Effect of concentration of DHA nutrient-enhanced Artemia on the growth and physiology of the ridgetail white prawn, Exopalaemon carinicauda (Decapoda, Caridea, Palaemonidae)
Abstract Prawns of the species Exopalaemon carinicauda were fed with Artemia that had been enriched by either 1, or 3, or 5 g/l DHA powder. The feeding dose of Artemia offered to E. carinicauda was calculated according to the water volume, and maintained at 1-3 individuals/ml. After nutritional enrichment, the ratio of DHA content to total fatty acid content in Artemia was the highest (3.32%) after being fed 3 g/l DHA powder. The ratio of DHA content to total fatty acid content in the muscle tissue of E. carinicauda prawns fed with Artemia enhanced with 3 g/l DHA powder was also the highest (4.40%) achieved. Furthermore, when the concentration of fish oil DHA powder was 3 g/l, the survival rate of the prawns was significantly higher than in the control group, with the specific growth rate and weight gain reaching 11.39%/day, and 95.74%, respectively. In addition, the DHA-enhanced Artemia, at different concentrations, increased the non-specific immunity of individuals. The enzyme activity of T-AOC, SOD and AKP in the respective feeding groups of prawns was significantly higher, compared to the control group. Thus, Artemia enriched by 3 g/l DHA powder is proposed as an optimal choice for the offspring breeding of E. carinicauda.