Effects of dietary protein and starch levels on growth and survival of Penaeus monodon (Fabricius) postlarvae

Abstract

Several levels of protein (25%, 35%, 45% and 55%) and starch (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) were combined in seven isolipidic (10%) diets and fed to 14-day old postlarvae of P. monodon stocked in 5.8 m 2 tanks at a density of 552/m 2. Initial live mean weight was 2 mg. Growth was proportional to the amount of protein in the diet and was not affected by the starch content. The protein starch ratio had an effect on the survival and biomass increase which were higher for the 1.2 to 3.5 range of the ratio. Feeding small postlarvae exclusively with the compounded diets gave slow growth. Survival after 55 days was between 39% and 74%. Analyses showed that the dry alginate-bound food particles lost an average of 28% protein and 50% lipid during processing and rehydration prior to feeding. After six hours in seawater, total loss of protein and lipid amounted to 39%–47% and 38%–76%, respectively.