Abstract

VEGA-VILLASANTE, Fernando et al. The red crab (Pleuroncodes planipes, Stimpson, 1860) (Crustacea: Galatheidae), as fuctional feed to growth, survival and corporal composition of white shrimp larvae (Litopenaeus schmitti, Burkenroad, 1936) (Crustacea: Penaeidae). Hidrobiológica [online]. 2006, vol.16, n.3, pp.241-249. ISSN 0188-8897.

The crude extract of red crab, Pleuroncodes planipes (ETL), obtained by mechanical pressing of the whole organism, has nutritive, and non nutritive compounds with functional activity. When ETL was added as feed additive, in larvae culture water (1µg/mL) of Litopenaeus schmitti, a 24% in increase growth (in weight), and a 10% in increase survival were observed in experimental organisms in comparation to control experiment. ETL modified the larvae body chemical composition obtaining values of protein (%) of 74± 3.1, and glycogen (mg/g) of 9.3 ± 0.9, higher than control (62 ± 2.2, and 6.5 ± 0.7, respectively). Therefore, ETL supplemented larvae, increased its digestive proteolitic activity (16.2± 0.3 U/mg protein), and superoxide dismutase activity (39.18 ± 2.0 U/mg protein), in comparison to control organisms (9.5± 0.2 y 22.7± 1.2, respectively).

Keywords : Red crab; nutrition; protein content; white shrimp.