Nutritional evaluation of mysids Mesopodopsis orientalis (Crustacea:Mysida) as live food for grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus larvae

The potential of mysids Mesopodopsis orientalis as live food source for grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus larvae was investigated. In comparison with Artemia biomass, a common live food source in larviculture, mysids contained significantly higher levels of protein, total lipid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n−3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n−3). DHA was not detected in Artemia biomass. Grouper larvae fed mysids from 35 to 55 days after hatching (DAH) had 2-fold and 3-fold higher specific growth rates and survival, respectively, than those fed Artemia biomass. DHA levels increased 6-fold while EPA levels remained constant in mysid-fed grouper larvae. In contrast, DHA and EPA significantly decreased in Artemia biomass-fed grouper larvae. Furthermore, the specific activities of amylase, lipase and protease generally significantly increased (P < 0.05) in both mysid-fed and Artemia biomass-fed grouper larvae from 35 to 55DAH. A marked increase in the specific activity of amylase was seen in mysid-fed than in Artemia biomass-fed grouper larvae. Results of the nutritional evaluation suggest that mysids are superior live food organisms than Artemia biomass for grouper larvae and could significantly improve production of grouper juveniles in the nursery phase.