Effects of different levels of energy and protein sources on the growth performance, feeding, survival rate and the chemical body composition of juvenile pacific white shrimp

 The present study was carried out in order to establish an economical effective diet for the pacific white shrimp in the southern part conditions of Iran. Three dietary energy levels (E۱=۲۶۲, E۲=۳۱۲, E۳=۳۶۲ Kcal ۱۰۰ g-۱ diet) and ۶ ratios of fish meal (FM): soybean meal (SBM) [(P۱= ۱۰۰% FM+ ۰% SBM), (P۲= ۸۰% FM+ ۲۰% SBM),(P۳= ۶۰% FM+ ۴۰% SBM), (P۴= ۴۰% FM+ ۶۰% SBM), (P۵= ۲۰% FM+ ۸۰% SBM),(P۶= ۰% FM+ ۱۰۰% SBM)], ۱۸ experimental diets were prepared. Completely randomized design was used to assign ۵۴ polyethylene ۳۰۰ litre round tanks provided by aeration and was stocked by ۱۹ juvenile shrimp as ۳ replicates to each treatment. Shrimps average weight was about ۰.۷۷ g at the start. After ۵۶ days culture period, maximum growth and nutritional performance were observed in the P۶E۱ and P۵E۱ treatments. In addition, the highest survival rate of the shrimps was observed in the P۱E۱, P۱E۲, P۳E۳ and P۵E۳ treatments. Results indicated that protein, fat, fiber and ash contents of carcase were significantly affected by the treatments (P<۰.۰۵). Results of the present study suggest the replacement possibility of at least ۸۰% of dietary fishmeal by soybean meal in the diet of pacific white shrimp in the conditions of southern part of Iran.