Effects of enriched Artemia with n–۳ long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on growth performance, stress resistance and fatty acid profile of Litopenaeus vannamei postlarvae

A ۱۵-day study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Artemia metanauplii enriched with two commercial supplements (Easy DHA-Selco and S. presso) which contained high levels of n–۳ long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n–۳ LC-PUFA) on growth performance, stress resistance and fatty acid profile of Litopenaeus vannamei post larvae (PL). In this regard, PL were fed with three different types of Artemia including: (۱) newly hatched Artemia franciscana nauplii as the control group; (۲) Artemia metanauplii enriched with Easy DHA-Selco; and (۳) Artemia metanauplii enriched with S. presso. Survival rates did not change among different groups. PL fed Artemia enriched with the S. presso and the Easy DHA-Selco showed the highest wet and dry weight, respectively (p<۰.۰۵). Moreover, PL fed Artemia enriched with the commercial emulsions had higher survival rate (~ ۱۰ %) than treatments fed newly hatched Artemia (p<۰.۰۵).The concentration of n–۳ PUFA especially DHA and also n-۳ / n-۶ PUFA ratios were higher in PL fed with Artemia enriched with the commercial emulsions than the control group. Feeding enriched Artemia with n–۳ LC-PUFA is recommended to improve growth performance in larval stages of L. vannamei.

Keywords:

Artemia , DHA , EPA , Penaidae , Post larvae