A study on the fatty acid enrichment of artemia franciscana for the healthy rearing of penaeus vannamei post-larvae

Abstract

Background: The study aimed to investigate the growth performance of Penaeus vannamei PL through the supplementation of fatty acid enriched Artemia franciscana. Methods: The animals were stocked at 3000PL/m3in triplicates. The experimental diet (100nauplii/PL/day) fed initially for 7days include Artemia franciscana (unenriched) as control and Fatty acid (0.5%, 1%, 2% and 3%) enriched nauplii as treatments (T1, T2, T3 and T4) and later switched to commercial diet for 18 days. Result: No significant difference in water quality parameters between the experimental groups was observed. Highest weight gain percentage and survival was found in T3. Fatty acid profile of Artemia franciscana and shrimp at day 7 and 25 were analysed. Higher W-6 fatty acid accumulation was found in shrimp on day 7. Histological analysis of muscles, hepatopancreas and intestine showed different fatty acids levels reflected structural changes in epithelial cells. The current study revealed that Artemia franciscana enriched with 2% fatty acid emulsion can be used as an optimum level to improve the zootechnical performance of P. Vannamei.