Effects of Dietary Lipids on the Growth Performance, Survival, and Digestive Enzymes of Juvenile Cuttlefish, Sepia lycidas

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary lipids on the growth performance, muscle composition, and enzyme activities of the stomach, intestines, and liver of Sepia lycidas juveniles. Fish oil and soybean lecithin were selected as lipid sources to formulate six experimental diets containing lipid levels of 3.68, 4.15, 6.62, 8.09, 9.56, and 11.03%. The feed efficiency first declined and then rose, with the lowest value obtained in individuals fed the 8.09% lipid content diet; the protein efficiency ratio significantly decreased with an increased lipid level. The highest crude protein content and lowest crude lipid content were simultaneously obtained in individuals fed the 9.56% lipid content diet. The activities of pepsase, trypsin, and intestine lipase initially increased before decreasing. The highest activities of protease, trypsin, and lipase were obtained in individuals fed the 9.56% lipid content diet, while the highest activity of amylase was obtained in individuals fed the 6.62% lipid content diet. Hepatic glutamate pyruvate transaminase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase initially increased and then held steady, with the highest activities simultaneously obtained in individuals fed the 9.56% lipid diet. Our results suggest that dietary lipids at a level of 9.56% could be the optimal lipid requirement for S. lycidas to grow and maintain normal metabolism.