The effect of dietary vitamin E on the pleopodal egg number of Astacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823)

The effect of vitamin E on the pleopodal egg number of Astacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823) was studied. Crayfish were fed 2% of their total wet weight daily with vitamin E supplemented diets and a control for 70 days. The vitamin E content of the control diet, diet 1, diet 2 and diet 3 were 20 mg kg^–1, 40 mg kg^–1, 80 mg kg^–1 and 160 mg kg^–1 respectively on a dry weight basis. Vitamin E levels of the control and experimental diets were analysed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Results showed that diets containing supplemental vitamin E were associated with an increase in the number of pleopodal eggs. The best result was obtained with diet 2 containing 80 mg kg^–1 supplemental vitamin E.