Dietary carotenoids in prematuration diet enhances gonadal maturation and total carotenoid content in several tissues of pond rearead black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon)
Development of maturation diet for pond-reared tiger shrimp should be programmed not only for maturation stage, but also for growth and prematuration phases. Specific nutrients required during prematuration stages is important to be determined since very little information is available for this stages. Carotenoids have been reported to have a positive effects in aquaculture including pigmentation, antioxidant functions, as a source of pro-vitamin A, cellular protection from photodynamic damage, and may perform vital roles in growth and reproductive success in crustaceans and fish. The aim of this study was to clarify the influence of carotenoids mixture supplemented in prematuration diet for pond-reared black tiger shrimp.
Two experimental diets were supplemented either with (PC) or without carotenoid mixture (PO) consisting of astaxanthine, cantaxanthine and other carotenoids contained in spirulina. The carotenoid mixture was supplemented in commercial diet normally used as starter feed for tiger shrimp, re-pelleted and fed to tiger shrimp with initial body weight of 35.3 g. Shrimp were allocated among four 1000 m2 concrete ponds with density of 1 shrimp/m2 and fed until shrimp reached maturation stage. Variables observed were growth and survival rate during prematuration stage and reproductive performances at maturation stages.
After 16 weeks, shrimp fed PC diet produced significantly (P<0.05) higher biomass than PO diet. Total carotenoid in oosit, hepatopankreas and muscle of shrimp fed PC diet were significantly (P<0.05) enhanced compared to control PO diet. In contrast, total carotenoid in shell was significantly (P<0.05) lower in shrimp fed PC diet than in PO diet. After totally around 20 weeks feeding, shrimp fed PC diet produced higher (P<0.05) female maturing and male producing spermatophores compared to PO diet.