Different lipid levels in the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) nursery in systems grown in super-intensive biofloc systems

Abstract

High stocking densities can decrease growth, feed conversion, and depletion of the shrimp immune system, therefore lipids can serve as a highly energetic source capable of meeting the metabolic demands of cultured organisms. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of different lipid levels (50 g kg−1, 70 g kg−1, 90 g kg−1, 110 g kg−1, and 130 g kg−1 extract ether-EE) in diets of Litopenaeus vannamei post-larvae raised in super-intensive biofloc systems, on growth, antioxidant capacity, and feeding costs. The experimental period lasted 30 days and the shrimp of 0.018 ± 0.001 g (PL 20) were stored (5000 PL m-³) in 20 tanks (50 L) in quadruplicates. Significant differences in water quality were not recorded (P > 0.05). The final weight and weight gain were not affected by the different treatments; however, the lowest survival rates were found in the 110 EE and 130 EE treatments and the 50 and 70 EE treatments had the highest productivity and lowest feeding cost (P 0.05), which might be related to a protective effect proportionated by the biofloc consumption. The quadratic regression for productivity indicated that dietary lipid requirements for L. vannamei nursery is 67.8 g kg−1.

Keywords

• Nutritional requirements
• Antioxidant capacity
• Gross energy
• Hyper-intensive
• Feeding costs