Development of nursery feeds for Penaeus indicus cultured in Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

Comparative growth trials were conducted with post larval P.

illdicus (PL 5-30) spawned from Red Sea stock and cultured through larval stages on live feeds tChuetoceros.

Tetraselmis and Anemia).

In replicated experiments .

post larvae were reared on commercial feeds Taiwanese.

Nippai, Frippack, and 4 formulated feeds based on locally available ingredients at 28-32°C and at 30%.

and 42%•.

Feeding trials at 42%.

produced poor survival.

but at 30%e, all treatments gave over 50% survival 10 PL 25, at which stage shrimp are used for stocking ' in grow out ponds.

Although the Taiwanese feed produced the overall fastest growth.

this was not significantly better than locally formulated diets FFC 1-4 or Frippack.

Survival rates of over 60% were achieved on all diets with the exception of Nippai and Taiwanese feeds.

Yields were significantly higher on FFC I than Taiwanese and Nippai.

and Taiwanese than Nippai.

All diets yielded significantly more shrimp biomass at 30%0 than at 42%0.

The relative costs of imponed and locally produced diets are discussed and it is concluded that it is possible to produce cost-effective nursery diets within Saudi Arabia.