Abstract

GELABERT, R et al. Effect of enriched Artemia franciscana nauplii on growth, survival and stress resistance of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) postlarvae (PL₅-PL₄₀). Universidad y ciencia [online]. 2008, vol.24, n.1, pp.29-40. ISSN 0186-2979.

Growth (dry weight increase), survival and resistance to saline stress were estimated for Litopenaeus vannamei postlarvae fed enriched Artemia franciscana (Kellog, 1906) nauplii. Stages PL5 to PL₁₀, PL₁₀ to PL₃₀, and PL₂₀ to PL₄₀ were studied. Diets consisted of: 1) A. franciscana nauplii enriched with an emulsion of soybean lecithin and cod liver oil (NA+L+AHB), 2) A. franciscana nauplii enriched with a commercial emulsion (NA+IKA W3), and 3) non-enriched A. franciscana nauplii as control (NANE). No diet affected the growth of the bigger postlarvae (PL_20-40) (p = 0.351), however significantly greater growths (p < 0.05) were observed in the younger (PL_5-10) and intermediate age (PL_10-30) postlarvae when fed the two diets with enriched A. franciscana nauplii. The dry weight increase of PL_5-10 and PL_10-30 was not statistically different when using the two diets with enriched A. franciscana nauplii (p > 0.05). No diet affected survival or the resistance to saline stress in the three age groups (p > 0.05). It is concluded that it is more important to insure a proper feeding of the early postlarvae than to reinforce the feeding of the more advanced stages.

Keywords : Artemia franciscana; bioencapsulation; Litopenaeus vannamei; postlarva; stress; live feed.