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Vol. 40 No. 4, 2001
Effects of Light Regime, Algae in the Water, and Dietary Astaxanthin on Pigmentation, Growth, and Survival of Black Tiger Prawn Penaeus monodon Post-larvae
Chih-Hung Pan1, Yew-Hu Chien1,* and Jin-Hua Cheng2
1Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan 202
2Tungkang Marine Laboratory, Taiwan Fisheries Research Institute, Tungkang, Pingtung, Taiwan 928
Chih-Hung Pan, Yew-Hu Chien and Jin-Hua Cheng (2001)
The astaxanthin content of penaeids can be increased through ingestion
of food containing different carotenoids. Illumination and background
probably affect pigmentation as well. There are some indications that
astaxanthin also plays biological roles other than in pigmentation,
such as improve- ment of growth and survival. The aim of this study was
to find out the effects of light regime, algal in the water, and
dietary astaxanthin on body astaxanthin, and subsequent growth and
survival of tiger prawn Penaeus monodon
post-larvae. An experiment with 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of
treatments was conducted, which included 2 diets without or with
astaxanthin supplementation (80 mg astaxanthin/kg) fed on tiger prawn
post- larvae in water without or with the addition of microalgae (Isochrysis galbana,
3.63-8.70 g/L) under a 24-h dark or light environment for 4 wk. Body
astaxanthin concentrations decreased significantly as prawns grew.
Light had significant effects in preventing body astaxanthin reduction
only during the 4th wk, but both algae in the water and dietary
astaxanthin had significant effects in preventing body astaxanthin
reduction from the 1st wk. There were no significant effects of
light regime, algae in the water, or dietary astaxanthin on prawn
growth. Throughout the experiment, the survival of prawn reared in the
light was significantly higher than that for prawn reared in the dark.
The survival of prawn reared in algae-containing water was
significantly higher than that of prawn reared in clear water except in
the 3rd wk. Dietary astaxanthin improved prawn survival only in the 1st
wk. Only in the 4th wk did survival have a positive correlation with
prawn body astaxanthin concentration. The results suggest
that it is essential to maintain a certain level of astaxanthin
in tiger prawn post-larvae for better survival while the prawn are
growing and their astaxanthin is decreasing.
Key words: Carotenoids, Crustacean, Pigment conversion, Biological function.
*Correspondence: Tel: 886-2-24622192 ext. 5204. Fax: 886-2-24625393. E-mail: yhchien@mail.ntou.edu.tw
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