An optimal diet is identified as a crucial factor for the sexual maturation and reproduction of panaeid shrimp. The nutritional profile of a maturation diet for panaeid shrimp broodstock is an extremely vital form of information to the prawn hatchery manager. There have been various scientific reports published that report that an unbalanced or incomplete diet causes poor reproductive performance or may even stop animals from reproducing (Cahu et al, 1995; Wouters et al, 1999a, Xu et al, 1994).

 

The cost of feed in most broodstock management facilities are the highest operation expense, as well as the most important. At the Aquabait facility we understand the requirements of a hatchery facility, in particularly the need to be well informed of the nutritional composition of the feed purchased. Therefore we have a comprehensive listing of the nutritional profile of the Aquabait ‘tube-worm’ for your information, with particular focus with the essential nutrients required for panaeid shrimp broodstock maturation diets.

 

Currently Aquabait is providing fresh feed for various Panaeus monodon aquaculture facilities in Australia. Aquabait’s maturation diet has been proven successful via increasing egg quality and survivability of offspring at this particular broodstock management facility. Aquabait also has its maturation feed circulating within various panaeid shrimp aquaculture hatcheries with high success rates within Australia and Asia.

 

Marine polychaetes have been utilised as an important addition to the panaeid broodstock maturation diet primarily due to their high levels of Essential fatty acids (EFAs), particularly the PUFAs (Polyunsaturated fatty acids) that are believed to be an important dietary requirement for panaeid shrimp reproduction and development. These types of fatty acids cannot be directly synthesised by the organism, but need to obtain them from their diet. The types of PUFAs & saturated fatty acids that are recognized as particularly of importance to panaeid shrimp maturation are:

 

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ----------------20:5n-3

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) --------------- 22:6n-3

 

Polychaetes and other invertebrates have been shown to be species specific with their nutritional compositions of these PUFAs, with the commonly known bloodworms (Eunicidae) and beachworms, tube-worms (Onuphidae) possessing such essential fatty acids (Marsden et al, 1992). Dietary supplement of n-3 PUFAs have been shown to improve growth rates and reproductive performance in panaeid shrimps (Middleditch et al, 1979, 1980). Particularly of importance has been the ratio of n-3 to n-6 fatty acids.

 

Table 1.The following table shows the nutritional profile of the fatty acid levels (% of total fatty acids) in the  Aquabait ‘tube-worm’ with comparison to a naturally caught ‘control’ worm.

 

 

Table 2: Ratio of important fatty acids available in the Aquabait ‘tube-worm’ (mg/g of dry sample).

 

 

 

 

Table 3. The following table shows the protein and lipid levels of Aquabait ‘tube-worms’ with comparison to a naturally collected control worm.

 

These tests were completed within the Queensland Department of Primary Industries laboratory, Health and Nutritional Biochemistry Laboratory, Animal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly QLD by qualified scientists. These results are subject to variability and can only be representative of the samples given to the laboratory. All samples were collected randomly from the Aquabait marine worm facility on the 29/6/05.

 

 

 

Cahu, C. L., G. Cuzan and P. Quazuguel (1995). Effect of highly unsaturated fatty acids, alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid in broodstock diet on egg composition and development of Penaeus indicus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 112(3-4): 417-424.

 

Lytle, J. S., T. F. Lytle and J. Ogle (1990). Polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles as a comparative tool in assessing maturation diets of Penaeus vannamei. Aquaculture 89: 287-299.

 

Marsden, G., McGuren, J.M., Sarac, H.Z., Neill, A.R., Brock, I.J., and Palmer, C.L. 1992. Nutritional composition of some natural marine feeds used in prawn maturation. In: G.L. Allan and W.Dall (Editors), Proc. Aquaculture Nutrition Workshop, Salamander Bay, 15-17 April 1991. NSW Fisheries, Brackish Water Fish Culture Research Station, Salamander Bay, Australia, pp, 82-86.

 

Middleditch, B. S., S. R. Missler, D. G. Ward, J. B. McVey, A. Brown and A. L. Lawrence (1979). Maturation of penaeid shrimp: Dietary fatty acids. pp. 472-476. In: Proc. World Maricul., 10.

Middleditch, B. S., S. R. Missler, H. B. Hines, J. B. McVey, A. Brown, D. G. Ward and A. Lawrence (1980). Metabolic profiles of penaeid shrimp: dietary lipids and ovarian maturation. J. Chromatography 195: 359-368.

Wouters, R., L. Gómez, P. Lavens and J. Calderón (1999a). Feeding enriched Artemia biomassa to Penaeus vannamei broodstock: its effect on reproductive performance and larval quality. J. Shellfish Res. 18(2): 651-656.

Wouters, R., C. Molina, P. Lavens and J. Calderón (1999b). Contenido de lípidos y vitaminas en reproductores silvestres durante la maduración ovárica y en nauplios de Penaeus vannamei. In: Proceedings of the Fifth Ecuadorian Aquaculture Conference,Guayaquil, Ecuador, Fundación CENAIM-ESPOL, CDRom.

 

Xu, X. L., W. L. Ji, J. D. Castell and R. K. O´Dor (1994). Influence of dietary lipid sources on fecundity, egg hatchability and fatty acid composition of Chinese prawn (Penaeus chinensis) broodstock. Aquaculture 119: 359-370.

 

Table 2. Total Dry Matter (DM%), Ash, Nitrogen and Energy (MJ/Kg) of Aquabait ‘tube-worms’ in comparison with a control worm.

Table 3. Fatty acid composition of Aquabait ‘tube-worm’. Mg/g of dry sample.

 

 

Table 4. Fatty acid composition of Aquabait ‘tube-worm’. % in total fatty acids.

These tests were completed within the Queensland Department of Primary Industries laboratory, Health and Nutritional Biochemistry Laboratory, Animal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly QLD by qualified scientists. These results are subject to variability and can only be representative of the samples given to the laboratory. All samples were collected randomly from the Aquabait marine worm facility on the 29/6/05.