Fermented Copra Meal as Replacement for Dietary Fish Meal Protein in Grow-Out Culture of Black Tiger Shrimp, Penaeus monodon Juveniles

Feeding trials were conducted to assess the effects of diets containing fermented copra (FCM) as an alternative to fish meal (FM) on growth, survival, and feed efficiency, in Black Tiger Shrimp, Penaeus monodon. A diet was formulated where 40% of the FM protein was replaced by FCM protein, and compared with a commercial shrimp diet. The feeding experiments were carried out using 10-ton capacity circular outdoor tanks. Three hundred and fifty (350) shrimp were stocked in each tank at a density of 35 shrimp per m3. They were fed the diets at a rate which decreased from 15% down to 4% of average body weight (ABW) per day. The results demonstrated that growth, survival, and feed performance, in P. monodon in outdoor tanks were not affected by replacing 40% of the dietary FM with FCM protein. Furthermore, no difference was found in proximate composition of the shrimp carcass fed the commercial and experimental diets. Although protein efficiency ratio (PER) of the commercial and FCM-based diets were similar, protein productive value (PPV) was significantly higher in the FCM than the commercial diet. Hence, we concluded that FCM is a promising alternative protein source for Black Tiger shrimp and can replace 40% of the fish meal protein without adversely affecting growth, survival, and feed efficiency

Effects of Water Quality, Stocking Density, Water Exchange Frequency, and Food, on Growth and Survival of the Green Mussel, Perna viridis Larvae

Experiments were conducted to determine the optimum conditions for growth and survival of the green mussel, Perna viridis larvae. Effects of various temperatures and salinities, stocking densities, water exchange frequency, and natural food preference of the larvae from D-hinged to pediveliger stage were investigated. The green mussel broodstocks were collected from the natural source, and spawning occurred in captivity. All experiments were conducted in triplicate. The results demonstrated that larvae from D-hinged to pediveliger stage had better growth and survival when the temperature was between 29oC and 30oC, and salinity ranging from 30-33ppt. Stocking density from 10- 20 larvae/ml did not affect growth and survival of the larvae. Likewise, frequency of water replacement from daily to every 5 day interval did not influence the growth and survival until the pediveliger stage. During this stage, the larvae preferred a combination of Isochrysis galbana and Chaetoceros calcitrans as food in terms of better growth, and either Isochrysis galbana, Chaetoceros calcitrans, or their combination in terms of higher survival rate

Effects of Organic Selenium Supplementation on Growth, Accumulation, Haematology and Histopathology of Juvenile Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) Fed High Soybean Meal Diets

Soybean meal (SBM) has been commonly utilised as a substitute for fishmeal (FM) in the diets of several fish species. However, little is known regarding their effects on trace element availability and thus their importance to fish. The present study employed two feeding trials to evaluate the implications of dietary selenium (Se) on the growth, accumulation, antioxidant, and histopathological responses of juvenile barramundi (Lates calcarifer). In the first trial, each of three basal diets containing 0, 15 and 43 % SBM as replacements for 0, 25 and 75 % of FM protein on an isoproteic and isocalorific basis were either supplemented or not supplemented with 2 mg kg-1 organic Se (OS). In the second trial, the potential effect of OS supplementation in a high SBMdiet was investigated in a feeding trial with five experimental diets: 75 % SBM protein as replacement of FM was supplemented with 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 mg OS kg-1. Growth was independently influenced by the SBM level and the OS supplementation level but not by their interaction. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, haematocrit, Se accumulation and muscle tissue integrity were significantly enhanced in fish fed on OS-supplemented diets. Furthermore, when high SBM was included in diets, elevated Se tended to lower the barramundi’s performance. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation of OS at 2–3 g kg-1 diet is necessary when high plant protein ingredients are incorporated in the diet, in order to maintain better growth and to afford protection against oxidative stress