Use of kappa-carrageenan microbound diet (C-MBD) as feed for Penaeus monodon larvae

Abstract

The performance of an artificial practical diet, kappa-carrageenan microbound diet (C-MBD) was assessed on Penaeus monodon larvae at the SEAFDEC Broodstock and Maturation Experimental Laboratory in March 1986. Shrimps were reared from zoea to post-larvae using five dietary treatments: (a) natural food - Chaetoceros calicitrans and Artemia salina ; (b) C-MBD; (c) combination of natural food and C-MBD; (d) commercial diet (microencapsulated, MED); (e) combination of natural food and commercial diet. Results showed slow development with larvae fed the commercial diet. Feeding with C-MBD in combination with natural food resulted in the highest % survival among treatments (69.6), but this was not significantly different (p > 0.05) from those obtained with larvae fed natural food alone, C-MBD alone or their combination.