Acetes as prime food for Penaeus monodon larvae

Abstract

This paper presents research attempts to develop a suitable artificial diet for shrimp larvae with locally-available materials. Larval rearing experiments using finely ground Acetes tissues conducted under various climatic conditions and hatchery systems were completed. In the dry season, larvae in outdoor tanks fed dry Acetes had the highest survival rate (68%) compared to larvae fed Chaetoceros (48%) or fresh Acetes (39%). In contrast, larvae from an indoor hatchery reared with Chaetoceros had higher survival rate (52%) than those fed with Acetes (35%) and fresh Acetes (24%).

During rainy months, the survival of larvae reared with Skeletonema , dry and fresh Acetes in outdoor tanks was 72%, 52% and 38% and in indoor tanks 62%, 40% and 23%, respectively.