FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE,MOA,TAIWAN

This study was conducted to determine whether it is feasible to replace fresh hard clam meat with artificial feed for broodstock of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). The initial female broodstock with one eyestalk removed were 31.2 g on average. These were divided into two groups. One group was fed artificial feed that contained 40% fishmeal and 20% squid meal as the major protein sources. The other group was fed fresh hard clam meat. Compared with the hard clam meat group, the artificial feed group contained higher levels of crude lipids, ash, gross energy, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), n-6 PUFA, and the n-3/n-6 ratio. There was no significant differences (p > 0.05) in egg numbers or egg diameters between the two groups. However, the spawning rate and the accumulated ecdysis rate of the broodstock fed the artificial feed were 40% and 80%, respectively, which were lower than those of the broodstock fed the hard clam meat (60% and 180%, respectively). The survival of both groups was 80% during the 30-d study. The results indicate that it is possible to replace fresh hard clam meat with artificial feed to achieve maturation and spawning for unilateral eyestalk-ablated female broodstock of white shrimp reared initially at 29~30 °C and 30~33 ppt salinity.