COMBINED EFFECTS OF SHRIMP SIZE AND DIETARY PROTEIN SOURCE ON THE GROWTH OF Penaeus setiferus AND P. vannamei

Abstract

ABSTRACTThree size classes of juvenile Penaeus setiferus (average wet weight = 0.08, 0.99, and 3.82 g) and P. vannamei (average wet weight = 0.12, 1.39, and 4.72 g) were kept 3 weeks in indoor tanks at 28°C, and each of 3 isonitrogenous (28% protein) experimental diets were fed to each size class. Shrimp meal of a basal experimental diet was replaced by fish protein hydrolysate, soybean meal, and cotton seed meal to achieve animal:plant (A:P) protein ratios of 1:1.5, 0.9:1, and 1.5:1 in the 3 diets. Penaeus vannamei grew faster than P. setiferus given the same diets. For both species, A:P ratios of food improved growth for all 3 size categories of shrimp. This effect was significantly greater in the small animals than in the medium or larger‐sized ones. Thus, the quality of diet needed to achieve maximum growth appears to be size dependent, smaller shrimp being more dependent than larger ones on animal protein. Results also indicated that the two larger size classes of P. setiferus require higher animal protein in their feed for maximum growth than do similar size classes of P. vannamei.