Effect of astaxanthin pigment on growth performance, survival and pigmentation in postlarval stage of white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

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Abstract

The aim of this reaserch was to study the effect of astaxanthin pigment on growth
performance (weight again, specific growth rate and final body weight), survival and pigment
accumulation in postlarvae of white leg shrimp. This study was carried out in spring 2011 at
Kolahi Aquatic Development Center. Some 8-day postlarvae with mean (±SD) initial weight
5.3±1.6mg were fed diets with containing various levels (0, 50, 100 and 200mg/kg diet) of
astaxanthin pigment for 30 days. Shrimp fed with diet without astaxanthin pigment served as
control. Shrimp fed diets containing 50, 100 and 200mg/kg astaxanthin, growth performance
and survival was significantly higher than control group. The pigment accumulation rate was
determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The analysis of pigment
accumulation showed that the higher increasing astaxanthin pigment amount in the diets, the
higher growth performance and survival rate in postlarvae as in postlarvae fed with 200mg
astaxanthin/kg, final weight (700.6±12.7mg) and survival rate (82±1.5%) was significantly
higher than control group (484.2±28.9, 54.7±4.5% final weight and survival rate,
respectively). Due to nutritional properties of astaxanthin pigment and the positive effect on
growth and survival, the feeding of postlarval white leg shrimp with the diet containing at
least 100mg astaxanthin/kg is recommended.
*Corresponding author

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Iranian Scientific Fisheries Journal
Volume 21, Issue 1 - Serial Number 78
July and August 2012
Pages 89-100

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