A preliminary study of the effect of mantis shrimp as an ingredient in Penaeus indicus postlarval diets

Abstract

The apparent digestibility (Da) of five diets, incorporated with mantis shrimp at levels of to, 15, 20, 25 and 30% was determined for Penaeus indicus postlarvae (initial weight ranging from 0.087-0.106 g). Oa for crude protein ranged from 61.97 to 92.76% showing a significant increase with increase in the level of mantis shrimp upto 25% in the diet and was higher than the control value of 66.09 (P > 0.05). Crude fat digestibility ranged from 52.26 to 89.57% also showing an increase upto 25% incorporation of mantis shrimp.