Nutrition of Penaeus merguiensis and Penaeus idicus

Abstract

Penaeus indicus and Penaeus merguiensis are the most popular shrimp species for extensive farming in Southeast Asia. Their relatively low production and survival have hampered intensive culture. Moreover, there is a lack of nutrition studies on these species. This article discusses the nutrient requirements of P. merguiensis and P. indicus, as these are similar species. In juveniles, the protein requirements varies from 34 to 55%. Protein requirement may be related to dietary starch level, protein quality, and shrimp size. Requirements for individual amino acids have not been determined. P. indicus, like most shrimp species, has limited capacity to elongate and desaturate linoleic acid and lineolenic acid to polyunsaturated fatty acids. A combination of 1% 18:2n-6 and 3% oil rich in highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) gives superior growth, survival, and feed conversion. Dietary energy levels between 2900 and 4400 kcal/kg, in 34 to 40% protein diets were reported to be optimum for P. merguiensis. Maltose and starch gave better growth and feed conversion than monosaccharides, which seem to inhibit growth. Increasing starch level from 10 to 40% with a decrease in protein-to-carbohydrate ratio increased growth, feed conversion, and survival. Dietary thiamine, pyriodoxine, niacin, panthothenic acid, and vitamin C requirements of P. indicus were 100, 100 to 200, 750, and 4000-8000 (or 100) mg/kg, respectively. Vitamins C and E have been found to affect egg hatching rate and larval viability of P. indicus. Ca-to-P ratio of 1 to 1.3 at 0.51 to 0.66% of the diet were found to be optimum for P. merguiensis, but the magnesium requirement was not conclusively established. Many gaps remain to be filled before the nutrient requirements of these species are completely established.