Commercial balanced shrimp feed allows good growth, survival and immunity of snook (Centropomus spp.)

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of three diets based on commercial balanced food for shrimp (AB) with 28% protein, pipona (Gambusia affinis) and jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) on the growth, survival and blood parameters of snook (Centropomusspp.). The experiment lasted 8 weeks, it had three treatments with two repetitions (3 m3tanks) in which 10.9 g snookswere stocked, at a density of 3.3 specimens/m2, the food was applied once a day. At the end of the experiment, the specimens that received the AB diet had a total weight and length that were significantly higher than those of the other diets. Survival and percentage of lymphocytes in blood was higher with AB and jumbo squid. But, the erythrocyte count and hematocrit were lower in AB-fed fish, possibly due to the iron deficiency of this diet. It was concluded that the commercial balanced food for shrimp with 28% protein allowed good growth, survival and percentage of lymphocytes, and that if supplemented with iron it can be a good option for feeding snooks in culture.