Contribution to the knowledge of nutrient requirements of the native freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium acanthurus )

Abstract

To contribute to the knowledge of the nutrient requirements of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium acanthurus (Wigmann, 1836), two feeding trials were performed. During the first, we determined the effect of three diets with different sources of protein and lipids (meals and oils from fish and krill, soybean meal) on the growth of females (initial weight of 4.2 ± 0.5 g), and on the size and protein and lipid contents of the eggs produced. After 40 days of feeding, the krill meal and oil showed a positive effect on the sexual maturation of the females, as well as on the protein and lipid content of the eggs. In the second trial, we determined the protein requirement for juveniles (initial weight 3.0 ± 0.2 g), by feeding semi-purified diets to the organisms with 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50% crude protein for a period of 80 days. By means of a broken-line analysis and in terms of weight gain, the minimum requirement of protein was estimated to be 37.8%. The information obtained in this study will allow diet formulations for the commercial culture of M. acanthurus to be developed.