet containing 5 g/kg of JAP increased the survival rate and phagocytic activity, and the diet containing 15 g/kg of JAP increased the growth rate and total coelomocyte count of sea cucumbers. Moreover, exposure to antibiotics significantly changed the microbiota of sea cucumbers, while the JAP supplementation stimulated the development of microbiota communities, which could be more homogeneous. Supplementing the diets with 15 g/kg of JAP increased the growth of Rhodobacterales, and this may underlie the higher growth rate of sea cucumbers in this treatment. Considered together, our results suggest that supplementing the diet of sea cucumber with JAP may be beneficial for nonantibiotic farming of sea cucumber.     

Preliminary Study of the Optimum Dietary Riboflavin Level in Sea Cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka)

A 14‐wk feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the optimum dietary riboflavin (vitamin B₂) level in juvenile sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. A total of 360 sea cucumbers averaging 1.49 ± 0.07 g (mean ± SD) were randomly distributed into 18 rectangular plastic tanks, and each tank was then randomly assigned to one of three replicates of six diets containing 0.29 (B₂0), 4.22 (B₂4), 8.93 (B₂9), 17.9 (B₂18), 56.7 (B₂57), and 577 (B₂577) mg riboflavin/kg diet. At the end of 14 wk of feeding trial, average weight gain (WG) of sea cucumbers fed B₂9, B₂18, B₂57, and B₂577 diets were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of animals fed B₂0 diet. WG of sea cucumbers fed B₂18, B₂57, and B₂577 diets were significantly higher than those of animals fed B₂0 and B₂4 diets. Specific growth rate of sea cucumbers fed B₂9, B₂18, B₂57, and B₂577 diets were significantly higher than those of animals fed B₂0 and B₂4 diets. Feed efficiency of sea cucumbers fed B₂9, B₂57, and B₂577 diets were significantly higher than those of animals fed B₂0 and B₂4 diets. Although significant differences were recorded in proximate composition of sea cucumbers fed the experimental diets, no clear trends were observed. The ANOVA test suggested that the optimum dietary riboflavin level in sea cucumber could be 17.9 mg/kg diet but broken‐line analysis of WG indicated a level of 9.73 mg riboflavin/kg diet. Therefore, these results may indicate that the optimum dietary riboflavin level in sea cucumber could be higher than 9.73 mg/kg diet but lower than 17.9 mg/kg diet.     

Effect of dietary inclusion of various plant ingredients as an alternative for Sargassum thunbergii on growth and body composition of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

Two feeding experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of different plant ingredients on growth and body composition of juvenile sea cucumber. In the first experiment, three replicate groups of the sea cucumber (average weight of 1.5 ± 0.05 g) were fed one of the seven experimental diets containing Sargassum thunbergii (CON), Undaria (UND), Laminaria (LAM), Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata (BRA), fermented soybean (FSB), distillers dried grain (DDG) and rice straw powder (RIC) for 10 weeks. After the feeding trial, survival was not significantly different among the dietary treatments. Specific growth rate (SGR) of sea cucumber fed the FSB diet (0.73) was significantly higher than that of sea cucumber fed the other diets (P < 0.05), except for the DDG diet (0.64). The lowest SGR was observed in sea cucumber fed the CON diet (0.14). Based on the result of the first experiment, the second experiment was conducted to determine the proper level of dietary DDG for growth of juvenile sea cucumber. Three replicate groups of sea cucumber (average weight of 1.6 ± 0.02 g) were fed one of the five experimental diets containing different levels (g kg^?1) of DDG (DDG0, DDG10, DDG20, DDG30 and DDG40) for 12 weeks. Survival was not significantly different among the treatments (P > 0.05). The best SGR was obtained in sea cucumber fed the DDG10 diet (10.1) and the value of sea cucumber fed the DDG40 diet (5.6) was the lowest (P < 0.05). The SGR of sea cucumber fed the DDG10 diet did not differ from that of sea cucumber fed the DDG20 diet (P > 0.05). Moisture, crude protein, crude lipid and ash contents of whole body in sea cucumber among the dietary treatments (P > 0.05) did not differ significantly at both experiments. Results of two feeding trial suggest that dietary inclusion with 100 g kg^?1 FSB or 100–200 g kg^?1 DDG may improve growth of juvenile sea cucumber, and especially DDG could be used as a good ingredient for the low‐cost feed formulation.     

Effectiveness of l‐ascorbyl‐2‐polyphosphate as an ascorbic acid source for sea cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the adequate dietary ascorbic acid (AsA) levels and the effects on growth, meat quality and antioxidant status of sea cucumber (10.04 ± 0.06 g), Apostichopus japonicus. l ‐ascorbyl‐2‐polyphosphate (35% AsA equivalent) was supplemented separately to the basal diet to obtain five AsA levels, 0, 598, 1473, 4676 and 14340 mg kg^?1 diet respectively. After 60‐day feeding trial, the sea cucumbers fed diets containing 598 and 1473 mg AsA kg^?1 showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) body weight gain and specific growth rate values than the sea cucumbers fed control diets. The sea cucumbers fed diets containing 1473 and 4676 mg AsA kg^?1 showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) hydroxyproline contents than those of the sea cucumbers fed diets containing 0 and 598 mg AsA kg^?1. Antioxidant enzymes such as total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase showed increasing trends with the increasing dietary AsA levels, but no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed when the sea cucumbers fed diets with high dietary AsA levels. The content of malondialdehyde had the opposite trend of antioxidant enzymes. In conclusion, the adequate dietary AsA level focusing on growth performance of sea cucumber is between 598 and 1473 mg kg^?1 diet. Furthermore, high level of dietary AsA (between 598 and 4676 mg kg^?1 diet) improved meat quality and antioxidant status.