EFFECT OF SEAGRAPE (Caulerpa lentillifera) EXTRACT ON GROWTH AND SURVIVAL RATE OF WHITELEG SHRIMP (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Lideman*, Haruna, Abdul Gafur, Andi Elman, Sitti Farida, Baharuddin and Syarifuddin
 
 Brackishwater Aquaculture Development Center
 Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
 Jl. Perikanan No.1, BontoloE, Galesong, Takalar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia 92254
 lidemanz@yahoo.com

Seagrape extract has been reported to contain an antibacterial compound that could prevent bacterial pathogen in aquaculture system. The objective of this study was to know effect of seagrape (Caulerpa lentillifera) extract on growth and survival rate of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei).Seagrape extract was administered through feed and spreaded into culture medium of whiteleg shrimp. In the first experiment, shrimp feed was enriched with the seagrape extract with dosage of 0 (control), 0.2 and 0.4 ml/g, fed to whiteleg shrimp with initial weight of 0.04-0.07 g.  Weight of the shrimp cultured in recirculation system were measured every 7 days. In the second experiment, the seagrape extract was spreaded out  into culture medium of whiteleg shrimp with dosage of 0 (control), 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 ml/L. Weight of the whiteleg shrimp with initial weight of 0.14-0.16 g were measured every 7 days and culture medium was changed every week.  Variables observed were specific growth rate, survival rate, and bacteria content in the culture medium.

After 21 days, seagrape extract orally applied through feed has no significant effect (P<0.05) on growth of whiteleg shrimp compared to control. However, specific growth rates of whiteleg shrimp cultured in seagrape extract medium were significant different (P<0.05) from control. Seagrape extract of 0.2 ml/L has significant higher (P<0.05) specific growth rate than control, but it was not significant different (P<0.05) with dosage of 0.4 and 0.6 ml/L. Further, survival rate of whiteleg shrimp culture in seagrape extract significantly increaded by increasing the dose of seagrape extract. Decreasing of total bacteria content was shown in culture medium mixed with seagrape extract.