Artemia salina as pabulum for growing Penaeids under laboratory conditions

Abstract

Growing interest in Artemia salina Leach is supported by its high protein content, the relative ease of its mass production, and its incompletely utilized potential biomass which is found in saltpans all over the world. Experiments involving the catching of adult brine shrimps by means of a 500 μm nylon net located on the main outflow canal were carried out in Margherita di Savoia saltworks in southeastern Italy preliminarily in August 1980. Replicates during May–July 1981 showed it was possible to collect about 250 g min −1 of adult Artemia. According to the figures of the samples taken, it is reasonable to assume a brine shrimp standing crop of at least 50 tonnes (wet weight) over a 1000 ha surface area. The Artemia collected in this way were tested for feeding Penaeids under laboratory conditions, as sole food and as supplement to a dry selfmade diet. Firstly Penaeid growth supported by mussels was tested in comparison with frozen Artemia diet. The latter gave the best results with 30% daily supply of shrimp body (wet weight). Moreover Artemia were tested as a balancing component of a dry diet to correct a deficit of aminoacids and supply missing highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA). With this mixed diet it was enough to supply A. salina 2 days per week to achieve promising results which are considered a good compromise between economics and the growth rate of Penaeus japonicus Bate. Consequently, it is suggested that intensive and/or extensive Penaeid cultures be planted near saltpans, utilizing brine shrimp biomass as a food source which could otherwise be wasted.