The use of inert artificial commercial food sources as replacements of traditional live food items in the culture of larval shrimp, Farfantepenaeus aztecus

Replacement of live feeds with alternate food sources is of major importance in commercial shrimp hatcheries. In this study, partial and complete replacement of live microalgae and Artemia nauplii with microalgae pastes and inert feeds is reported in the larval rearing of the brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus. Five different experimental feeds were used for each live food replacement study. Partial replacement of live microalgae using Chaetoceros 1000 “Premium Fresh” Instant Algae™ paste and Liqualife™ liquid larval feed showed survival rates similar to a control feed, however, postlarvae mean dry weight and length were significantly less than the control. Use of other replacement feeds, Epifeed™ liquid larval feed, Zeigler™ E-Z Larvae liquid feed, and Zeigler™ Z-Plus feed, yielded inferior results compared to the control feed. Statistical analysis of results from the live Artemia nauplii replacement study indicated that larval shrimp fed a control feed had significantly greater survival, mean PL length, and mean PL dry weight. The only exception was the partial replacement of Artemia nauplii using Liqualife™ in which there was no significant difference in survival between the control and this treatment. Results indicated that although Liqualife™, Epifeed™, Zeigler™ E-Z Larvae, Zeigler™ Z-Plus and Zeigler™ E-Z Artemia feeds could serve as partial replacement of newly hatched Artemia nauplii in production of F. aztecus postlarvae. Significantly improved results can be expected when larvae are fed newly hatched Artemia nauplii (control diet) with no supplement.