Effects of carotenoid sources on growth performance, blood parameters, disease resistance and stress tolerance in black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon Fabricius)

Two feeding trial were conducted to determine the effects of various sources of carotenoid on growth performance, disease resistance, blood parameters, stress tolerance and pigmentation in juvenile black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon). Trial I was performed in small shrimp (1 g average body weight). The shrimp were fed with control diet without carotenoid (diet 1) while diets 2 to 6 contained 50 mg/kg astaxanthin (Lucanthin Pink®), 125 mg/kg β-carotene (Lucarotin®), 200 mg/kg β-carotene (Lucarotin®), 125 mg/kg Betatene® extracted from Dunaliella and 3% dried Spirulina respectively. There was an improvement in color in all groups of shrimp fed caroteniod supplemented diets, but no significant differences in weight gain or survival among the shrimps fed each test diet (p>0.05). Resistance to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection and stress tolerance (salinity stress), were not significantly different among treatments. Trial II was performed in juvenile shrimp (10 g average body weight) fed test diets containing 100 ppm astaxanthin (Lucanthin pink®), 125 mg/kg β-carotene (Lucarotin®), 250 mg/kg β-carotene (Lucarotin®), 250 mg/kg Betatene® and 3% dried Spirulina compared with those fed control diet without carotenoid. At the end of 6 weeks feeding period, shrimp fed control diet as well as astaxanthin and dried Spirulina supplemented diets had higher levels of total hemocyte counts than those of all β-carotene supplemented diets feeding group. However, phenoloxidase activity and clearance of pathogenic vibrio from the hemolymphwere not significantly different among the treatments (p>0.05). Astaxanthin levels were highest in the shrimp fed all carotenoid-supplemented diets. In conclusion, a natural carotenoid i.e. dried Spirulina and carotenoid extracted from Dunaliella which have a lower production cost than analytical carotenoid showed beneficial effects on shrimp feed supplement